Paralegal - Inquests - NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership

Closing date: 23/02/2025 23:59

Band 4

£26,928 - £29,551 per annum

37.5 hours per week

Job overview

Legal & Risk Services is a division of the NHS Wales shared Services Partnership, based in Cardiff, which provides a litigation and comprehensive legal advisory service to the NHS. The above positions provide a unique opportunity to develop your skills in an informal but challenging environment. 

We have an exciting opportunity for a Paralegal to join our Inquest Team and assist in the day-to-day management of Inquests for Local Heath Boards (LHB) and NHS Trusts in Wales, under close supervision of a Senior Lawyer. 

The ideal candidate for this position must have good communication skills, a confident approach to work and can demonstrate our core values:

Listening and Learning
Working together
Taking responsibility
Innovating

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for opening new enquiries, liaising with Coroner’s officers, attending inquest hearings at court and helping witnesses navigate the inquest process. This will include reviewing medical records/reports, drafting letters to obtain evidence and assisting in the investigation of inquests.

The post holder will need to establish and maintain good working relationships with inquest handlers, clinicians, health care professionals, colleagues within NWSSP Legal & Risk Services, Court officers, witnesses and experts.

Working for our organisation

At NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership we expect everyone to embrace our values of Listening and Learning, Working Together, Taking Responsibility and Innovating.

Our organisation encourages an agile working approach and we pride ourselves on being a learning organisation motivated by continuous improvement.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values equality, diversity and inclusion, focussing on the wellbeing and belonging of our people. 

Excellent customer service is something we strive for, for both our internal and external customers.

Offering a comprehensive benefits package, there is something for everyone.  

NWSSP work in an agile way where possible, all posts will have a contractual base but as part of agile ways of working that may mean working from home and other locations. We also look at how we balance flexibility with community, and how to manage opportunities to learn from each other.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply”.

Person specification

Qualifications and/or Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Law Degree (or equivalent)/cilex qualification

Desirable criteria

• LPC or equivalent
• Knowledge of courts and litigation process.
• Structure of the NHS

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of working in a legal office environment
• 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
• Working to deadlines

Desirable criteria

• Defendant/Claimant personal injury or clinical negligence

Skills and Attributes

Essential criteria

• IT Skills/Computer literate to include the ability to learn new technologies and IT introduced.
• Ability to communicate in all formats, in plain English.
• Analytical negotiating ability
• Ability to prioritise and organise own work
• Ability to recognise own capabilities
• Ability to liaise and communicate with both internal and external personnel at all levels confidently.

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of excellent client care skills

Values

Essential criteria

• Listening and Learning
• Working Together
• Taking responsibility
• Innovating

Other

Essential criteria

• Willing to undertake further professional development

Desirable criteria

• Welsh Language Skills are desirable levels 1 to 5 in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing in Welsh.