JOB DESCRIPTION

investigations Team manager

(1 year Fixed Term contract – maternity cover)

Location:Lambeth, Central London

Reports to:Head of Investigations and Case Management

Grade:B

Job purpose

To lead and manage the performance of a team of case workers in the investigation of fitness to practise allegations, assessment of cases against legacy and/or threshold criteria, and the preparation of cases for referral to the Registrar or the Investigating Committee. To ensure that all information received by the GPhC concerning Registrants’ fitness to practise is managed from receipt to closure, or referral to the Case Progression Team, in accordance with the GPhC’s governing legislation, Rules, Policies and procedures. To ensure that the team provides high standards of service to informants, Registrants, witnesses and others involved in the matter. To ensure that the team meets services standards in respect of quality timeliness and cost. To ensure that performance data is recorded accurately, supporting the preparation of routine and exceptional performance reporting.

Main Accountabilities

  1. Effectively manage the performance and development of the investigations team, ensuring that the team and individuals meet individual and collective objectives and targets;
  1. Effectively manage information and complaints received by the GPhC, concerning the fitness to practise of Registrants, from the point of receipt to closure, or referral to the Case Progression Team including:
  2. managing the triage of all new information and complaints concerning Registrants’ fitness to practise received by the GPhC;
  3. managing a review of each case by caseworkers to determine whether an investigation is required, or if the matter can be disposed of in another way, following policies and procedures;
  4. where an investigation is required, allocating the matter to a caseworker to coordinate the development of an case investigation plan by the caseworker, and a member of the case progression (or external legal firm) and inspection teams;
  5. liaising with regional managers in the inspection team to ensure that, where necessary, inspectors are available to provide expert input to the investigation;
  6. ensuring that each matter is investigated in accordance with the plan, or that the plan is adjusted to reflect developments;
  7. managing the quality and timeliness of assessments of cases against the legacy and/or threshold criteria;
  8. ensure that cases not referred to the Investigating Committee are closed in accordance with policies and procedures and in a timely manner, undertaking necessary after-actions including liaison with informants or complainants and relevant staff across the GPhC;
  9. ensuring that cases referred to the Investigation are prepared to a high standard with appropriate allegations, including input from the Case Progression (or a panel firm) and Inspection teams
  10. ensuring that caseworkers liaise with registrants, complainants, defence representatives, other regulatory bodies, witnesses and GPhC staff (in particular those responsible for scheduling Committee meetings) as necessary prior to consideration of the case by the Investigating Committee;
  11. ensuring compliance with procedural deadlines and other statutory requirements throughout these processes.
  1. Effectively line-manage the Investigations team, including:
  2. developing, implementing, reviewing and monitoring case and file management procedures within the Investigations team;
  3. providing direction to staff within the team in carrying out their roles and responsibilities, including advice and guidance in relation to investigative activity, the interpretation of legislation, policy and procedures, formulating and drafting charges, reviewing evidence and interaction with the GPhC’s Fitness to Practise Committees;
  4. managing all human resource issues related to the management of staff within the Investigations team, including: agreeing regular work plans with individuals, monitoring progress against agreed targets, management of leave balances, conduct of performance reviews and pursuing relevant personal and professional development opportunities for staff;
  5. championing change and supporting team members to adapt to changes required.
  1. Ensure delivery against the team’s objectives and targets and assist with the production of management reports, technical documents and statistics relating to performance; engage, as appropriate with any internal or external audit of the team’s performance; implement agreed recommendations from audit appropriately and within agreed timescales;

5.Provide accurate and up to date advice as necessary, to appropriate staff across the GPhC in relation to specific cases/investigations; and, if required, provide general advice (and relevant training if requested) in relation to legal matters relevant to the conduct of fitness to practise investigations, including rules and regulations, evidence-gathering, disclosure, technical/procedural issues, and construction and preparation of cases;

5.Assist in the development of the GPhC’s policies, procedures and processes (including changes to the electronic case management system) to support achievement of quality, timeliness and efficiency objectives;

6.Maintain up to date knowledge of developments in fitness to practise and regulatory case law and best practice in the investigation of complaints and case management, including any guidance issued by the CHRE, and ensure that other members of the Investigations team are updated in turn;

7.Build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including:

  • the investigations, advocacy and monitoring team;
  • other teams and individuals within Regulatory Services and across the GPhC;
  • the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence;
  • external panel law firms;
  • defence representatives.

8.Represent or deputise for the Head of Investigations and Case Management team and other managers in the team, as appropriate.

Success Measures

  • Case handling procedures within the Investigations team are compliant with legal requirements and best practice;
  • Investigations are managed and concluded in accordance with objectives in respect of quality, timeliness and cost;
  • Motivated, high performing staff who work effectively as a team and are engaged throughout the change process;
  • Provision of accurate, prompt, practical and timely advice in relation to any issues associated with enquiries and/or investigation into Registrants’ fitness to practise;
  • Effective working relationships with key internal and external stakeholders including staff across the GPhC and CHRE.

Knowledge & Skills for this job

  • Significant experience of managing people and resources, including business planning and setting objectives making the best use of people’s skills to achieve business objectives
  • Proven track record of managing performance to ensure delivery to required quality and timescales.
  • Proven track record of effective case management against agreed targets in a high volume environment;
  • Proven track record of motivating and developing staff to ensure business objectives are met;
  • Detailed knowledge of investigative methods, rules of evidence and the legislative and policy framework in the healthcare regulation environment;
  • Ability to assimilate, understand and interpret complex legislation in relation to medicines, controlled drugs and the practice of pharmacy;
  • Ability to analyse, manage and problem solve complex and sensitive issues;
  • Ability to identify and implement improvements to procedures and processes to enhance service delivery;
  • Ability to champion the development, implementation and use of an electronic case management systems;
  • A high level of written and verbal communication skills with internal and external stakeholders;
  • Experience at contributing to and drafting policy and procedural documents;
  • Ability to work with the Microsoft Office suite and to grasp new systems quickly;
  • Significant experience in an investigations role;

The above is not exclusive or exhaustive and may alter depending on the needs of the GPhC

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Salary

The salary range for this position is£45,000 -£46,900. Salaries are normally reviewed in June of each year.

Hours

The weekly hours are 35, Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm. There is a flexitime system in operation within the GPhC, the core hours of attendance being 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon and 2.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. per day.

Holidays

Holiday entitlement for this post is 25 day per annum pro rata, plus all Bank Holidays.

Pension

As a non-contractual benefit, you will be eligible to join the NHS pension Scheme after completion of 3 months service

(The GPhC reserves the right to withdraw this pension plan, and its terms may alter).

Other benefits

Interest free season ticket loans are available to staff after successful completion of a probationary period. Subsidised staff restaurant facilities are available.

Location

The position is based in the GPhC Headquarters, 129 Lambeth Road, London SE1 7BT, within walking distance of Waterloo, Lambeth North and Vauxhall stations. The Headquarters is located at Lambeth Bridge overlooking Lambeth Palace and the Thames. The GPhC operates a ‘non-smoking’ policy throughout its premises.

Return of applications

Applications should be returned to:

or

Recruitment

Human Resources Support Services

General Pharmaceutical Council

129 Lambeth Road

London

SE1 7BT

Closing Date: 9am on Monday 26th November