Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a keen, enthusiastic, highly motivated individual to join the Healthcare Legal Team at North Bristol NHS Trust. The team are passionate about learning lessons from legal claims, inquests and advisory work and supporting staff in the delivery of outstanding healthcare and patient experience.
This role is to assist the solicitors/legal executive/s in the day to day case management of legal claims, inquests and healthcare legal advice.
The role will involve undertaking day to day management of inquests, clinical and non-clinical claims with appropriate supervision. You should have a minimum one year's experience as a Paralegal specialising in inquests, medical negligence and/or personal injury claims and/or equivalent experience or ILEX qualification or a Law degree.
As an organisation we offer opportunities for training and development, access to the NHS Pension Scheme, NHS discount, as well as access to onsite wellbeing and childcare facilities.
Interview Date: 21st August 2023
Main duties of the job
We are recruiting to the exciting role of a Paralegal - Healthcare Legal Team (Band 6).
The role is a full time post. This role will provide direct support to the solicitors within the in-house legal service in response to healthcare litigation, clinical negligence, personal injury, staff claims, occupiers liability and public liability claims, inquests and healthcare advice.
The successful postholder will undertake day to day management of clinical and non-clinical claims and inquests (with appropriate supervision), draft legal documents, undertake legal research of legislation and case law and assist in the provision of healthcare legal advice to clinical staff on a wide range of topics.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a growing team and provides an excellent opportunity to develop your skills and knowledge across a broad portfolio of legal claims, inquests and advisory work within a busy and supportive working environment.
About us
North Bristol NHS Trust is one of the largest acute trusts in the South West of England. NBT is a National Health Service Trust, providing hospital and community healthcare services to Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and North Somerset.Southmead Hospital is a designated major trauma centre, as well as a regional referral centre for renal medicine, urology, vascular and transplant surgery, neurology and neurosurgery.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Provide direct support to the Solicitors and/or Legal Executive within the in-house legal service in response to healthcare litigation, clinical negligence, personal injury, staff claims, occupiers liability and public liability claims, inquests and healthcare advice.
- Undertake day to day management of inquests, and clinical and non-clinical claims, with appropriate supervision.
- Draft legal documentation, undertake legal research of legislation and case law.
- Comply with the NHS Resolutions Reporting Guidelines and manage Pre-Action Claims, with appropriate supervision
- Comply with the Coroners Rules and Regulations, and Coronial Law
- Sharing lessons learnt through claims, inquests and healthcare advisory cases to improve patient experience.
Please see the Job Description and Person Specification for further details in relation to the role.
For further information about this post, please contact Natalie Smith (Associate Director & Head of Legal Services (Clinical)) on natalie.smith@nbt.nhs.uk or 01174149412
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Provide direct support to the Solicitors and/or Legal Executive within the in-house legal service in response to healthcare litigation, clinical negligence, personal injury, staff claims, occupiers liability and public liability claims, inquests and healthcare advice.
- Undertake day to day management of inquests, and clinical and non-clinical claims, with appropriate supervision.
- Draft legal documentation, undertake legal research of legislation and case law.
- Comply with the NHS Resolutions Reporting Guidelines and manage Pre-Action Claims, with appropriate supervision
- Comply with the Coroners Rules and Regulations, and Coronial Law
- Sharing lessons learnt through claims, inquests and healthcare advisory cases to improve patient experience.
Please see the Job Description and Person Specification for further details in relation to the role.
For further information about this post, please contact Natalie Smith (Associate Director & Head of Legal Services (Clinical)) on natalie.smith@nbt.nhs.uk or 01174149412
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Law Degree or equivalent experience/qualifications
- Paralegal with at least one year's experience specialising in inquests and healthcare advice and/or medical negligence and personal injury claims and/or equivalent experience
Work Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable evidence of managing or assisting a Solicitor/Solicitors with a caseload of clinical negligence, personal injury and employer's liability and public liability claims and/or inquests and experience of assisting with advising on general Healthcare Care Law, including mental capacity, mental health, Court of Protection, consent, Data Protection Act, Access to Health Records Act and the Children's Act
- Experience of working in a legal office environment
Knowledge/skills/abilities
Essential
- Knowledge of medical terminology
- Ability to work as a member of a team
- Excellent communications skills, both oral and written
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Computer literate, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Powerpoint, Excel and Word)
Desirable
- Good knowledge of NHS
- Knowledge of NHS Resolution, Civil Procedural Rules, Pre-Action Protocols for the Resolution of Clinical Disputes and Personal Injury Claims and/or the law relating to Coroner's inquests and investigations
- Ability to analyse clinical and legal information
- Experience of Court attendance and assisting solicitors in supporting staff at Court
Personal Qualities/Special Circumstances
Essential
- Ability to prioritise and work under pressure
Desirable
- Ability to communicate sensitive information on legal claims and inquests with staff and others
- Ability to negotiate legal settlements in respect of damages, with appropriate supervision
- Analytical ability, to include reviewing medical records to identify staff to approach for input on inquests and obtaining statements from staff
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Law Degree or equivalent experience/qualifications
- Paralegal with at least one year's experience specialising in inquests and healthcare advice and/or medical negligence and personal injury claims and/or equivalent experience
Work Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable evidence of managing or assisting a Solicitor/Solicitors with a caseload of clinical negligence, personal injury and employer's liability and public liability claims and/or inquests and experience of assisting with advising on general Healthcare Care Law, including mental capacity, mental health, Court of Protection, consent, Data Protection Act, Access to Health Records Act and the Children's Act
- Experience of working in a legal office environment
Knowledge/skills/abilities
Essential
- Knowledge of medical terminology
- Ability to work as a member of a team
- Excellent communications skills, both oral and written
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Computer literate, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Powerpoint, Excel and Word)
Desirable
- Good knowledge of NHS
- Knowledge of NHS Resolution, Civil Procedural Rules, Pre-Action Protocols for the Resolution of Clinical Disputes and Personal Injury Claims and/or the law relating to Coroner's inquests and investigations
- Ability to analyse clinical and legal information
- Experience of Court attendance and assisting solicitors in supporting staff at Court
Personal Qualities/Special Circumstances
Essential
- Ability to prioritise and work under pressure
Desirable
- Ability to communicate sensitive information on legal claims and inquests with staff and others
- Ability to negotiate legal settlements in respect of damages, with appropriate supervision
- Analytical ability, to include reviewing medical records to identify staff to approach for input on inquests and obtaining statements from staff
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).
