Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Paralegal

The closing date is 29 June 2025

Job summary

The post-holder's main role is to assist the Legal Services Department with the effective management of claims against the Trust. This includesclaims related to clinical negligence, personal injury and public liability. The post-holder will arrange disclosure of medical records and obtaindocumentation relevant to such claims to assist internal investigation. The post-holder will work closely with clinical staff at all levels within the Trust and with those who have subsequently moved on from the Trust within the course of their work. They will also work closely with the PatientSafety, Health and Safety and Complaints teams. The role will involve exposure to distressing circumstances and adverse outcomes of clinical care on a regular basis.

Main duties of the job

To receive all new legal claims (clinical negligence, employers and public liability) and ensure they are acknowledged and recorded on the Trust's Litigation database.
To ensure records are retained of the searches undertaken for any missing record or document and that records are retained where necessary.
In the absence of the Claims Manager to identify urgent action on incoming mail and deal with this appropriately on own initiative.
To access NHS Resolutions CMS (Claims Management System) portal to download and file documents received from NHS Resolution and Panel.
To liaise with other hospital departments in requesting access to medical and personnel records and results.
To liaise with solicitors, insurers and Trust staff to set up meetings as required by the Claims Manager, including:
- Co-ordinating attendees, agenda and documents
- Progressing follow up actions as directed
- Co-ordinating diary dates.
- To maintain the Legal Department filing system, archiving completed cases as appropriate.
- To maintain sufficient office supplies to ensure that the department can function effectively and efficiently
To oversee and supervise any volunteer(s).
To assist the team with any other ad hoc work as required.

About us

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
Improving the experience of staff with disability
Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
Making equalities mainstream

Date posted

04 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

197-RF6873

Job locations

University Hospital Lewisham

London

SE13 6LH

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post-holder will be supervised by and have work allocated primarily by the Claims Manager.

The most demanding aspects of the role involves the requirement to act on own initiative to maintain an accurate diary and bring forwardsystem to ensure that progress on requested statements and reports is chased in a timely manner.
The role requires the ability to recognise when urgent action is required on incoming mail (both hard copy and electronic) and acting on owninitiative to process and escalate to managers as appropriate.
The role requires regular contact with staff of all levels, some of whom may be distressed by their involvement in challenges to the standard ofcare given, so the post-holder requires tact and diplomacy when dealing with them.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post-holder will be supervised by and have work allocated primarily by the Claims Manager.

The most demanding aspects of the role involves the requirement to act on own initiative to maintain an accurate diary and bring forwardsystem to ensure that progress on requested statements and reports is chased in a timely manner.
The role requires the ability to recognise when urgent action is required on incoming mail (both hard copy and electronic) and acting on owninitiative to process and escalate to managers as appropriate.
The role requires regular contact with staff of all levels, some of whom may be distressed by their involvement in challenges to the standard ofcare given, so the post-holder requires tact and diplomacy when dealing with them.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential

Educated to GCSE standard or equivalent in English and Maths

Desirable

Knowledge of courts and litigation process.

Experience

Essential

Significant experience of administrative, secretarial or personal assistant work in an office environment
Skilled in the use of Microsoft Word
Experience of working with databases and spreadsheets

Desirable

Experience of working in a legal office environment

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Excellent verbal and written English communication skills, including acute attention to detail
Excellent organisational and administrative skills
Ability to work under own initiative; to manage own time and prioritise workload
Ability to work under some pressure and to deadlines
Ability to deal tactfully and discreetly with matters of a confidential and sensitive nature
Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability and confidence to communicate fluently with a wide range of people in potentially sensitive situations (including having a good telephone manner).
Ability to form constructive working relationships, including the ability to guide staff in specific areas.
IT skills including word processing, spreadsheets, databases and email; including the ability to enter and extract data onto / from databases and spreadsheets
Ability to work with figures at basic level.

Desirable

An understanding of the Data Protection Act 2008 and GDPR
Experience of dealing with confidential, sensitive data with an understanding of the maintenance and storage of sensitive records.
Understanding of the need to adhere to office guidelines and procedures

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential

Educated to GCSE standard or equivalent in English and Maths

Desirable

Knowledge of courts and litigation process.

Experience

Essential

Significant experience of administrative, secretarial or personal assistant work in an office environment
Skilled in the use of Microsoft Word
Experience of working with databases and spreadsheets

Desirable

Experience of working in a legal office environment

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Excellent verbal and written English communication skills, including acute attention to detail
Excellent organisational and administrative skills
Ability to work under own initiative; to manage own time and prioritise workload
Ability to work under some pressure and to deadlines
Ability to deal tactfully and discreetly with matters of a confidential and sensitive nature
Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability and confidence to communicate fluently with a wide range of people in potentially sensitive situations (including having a good telephone manner).
Ability to form constructive working relationships, including the ability to guide staff in specific areas.
IT skills including word processing, spreadsheets, databases and email; including the ability to enter and extract data onto / from databases and spreadsheets
Ability to work with figures at basic level.

Desirable

An understanding of the Data Protection Act 2008 and GDPR
Experience of dealing with confidential, sensitive data with an understanding of the maintenance and storage of sensitive records.
Understanding of the need to adhere to office guidelines and procedures

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

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address

University Hospital Lewisham

London

SE13 6LH

Employer's website

https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address

University Hospital Lewisham

London

SE13 6LH

Employer's website

https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)