Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for three consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.

Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video

Job overview

The Trust's legal services department is a fast paced, busy working environment, dealing with claims, inquest hearings, family court hearings and regulatory enquiries associated with all aspects of clinical and corporate services.

This role will provide the successful applicant the opportunity to apply their legal knowledge and experience within a diverse healthcare provider whose footprint covers Kent, Essex and North East London.

The purpose of the role is to handle Inquests, claims and requests for general legal advice and support. The post holder will also be providing administrative support to the in-house Lawyers.

The successful candidate will have experience of managing claims, Inquests and ad hoc legal advice as they will be required to manage a caseload upon commencement of the role.

This role is only open to current NELFT employees.

Main duties of the job

The main duties of the role of a Senior paralegal are set out within the job description attached to this advertisement.

Working for our organisation

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).

High Cost Area Supplement

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 5% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £1,192 to a maximum of £2,011).

COVID-19 Vaccination

We continue to encourage all staff to ensure that they have been double vaccinated and received their booster. We recognise that taking the vaccine provides the best defence against COVID 19 for our patients, our staff and their families.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer closely to this when completing your application.

We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Any development needs to help you succeed in the role, can be discussed at the interview stage.

Person specification

Skills

Essential criteria

effectively manage own workload

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Educated to CILEX Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice, or LLB, or equivalent.

Experience

Essential criteria

Significant specialist administrative experience of inquests, from liaison with the Coroner’s Office, notification of inquests through to comprehensive file preparation before an inquest hearing, and file closure post-hearing. Experience of writing court reports and preparing case files Significant administrative experience in complex legal and insurance claims, investigations, evidence gathering and court preparation work

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Understanding the legal and claims process in respect of medico-legal and corporate claims Awareness of NHS Resolution working practices and standards Knowledge and experience in the application of the Civil Procedure Rules and the Court process

Skills

Essential criteria

Ability to work to tight deadlines and effectively manage own workload

Benefits

We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:

A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff. A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our effortsto support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a ‘Top 10 Family Friendly Employer’ from the Working Families Charity. Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors. Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.

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