Claims and Legal Coordinator

Job overview

1 x Fixed Term contract/secondment opportunity for up to 12 months

Internal applicants who wish to be considered for a secondment opportunity should discuss with their line manager the suitability of a possible secondment

To provide confidential and professional support to the Corporate Governance Directorate. The Corporate Governance Directorate incorporates Legal Services, Records Management, Accessing Health Records, Health & Safety and Security.

Main duties of the job

The purpose of the job holder will be to:

• To be primarily responsible for all low-value clinical negligence, employee and/or public liability claims and property expenses claims against the Trust.
• To prepare pre-action protocols for the range of claims against the Trust in line with NHSR guidelines.
• To independently manage and engage in the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process for claims within the role profile.
• To administer the maintenance of all Trust insurance policies.
• To manage and maintain legal databases.
• To represent the Trust at appropriate meetings with the Court, Solicitors and Tribunals.

The post holder will be required to have a thorough working knowledge of structures within Gloucestershire Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust in order to progress cases and enquiries on behalf of the Legal Services & Inquest Officers.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Claims and Litigation

• To maintain procedures for ensuring efficient management of litigation claims, using existing Trust and NHSR policies, Pre-Action Protocols and Civil Procedure Rules and the Trust Legal Case Management System (ActionStep).
• To record all outcomes of claims against the Trust in line with existing internal policies and procedures.
• Independently and proactively manage all low-value claims against the Trust to ensure that standards and litigation deadlines are met.
• Receive, analyse, and review complex legal documentation and correspondence, and communicate both verbally and in writing with NHS Resolution, witnesses, and claimants external to the organisation.
• Consult with and support all Trust colleagues involved in claims, including clinical and non-clinical staff at all levels, throughout the entire process and ensure that the Legal Services & Inquest Officers are informed of pertinent issues.
• Identify and escalate claims risks and issues which may have an impact on the organisation.
• Independently identify, collate, and review complex evidence and witness statements in relation to claims against the Trust.
• Maintaining and building upon existing working relationships with NHS Resolution and Panel Solicitors as a single point of contact, ensuring that there is a high degree of cooperation and exchange of information to ensure the best possible outcome for Claimants and the Trust in the settlement of claims.
• To assist in the management of Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process and to exercise their own judgement to negotiate and agree settlements with claimants on behalf of the organisation.
• Form primary liability decisions based upon the review and analysis of detailed technical clinical and non-clinical data in relation to claims and seek authorisation from the Legal Services & Inquest Officers to admit liability on indefensible claims.
• Manage and maintain electronic claims files, ensuring accurate and contemporaneous recording of information, invoices, and communications.
• Maintain own knowledge of relevant law relating to claims and be aware of updates through personal study and attending seminars run by panel firms of solicitors.
• Independently analyse complex, sensitive data, compile and produce comprehensive reports in relation to all claim’s activity and present findings via verbal briefing and in report format at relevant committee meetings.
• To assist the Legal & Officers in designing and delivering ad-hoc training to colleagues within the Trust on the claims process and what it means to be a witness of fact in the same.