Job summary
Legal Services Assistant - Claims Handler
Division: Corporate
Band: 3
Salary: £22,816 - £24,336 per annum/pro rata
We are recruiting for an Legal Services Assistantwho shares our ambition and vision to deliver theBest of Care by the Best Peopleand 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 managing a caseload of legal claims 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 detailed 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 to 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.
The NHS are striving towards "we work flexibly" as a workforce, we want to ensure that you can work in a way that is best for us, our patients, and importantly for you. We offer many flexible working opportunities, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement for you and if it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
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 Trusts commitment to a diverse, inclusive and an employer of choice workforce.
All staff at Medway comply the Trust's and the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Board's policies on safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide effective support to the Legal Services department ensuring high level 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 General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018, Section 3 of the Police Access to Health Records guidance, Access to Health Records Act 1990 (in respect of deceased patients), Access to Medical Records Act 1988, relevant DWP Health Service Circulars and the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.
This requires a robust pre-existing knowledge level of, or the ability to quickly develop through experience, the range of Trust areas of specialism and engagement with community and social care activities.
To provide excellent customer 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 NHSR claims investigators and other legal advisors 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, litigant in person etc.
Support the Legal Services Manager and Trust In-House Solicitor 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 Head of Legal Services and Deputy Head of Legal Services 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 personal records, clinical records, clinician and manager views and Trust policies and SOPs.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide effective support to the Legal Services department ensuring high level 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 General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018, Section 3 of the Police Access to Health Records guidance, Access to Health Records Act 1990 (in respect of deceased patients), Access to Medical Records Act 1988, relevant DWP Health Service Circulars and the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.
This requires a robust pre-existing knowledge level of, or the ability to quickly develop through experience, the range of Trust areas of specialism and engagement with community and social care activities.
To provide excellent customer 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 NHSR claims investigators and other legal advisors 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, litigant in person etc.
Support the Legal Services Manager and Trust In-House Solicitor 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 Head of Legal Services and Deputy Head of Legal Services 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 personal records, clinical records, clinician and manager views and Trust policies and SOPs.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A-Level qualification or equivalent qualification
- CiLex qualification, or working towards qualification
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of medical terminology, structures and processes, clinical governance, risk identification and incident reporting
- Good working knowledge of Trust systems, including Datix incident reporting
- Understanding of NHSR processes
Experience
Essential
- Experience within legal field
- Demonstrable experience working within public sector or NHS Acute Trust
- Proficient experience with MS Office Suite
Values Based Question
Essential
- Give an example of when you have acted as a role model
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- A-Level qualification or equivalent qualification
- CiLex qualification, or working towards qualification
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of medical terminology, structures and processes, clinical governance, risk identification and incident reporting
- Good working knowledge of Trust systems, including Datix incident reporting
- Understanding of NHSR processes
Experience
Essential
- Experience within legal field
- Demonstrable experience working within public sector or NHS Acute Trust
- Proficient experience with MS Office Suite
Values Based Question
Essential
- Give an example of when you have acted as a role model
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
