Division: Corporate
Band: 3
We are recruiting for a Legal Services Assistant who shares our ambition and vision to deliver the Best of Care by the Best People and has the drive to take us forward, by ensuring that the Trust continues to be the first choice for patients and our staff.
We are seeking a confident, enthusiastic and motivated person for this role based at Medway Maritime Hospital.
Main duties of the job
This is an extremely demanding but diverse and interesting role. As a Legal Services Assistant, you will be responsible for assisting with a caseload of legal claims and disclosure requests in accordance with national and local policies and procedures. You will be required to work to tight deadlines. You will liaise with individuals at all levels, including senior staff, solicitors, and NHS Resolution.
You will have a good understanding of civil law procedures and the principles of negligence. You will be able to work in a high-pressure environment and will have excellent communication skills. You will also have highly developed interpersonal skills, the capacity to deal with highly sensitive situations and the ability to work effectively and professionally with colleagues across the Trust and externally. In return, you will become part of a friendly and supportive team, with the opportunity to learn and develop your knowledge of claims management.
Our values are Bold, Every Person Counts, Sharing and Open and Together. It is important that you understand and refer to our values when completing your application and always reflect our values throughout your employment with the Trust.
We are committed to endorsing diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion; our policies/procedures ensure that all applicants are treated fairly at every stage of the recruitment process.
To contribute to our exciting future and become part of our team, apply today.
About us
Here at Medway, we pride ourselves on working together as one to ensure that our shared vision of Better, Best, Brilliant is achieved. Our culture and values are what drives the Trust and is the heartbeat of who we are as an organisation.
Our Trust is a great choice for people who want to develop their career in an ambitious environment.
All of our substantive & fixed term employees can enjoy a range of staff benefits, a gym, an active health and wellbeing programme, an on-site nursery and a cycle to work scheme.
We are taking positive action to ensure that we can attract, recruit and retain the best talent and would welcome more applicants from under-represented groups to support the Trust's commitment to a diverse, inclusive and an employer of choice workforce.
All staff at Medway comply with the Trust's and the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Board's policies on safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Job responsibilities
To provide effective support to the Legal Services department ensuring high levels of professional operation and high levels of administration support are evident at all times.
Effective processing of appropriate and lawful disclosure of both patient personal information under the UK General Data Protection Regulations and the Data Protection Act 2018, Access to Health Records Act 1990 and the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.
To provide excellent service to both internal and external customers; the role has a regular external facing element speaking with patients, solicitors, the police and other Trusts on a daily basis. This is a significant feature of the role often requiring sensitivity, tact, diplomacy and empathy together with excellent communication skills.
Ensure the timely reporting of claims to NHS Resolution (NHSR) in accordance with their procedures.
To obtain all relevant documentation, information and reports to assist the claim managers and other legal staff in assessing liability and quantum. To provide this documentation to NHSR or panel solicitors within appropriate timescales.
Oversee the disclosure of records and other documents as requested to NHSR, solicitors, litigants in person etc.
Support the Legal Services Manager and the Associate Director for Legal Services to provide support and information to members of staff who are involved in claims investigations or who are required to give evidence in court, also providing information as requested to support preparation of Board reports.
Assist claims handlers and legal representatives dealing with Trust claims, arranging and attending meetings with relevant staff and obtaining other relevant information including personnel records, clinical records, clinician comments and copies of the Trust procedures.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* CiLex qualification, or working towards qualification
Knowledge
* Understanding of medical terminology and NHS structures and processes
* Good working knowledge of Trust systems, including Datix
* Understanding of legal principles for processing disclosure requests
* Understanding of NHS Resolution processes and systems
Experience
* Experience within the legal field
* Demonstrable experience working within the public sector and to strict deadlines
* Proficient experience with MS Office Suite
* Previous NHS experience
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Associate Director for Legal Services (Solicitor)
£24,071 to £25,674 a year per annum/pro rata
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