Job requirements
Essential
8 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Knowledge & Skills
Ability to work as part of team and develop effective working relationships
- Knowledge & Skills
Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
- Knowledge & Skills
Ability to manage conflicting prioritise and work under pressure managing a caseload
- Knowledge & Skills
Computer literate, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Powerpoint, Excel and Word)
- Knowledge & Skills
Ability to analyse clinical and legal information
- Knowledge & Skills
Excellent attention to detail
- Qualifications and Experience
Degree level qualification or equivalent experience/qualifications
- Qualifications and Experience
Experience of working in a legal environment
Desirable
8 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Knowledge & Skills
An understanding of the inquest and claims processes
- Knowledge & Skills
Good knowledge of the NHS
- Knowledge & Skills
Experience and understanding of Mental Health law, including the Mental Health Act 1983, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
- Knowledge & Skills
An understanding of the laws relating to patient confidentiality and consent
- Knowledge & Skills
An understanding of the NHS Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) and experience of reviewing and understanding PSIRF reports
- Qualifications and Experience
Law degree or paralegal qualification
- Qualifications and Experience
Experience in a healthcare legal role
- Qualifications and Experience
Experience of managing legal files/ caseload
Job overview
The Paralegal assists in the effective management of the Legal Services Team to ensure that Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (the Trust) complies with its legal duties in relation to coroners’ inquests, claims and other healthcare legal matters.
The Paralegal will assist the Head of Legal Services and Legal Services Managers to ensure the smooth running of the legal services work within the Trust, which includes claims, coroners’ investigations & inquests and general healthcare legal advice to Trust staff. The Trust is a mental health and learning disability trust.
This role will involve undertaking day to day management of the progression of inquests and claims work with appropriate supervision. This will include close liaison with external stakeholders including coroners courts and NHS Resolution.
The Legal Services team works closely with the Risk & Safety team, who carry out investigations under PSIRF (Patient Safety Incident Response Framework). The Paralegal will need to work closely with this team to ensure that the coroner is kept up to date with the status of investigations under PSIRF.
Main duties of the job
- Liaise closely with the Coroner’s courts, providing them with information in accordance with deadlines
- Maintain a comprehensive database of inquests and claims and be responsible for the Legal Services diary including arranging legal meetings.
- Assist in preparing the Trust and its staff for inquests, including reviewing and advising on witness statements and complying with orders for disclosure.
- Attend inquests and court hearings in a supportive capacity and highlighting emerging risks to the Legal Services Team.
- Develop and maintain effective communication links with external agencies such as Coroner’s courts, external solicitors, county councils and the police.
- Report claims to NHS Resolution (NHSR). Collate the evidence required to investigate individual claims and liaise with NHSR to handle claims effectively.
- Work closely with the Risk & Safety team, assisting them with investigations that may run in conjunction with or contribute to an inquest or claim
- To support with other general legal matters when required at the direction of senior members of the department, which may include assisting and advising on legal queries from across the Trust, reviewing records and reports and drafting legal documents.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Paralegal with Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in Guildford, England. It is listed as a Band 5 Manager and corporate role. The advertised salary is £32,602 - £39,686 Incl. 5% Fringe HCAS, pa, pro rata.. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 30 Nov 2025.
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