Skip to content

Helen is a partner specialising in employment law. Helen has over 25 years' experience acting for public and private employers in the healthcare sector.

Helen advises Boards and People teams within the NHS and independent healthcare sector on the full spectrum of employment and HR issues.

Helen has a particular expertise in advising on complex employee relations issues, including advising NHS Boards on whistleblowing, grievance and disciplinary matters and sensitive discrimination complaints. Helen has supported many clients through disciplinary and capability processes involving doctors using the national Maintaining High Professional Standards in the NHS (MHPS) framework and defended complex proceedings though the Employment Tribunal and Appeal Tribunal.

Helen has also spent many years advising clients in the independent health and care sector, including Community Interest Companies, care home providers and charities. She has significant experience of supporting both public and private sector clients on collaboration, workforce sharing, insourcing and outsourcing.

Experience

Helen works closely with her clients at both a strategic and ground level. This includes working with Boards and People teams on policies, process and procedures designed to bring about cultural and organisational change. Helen regularly presents to NHS Boards on their responsibilities to the workforce in areas of discrimination, whistleblowing and disciplinary processes.

Helen has many years of experience in supporting clients to navigate complex and sensitive grievance and disciplinary issues, including advising on processes involving senior clinicians and executives and successfully defending potential multi million pound claims through the Employment Tribunal.

In addition to her employee relations work, Helen regularly supports clients through organisational change, through collaboration with system partners and on the employment issues arising from contracting services in and out of the NHS. Helen has developed a particular expertise in advising ICBs and independent providers on the employment issues arising from Continuing Healthcare and Personal Health Budgets.

Independent sector

Helen also supports clients in the independent sector, advising recently on the strategy for responding to disclosures made by employees about alleged bullying behaviours by Board members. She also supports independent providers (often Community Interest Companies) on the employment issues arising from their contracts with NHS providers, on organisational change, TUPE and variation of terms and conditions of employment

Training

Helen has an excellent reputation for providing practical and engaging training on matters of real importance to the workforce. Helen has spoken at numerous national and regional events on Sexual Safety in the workplace and regularly provides training to Boards on workforce matters that can make a real difference to an organisation’s culture.