Legal & Risk Services is a division of the NHS Wales shared Services Partnership which provides a comprehensive legal advisory service to the NHS.
Our Core Values, which are important in how we work with our clients and how we support our colleagues, are:
* Listening and Learning
* Working together
* Taking responsibility
We have an exciting opportunity for a Paralegal to join our Complex Patient Team with a particular focus on Court of Protection work. You will be assisting our growing team of solicitors and fellow paralegals who advise and represent the whole of the NHS in Wales.
The types of cases we typically advise on include:
* Consent and capacity for adults and children
* Use of restraint
* Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (soon to transition to the Liberty Protection Safeguards)
* Mental Health
* End of life decision making
* Inquests that have issues of Mental Health or Mental Capacity.
The Team are experts in their field who are regularly instructed in novel and high profile cases. We work closely with our clients' Mental Health, Learning Disability, Paediatric, Nursing, and Intensive Care teams.
The ideal candidate for this position must have good communication skills, a confident approach to work and can demonstrate our core values. There will be a need for empathy and sensitivity due to the very personal nature of the cases we deal with.
Main duties of the job
You will assist in the day-to-day management of cases under close supervision of a Senior Lawyer. You will have opportunities to contribute to the team and wider Legal & Risk family. You will be responsible for opening new enquiries, liaising with clients and witnesses, attending hearings at court and helping witnesses navigate the court process. This will include reviewing medical records/reports, drafting letters to obtain evidence and assisting in the preparation of client advice, witness statements, court bundles, and instructions to counsel.
The post holder will need to establish and maintain good working relationships with a variety of health care professionals, colleagues within Legal & Risk Services, Court officers, witnesses and experts.
Some experience in Court of Protection is desirable but what is important is a genuine interest in this area of work.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; English and/or Welsh speakers are equally welcome to apply.
About us
At NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership we expect everyone to embrace our values of Listening and Learning, Working Together, Taking Responsibility and Innovating.
Our organisation encourages an agile working approach and we pride ourselves on being a learning organisation motivated by continuous improvement.
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values equality, diversity and inclusion, focussing on the wellbeing and belonging of our people.
Excellent customer service is something we strive for, for both our internal and external customers.
Offering a comprehensive benefits package, there is something for everyone. To find out more about working for us, the benefits we offer and guidance on the application process please visit here.
NWSSP work in an agile way where possible, all posts will have a contractual base but as part of agile ways of working that may mean working from home and other locations. We also look at how we balance flexibility with community, and how to manage opportunities to learn from each other.
Job responsibilities
You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click Apply now to view in Trac.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Knowledge
* Law Degree (or equivalent)/CILEX qualification
* LPC or equivalent
* Knowledge of courts and litigation process.
* Structure of the NHS
Experience
* Experience of working in a legal office environment
* Experience of dealing with confidential, sensitive data with an understanding of the maintenance and storage of sensitive records.
* Understanding of the need to adhere to office guidelines and procedures
* Working to deadlines
* Defendant/Claimant personal injury or clinical negligence
Skill and Attributes
* IT Skills/Computer literate to include the ability to learn new technologies and IT introduced.
* Ability to communicate in all formats, in plain English.
* Analytical negotiating ability
* Ability to prioritise and organise own work
* Ability to recognise own capabilities
* Ability to liaise and communicate with both internal and external personnel at all levels confidently.
* Evidence of excellent client care skills
Values
* Demonstrate how your personal qualities match against our NWSSP core values: Listening and learning,
* Working together
* Taking responsibility
Other
* Willing to undertake further professional development
* Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in Welsh.
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.
Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working
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