Claims and Inquest Officer

Job overview

This is a great opportunity to join a fantastic team at an exciting time for the Trust. You will get unrivalled experience of Clinical Negligence and Public Liability claims, along with coronial and regulatory law.

The post holder will support the Legal Services Managers in the management of NHS claims in an efficient and effective manner in order to meet internal and court mandated timescales and assist in maintaining systems to provide timely and high quality reports and documents in order for the Trust solicitors and NHS Resolution to assess the viability of claims.

The post holder will also support the Legal Services Managers and the Trust generally, in preparing for and attending coronial inquests.

The post holder will contribute to identifying and sharing lessons learned from claims in line with the Trust’s approach to continuous service improvement.  The post holder will provide guidance on the claims process to support staff as required.

Main duties of the job

This post holder will support the Head of  Legal Services and Legal Services Managers in delivering high quality legal services across the Trust, ensuring that work is completed to the required standard in a timely fashion.

Please note, Job Description and Person Specification are subject to AfC approval.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of all targets and processes relating to legal management and to be a point of reference within the department for other members of the team
• Co-ordinate the management of the Trust clinical negligence pre-action and formal claims, to ensure acknowledgement and management of claim is provided within the designated timeframes
• Manage your own caseload of pre-litigated claims, litigated claims, and inquests.
• Use the Trust’s electronic database to register and manage claims and inquests
• Report any new potential claims to NHS Resolution
• Identify staff involved in the allegation of claim and request reports and statements both internal and external to the Trust to ensure a comprehensive investigation and preliminary reports on liability and causation
• Check disclosure documentation and obtain consent where necessary prior to release
• Co-ordinate draft letters to the Trust and claimant solicitors, ensuring these are correct and filed appropriately
• Monitor timescales and ensure these are adhered to, eg within 4 months in respect of reply to formal letter of claim
• Check all documentation to be released complies with legislation, including Data Protection Action 2018 and GDPR 2016 Regulations
• Undertake claims reviews as directed by the Legal Services Managers and Head of Complaints and Legal Services
• Update staff who have been involved in allegations of a claim, including final outcome
• Assess all new claims for quantum and expected probability of success, working under the direction of the Legal Services Manager and Head of Complaints and Legal Services
• Deal with inquest requests, requesting and checking relevant documentation, attending court and providing feedback to the Trust as required
• Assist in the preparation of witness statements for the purpose of inquests
• Participate, as necessary, with Trust internal investigation processes
• Liaise directly with coroner’s officers in relation to the arrangements for inquests
• Provide guidance to staff relating to the claims process to ensure staff are aware of what is required and ensure support is provided to staff where needed, escalating any concerns to the Legal Services Manager
• Identify any lessons learned and actions taken following claims and inquests and record on the Trust’s electronic system to enable wider sharing and continuous improvement
• Contribute to standard setting and the formulation, implementation and evaluation of policies and guidelines
• To undertake any further training which may be relevant to the post
• Attend conferences with solicitors, counsel, experts and clinicians.
• Attend inquests on behalf of the Trust and support Trust staff who have been called as witnesses
• Provide and support managers with a wide range of administrative and computer skills as well as maintaining a range of knowledge and understanding of procedures, protocols and functions.
• To work in partnership with other and as part of cross directorate teams to deliver successful outcomes
• Schedule and arrange meetings including the compilation of agenda and the taking and transcribing of formal minutes as required
• Work autonomously acting on own initiative to prioritise workload
• Act as first point of contact for the department, dealing with routine and specialist enquiries, communicating relevant information to stakeholders, referring to others as appropriate.
• Ensure that general office supply levels are maintained
• Responsible for sorting of all incoming post and ensure distribution to the relevant departments and to ensure that all out going post is documented and sent recorded delivery when requested
• Promote the image of the department, checking that notices and leaflets are up to date and well presented
• Ensure that all complaints, comments and suggestions are dealt with appropriately, in accordance with policy, resolving where possible and escalating to line manager when appropriate
• Have a flexible/adaptable approach to their work in order to meet various deadline.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide and receive complex information which may contain contentious and sensitive information
• Communicate and engage with external and internal stakeholders which may require negotiation skills and understand the needs/ requirements of other organisations, senior professional and individuals
• Update and maintain data basis and/or spread sheets relevant to work area.
• Deal with confidential and sensitive documents/issues, maintaining the strictest confidentiality and discretion at all times. This may include information of a distressing nature
• Be aware of and assist with service improvement regarding claims and across the Trust as a whole.
• Prepare claims outcomes and lessons learnt forms following closure of litigation cases.
• Ensure all information to enable a complete investigation is available reporting any discrepancies to the Office Manager.
• Identify service improvement opportunities and to work with the Legal Services Manager to develop and evaluate these opportunities
• Collate and report data for use in serve improvement.
• Prepare and deliver briefings, reports and presentations on your work area to colleagues within and outside the Trust.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES

• Participate in the induction of new staff, provide mentoring and to participate in educating others about the role of Legal Services Department.