Health Employment
We support health and social care clients with issues ranging from whistleblowing complaints, harassment and bullying grievances, and doctors/dentists' conduct and capability processes to strategic advice on industrial action, mergers and acquisitions, integration, joint ventures, shared services, and outsourcing.
Overview
We understand the unique challenges that health and social care organisations face when dealing with people issues in the sector. There is a complex array of employment laws and employer, regional, and national practices, plus a vital regulatory overlay that has to be taken into account to give the right advice to an organisation in any particular situation. Beyond that, we understand that our health and social care clients care about their patients and staff, which often means finding a sensitive way to do the right thing.
Leveraging our experience advising NHS England, a significant number of providers in the NHS, and leading organisations in the private sector, we offer more than just legal advice. We deliver a clear and pragmatic approach to navigating the uncertainties of this ever-changing landscape.
Our experience includes handling complex discrimination, transfer of undertakings, and detriment claims in employment tribunals, as well as tailored and bespoke pension advice concerning NHS and private pensions. We have also assisted clients with establishing businesses abroad and entering joint ventures with foreign organisations. Our team regularly advise on other workforce issues such as employing staff overseas, transferring domestic staff abroad, and bringing foreign staff to the UK using our dedicated immigration experts.
We aim to resolve difficult internal situations proactively, preventing claims from arising or seeking amicable solutions. We also offer a People Pool service of expert HR and legal advisors who can assist clients in undertaking complex and sensitive internal investigations or mediations. We provide tailored solutions that meet your needs, anticipate future challenges, and deliver results creatively.
Featured experience
- Supporting NHS clients concerning complex doctors/dentists' conduct and capability proceedings, regularly defending breach of contract and injunctive proceedings about Maintaining High Professional Standards (MHPS) and providing strategic advice regarding the internal processes and wider employee relation issues
- Advising NHS England on their significant change programme involving transfers of high levels of staff from other bodies. We ensured a smooth transition, within the complex legal and policy background to this public sector transfer.
- Supporting NHS England, NHS Trusts, and NHS Foundation Trusts in managing the recent nursing, medical and other strikes. We have developed bespoke strike preparation training, assisted clients with analysing derogations to ensure continuation of patient critical work, and advised clients alongside our healthcare regulatory colleagues on consultants' responsibilities to provide supervision during strike action.
- Providing complex and strategic advice to private care providers in relation to allegations of whistleblowing and discrimination raised by senior executives and clinicians and defending such claims in the Employment Tribunal, as well as advising on internal processes and settlement
- Advising private care providers on investigation, dismissal, and exit strategies for senior employees implicated in misconduct, involving our regulatory colleagues and partnering with counsel in other jurisdictions as necessary to mitigate legal, regulatory, and reputational risk
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What our clients say
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Who we are
Why choose DAC Beachcroft?
We’re a broad-based commercial firm serving a wide range of sectors with a strong heritage in insurance,
health and real estate. We combine excellent legal skills and cutting-edge delivery expertise to design
solutions that fit the needs of our clients – often involving clever uses of technology.