VDPS Medical Assessment Assurance Lead

at  NHS Business Services Authority

In this role, you are accountable for: Providing direct support and expert guidance to the VDPS administrative team to ensure processes are designed and implemented effectively in line with the requirement of the scheme, current policy and legislation. Delivering training to the internal teams and third-party medical assessors as required. Supporting the appeals and tribunals process, including preparation of appropriate materials, witness statements, identification and instruction of appropriate medical experts and attendance as required. Ensuring complex cases are appropriately identified and managed in a timely manner.
Provide expert VDPS advice and guidance to a range of internal and external stakeholders. Supporting effective case management in an understanding manner. This will often include detail of cases that are emotionally sensitive and potentially distressing. Determining suitable evidence, including medical reports, clinical information and supporting material that is required to conduct an effective assessment and providing guidance on this.
Ensuring assessments are thorough and consider all facts of each case appropriately and in a consistent manner so that outcomes are fair and appropriate payments are made in line the specific assessment criteria of the Vaccine Damage Payments Act. This on occasion will require the conducting of medical assessments and deep dive assurance investigations of third-party medical assessments. In collaboration with the Head of Professional & Clinical Services, ensuring effective processes and reporting are in place to meet the requirements of the NHSBSA Clinical governance framework. Delivery of well-designed activities to provide assurance that VDPS third party medical assessments are undertaken appropriately by qualified and trained professionals, assessments are of the required quality standard and are conducted in a consistent and professional manner to deliver appropriate outcomes.
10. Review and advise NHSBSA on the effectiveness of the VDPS medical assessment process and make recommendations for improvement where appropriate. Designing and undertaking audits to verify medical assessment processes are being followed, the key facts of the case are considered, and the quality and content of the outcome reports are to the required standard. This will involve determining the level of the sample based on risk factors.
Using outputs from assurance activities to inform third party contract service provision reviews and contractual sanctions, which include financial penalties, where required. Establishing routine monitoring of Issues, challenges, learning from appeals/reversals, complaints, and any operational changes. Identifying and sharing, internally and with third party medical assessors, as appropriate, the learning from appeals, reversals, and complaints to ensure continuous development of the service and quality improvement and to monitor adoption of that learning. Ensuring checks are in place to verify suitably qualified and experienced medical assessors are recruited and adequate training and accreditation programme, with supporting training materials, is in place.
Ensuring suitable medical assessment operating procedures are in place with appropriate reviews and quality controls. Reviewing and monitoring third party medical assessment supplier arrangements for supervising and mentoring new and existing assessors, peer reviews, audit processes and clinical governance strategy and framework to ensure they are robust and meet NHSBSA Clinical Governance Framework standards. In collaboration with Head of Professional & Clinical Services ensuring mechanisms are in place so that the latest recognised scientific evidence is understood and referenced for the medical assessments. Designing and implementing a feedback mechanism to the medical assessors and review how effective this feedback is used.
Ensuring an effective mechanism is in place to identify and implement improvement opportunities. Delivering overview sessions with medical assessors as required to highlight good practice and standards expected. Building effective professional relationships and networks to ensure appropriate alignment and development of the service with the wider health and care system and the consensus of medical opinion. Represent the NHSBSA at meetings with external customers (eg.
DHSC, HMCTS, third party medical assessor) and take opportunities to enhance the profile and promote the reputation of the NHSBSA and its services

Please refer the Job description for details