Job summary
- Main area
- Paralegal
- Grade
- Band 5
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (Potential contract extension available)
- Hours
- Part time - 22.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 820-6519769-COR
- Employer
- Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Trust Headquarters
- Town
- Birmingham
- Salary
- £29,970 - £36,483 Per Annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 06/09/2024 23:59
- Interview date
- 24/09/2024
Employer heading
![Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust logo](https://static.trac.jobs/employer-logos/384.png)
Band 5 Paralegal
Band 5
Job overview
***This job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested.
We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated individual for an opportunity that has arisen to join our Corporate Department as a Paralegal to support the Legal Services Manager, and be under their oversight and supervision, on an initial Fixed Term 12-month contract with a possibility for the role becoming permanent.
The post is an essential role which provides for a flexible working pattern.
The post holder will support the Legal Services Manager, and be under their oversight and supervision, and be responsible for defending civil claims against the Trust which include clinical negligence and employer/public liability claims. The post holder will be required to conduct all preliminary investigations, ensuring that all claims are managed efficiently within required timescales.
The post holder will assist in the management of Coroner’s investigations/Inquests, including conducting all preliminary investigations; assisting in identifying any organisational learning to ensure lessons are learnt for the benefit of future patients and staff.
The post holder will provide advice and guidance on Trust policies relevant to claims management, coronial law and where appropriate assist on healthcare related legal matters including court of protection under the direction of the Legal Services Manager.
The post is based at our Trust Headquarters at Priestley Wharf in Birmingham.
For enquiries, please contact by emailing [email protected] (for attention of the Legal Service Manager).
Main duties of the job
The post holder will support the Legal Services Manager, and be under their oversight and supervision, and be responsible for the management of clinical negligence and employer/public liability claims against the Trust including organising and conducting all preliminary investigations, ensuring that all claims are managed appropriately and efficiently and within required timescales.
The post holder will assist in the management of Coroner’s investigations/Inquests, including organising and conducting all preliminary investigations; assisting in identifying any organisational learning to ensure lessons are learnt for the benefit of future patients and staff.
The post holder will be liaising with NHS Resolution and panel solicitors and assisting with ensuring the Trust is compliant with the Civil Procedure Rules, NHS Resolution reporting requirements and HM Coroner Rules and Regulations.
The post holder will provide advice and guidance on Trust policies relevant to claims management, coronial law and where appropriate assist on healthcare related legal matters under the direction of the Legal Services Manager.
The post holder would be based at our Trust Headquarters, with in the Corporate Governance Team at Priestley Wharf in Birmingham.
Working for our organisation
IMPORTANT
· Please ensure you check your TRAC account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you during the shortlisting and selection process.
· Please ensure all sections of the application form are completed fully. Please particularly ensure that you provide full details of all referees including BUSINESS EMAIL ADDRESS, telephone contact details and postal address
Be Part of Our Team...
Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHC) has more than 5000 staff working across Birmingham and the West Midlands in a wide range of community nursing and specialist healthcare roles. BCHC delivers over 100 clinical services, in people's homes, health centres, clinics and inpatient facilities. We deliver a wide range of services for children, young people, parents and families as well as adults and community services, two community hospitals, services for people with learning disabilities, the internationally recognised West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre and one of Europe’s leading Dental Hospitals and School of Dentistry. We deliver all of this with a commitment to integrated, personalised care that is rooted in our local communities. We have an ambition to deliver outstanding, integrated care as one of the key NHS providers in the West Midlands.
If you want to ‘Be Part of Our Team’ and work with a Foundation Trust which is continuously striving for better care and healthier communities, we want to hear from you.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Main Duties
Claims/Other Litigation
1. To act as the main point of contact for all claims, clinical and non-clinical, made against the Trust.
2. To support the Legal Services Manager in the conduct of clinical negligence claims, including an initial review of medical records for disclosure, completion of a synopsis of the case, provide advice on additional evidence required and to provide administrative support as necessary.
3. To assist the Legal Services Manager in ensuring that all new clinical negligence claims are reviewed, that they provide sufficient information relating to allegations of negligence in accordance with the relevant Pre-Action Protocols, that a file is created and the claim is entered onto the claims database (DATIX) and that checks are made to identify if there are previous complaints/internal investigations. Where necessary, liaise with the Claimant solicitors to obtain sufficient information to ensure compliance with the pre-action protocol and to enable an internal investigation to be undertaken, if required.
4. To be responsible for employer/public liability claims, managing from start to finish, including preliminary investigations, gathering of evidence, identification of relevant factual witnesses and providing a preliminary report to the Legal Services Manager advising on strategy and next steps.
5. To identify any claims where there is a litigation risk and reporting these claims to NHS Resolution under the direction of the Legal Services Manager.
6. To use own initiative to identify relevant staff to direct enquiries to in claim management.
7. Supporting the Legal Services Manager with the management of complex and/or contentious cases by ensuring that all evidence is requested and obtained in a timely manner, escalating cases where responses are not forthcoming.
8. To liaise with NHSR, Trust solicitors, operational managers and other relevant Trust staff to ensure that all appropriate information is available to manage claims against the Trust. There will be occasions where the post holder will have to use tact and persuasion to progress matters.
9. To assist the Legal Services Manager with the gathering and collation of claims information for the purpose of regular reporting to the Divisions/the Board and for any other internal/external purpose.
10. To ensure that all claims are managed in accordance with the Trust’s relevant policies and procedures and escalating any issues of complexity or concern to the Legal Services Manager.
11. To maintain data on the claims database ensuring this is always kept up to date reflecting the position of the claim.
12. To propose changes to Standing Operating Procedures and Trust policy related to Claims Management as and when appropriate.
Coroner’s Inquests
13. To set up new cases on the Legal Services database, obtaining medical records, liaising with the risk management team to identify any complaint/incident investigation, reviewing medical records and identifying factual witnesses and general case management as requested by the Legal Services Manager.
14. To assist in the review of evidence before it is disclosed to the Coroner, identifying if any further evidence is required and highlighting any issues or concerns to the Legal Services Manager
15. To support the Legal Services Manager in ensuring the smooth organisation of complex inquests and facilitating the instruction and provision of information to external legal advisors.
16. Assist in the provision of in-house support and guidance for Trust staff attending Inquests and arranging pre-inquest support meetings as requested.
17. To contribute to the formulation and revision of legal services policies and procedures.
Legal Advice
18. To support the Legal Services Manager in providing specialist legal healthcare advice by obtaining clear and detailed information from those requesting advice to assist in the provision of appropriate legal advice.
General
19. To undertake any other duties commensurate with this post.
20. To minimise the Trust’s environmental impact wherever possible, including recycling, switching off lights, computers, monitors and equipment when not in use. Helping to reduce paper waste by minimising printing/copying and reducing water usage, reporting faults and heating/cooling concerns promptly and minimising travel. Where the role includes the ordering and use of supplies or equipment the post holder will consider the environmental impact of purchases.
Person specification
Other job requirements
Desirable criteria
- Able to demonstrate understanding of the Civil Procedure Rules, the claims process and HMC Rules and Regulations.
- Understanding of the principles of investigations/claims management
Experience
Essential criteria
- Significant experience of working in a legal envrionment
Desirable criteria
- Experience of civil claims
- Experience of working within the NHS
Skills/Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of confidentiality issues
- Ability to prioritise work and time management
- Excellent organisational skills
- High degree of accuracy and attention to detail
- Well-developed positive interpersonal and influencing skills with an ability to work with people in stressful situations.
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of relevant statutory obligations
Personal qualities
Essential criteria
- Ability to assimilate a large volume of information and initiate action
- Ability to manage own workload / Use of initiative
- Excellent time management
- Ability to work in a challenging and busy environment whilst meeting tight deadlines
- Ability to deal tactfully and discreetly with issues of a confidential/sensitive and legal nature.
- Able to work as part of a team
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Shanaz Anwar
- Job title
- Legal Services Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
List jobs with Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in Administrative Services or all sectors