Paralegal

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

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.