Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Paralegal

The closing date is 21 August 2025

Job summary

Join Our Team as a Paralegal - Make a Real Impact in Healthcare!Are you ready to play a vital role in ensuring our Trust meets its legal and regulatory responsibilities? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where your attention to detail and investigative skills can truly make a difference? If so, we want to hear from you!

As a Paralegal, you'll be a key part of our Clinical Legal Services Team, managing a varied and meaningful caseload. You'll support the coordination and delivery of inquest management services and assist the Trust in responding to clinical negligence claims.

o Supporting investigations into clinical negligence claims and inquests.o Ensuring the Trust complies with NHS Resolution (NHSR) guidelines and legal obligations.

o Working closely with clinicians, legal advisors, and senior leaders to ensure robust, compassionate, and transparent case handling.o Contributing to organisational learning and improvement through your findings.

Main duties of the job

What We're Looking Foro A strong understanding of legal processes in healthcare, particularly inquests and clinical negligence.o Excellent organisational and communication skills.o A proactive, compassionate, and detail-oriented approach.o Experience in a similar role within the NHS or a legal/healthcare setting is desirable.o Why Join Us?o Be part of a supportive, forward-thinking team.o Make a tangible impact on patient safety and organisational learning.o Access to excellent training, development, and career progression opportunities.o Flexible working options and a strong focus on staff wellbeing.Ready to make a difference? Apply now and help shape a culture of learning, accountability, and excellence in patient care.

About us

At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

Details

Date posted

07 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year p.a.

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

152-S087.25

Job locations

Sentinel House

4 - 6 Nuffield Road

Poole

BH17 0RB


Job description

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contactdhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

Job description

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contactdhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

Person Specification

Knowledge, skills and training

Essential

  • Degree level in Law and Legal Practice (or equivalent experience.) or A bachelor's degree in paralegal studies or a related field such as criminal justice or political science
  • Knowledge of law and legal practice relevant to scope of role.ie Litigation and Inquest
  • Paralegal studies or a related field such as criminal justice or political science

Job specific experience

Essential

  • Ability to work autonomously, and as part of a team with integrity and confidentiality, managing own workload and demands
  • Ability to handle difficult or complex situations with compassion and sensitivity

Information Technology

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of using a range of word processing, spreadsheets, database and/or presentation software
  • Able to take and transcribe formal minutes to a high standard
  • Experience of adapting/designing /developing information systems

Managerial/Supervisory experience

Desirable

  • Previous supervisory experience
Person Specification

Knowledge, skills and training

Essential

  • Degree level in Law and Legal Practice (or equivalent experience.) or A bachelor's degree in paralegal studies or a related field such as criminal justice or political science
  • Knowledge of law and legal practice relevant to scope of role.ie Litigation and Inquest
  • Paralegal studies or a related field such as criminal justice or political science

Job specific experience

Essential

  • Ability to work autonomously, and as part of a team with integrity and confidentiality, managing own workload and demands
  • Ability to handle difficult or complex situations with compassion and sensitivity

Information Technology

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience of using a range of word processing, spreadsheets, database and/or presentation software
  • Able to take and transcribe formal minutes to a high standard
  • Experience of adapting/designing /developing information systems

Managerial/Supervisory experience

Desirable

  • Previous supervisory experience

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sentinel House

4 - 6 Nuffield Road

Poole

BH17 0RB


Employer's website

https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sentinel House

4 - 6 Nuffield Road

Poole

BH17 0RB


Employer's website

https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Learning and Review Strategic Lead

Amelia Atkin

amelia.atkin@nhs.net

07827081759

Details

Date posted

07 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year p.a.

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

152-S087.25

Job locations

Sentinel House

4 - 6 Nuffield Road

Poole

BH17 0RB


Supporting documents

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