Working Full time: 37.5 hours per week
The Legal Services Department is responsible for managing a broad range of legal matters on behalf of the Trust. These include inquests, clinical negligence and employer liability claims, as well as Subject Access Requests (SARs). In addition, the Legal team provides legal advice to staff on matters relating to the Trust's operations.
The Legal Services (SARs) Assistant has delegated responsibilities to provide administrative support primarily to the Legal Services Department in handling Subject Access Requests. These requests may come from patients or their relatives, solicitors in relation to accident or potential litigation claims, Trust Solicitors (via Litigation), the Police, the GMC, GDC, Veterans Agency, DWP, Coroner, Complaints Ombudsman (via the Complaints process), Continuing Healthcare Funding (CHC), and other healthcare providers or government bodies.
The postholder must be familiar with the statutory requirements of the Data Protection Act (DPA), the Access to Health Records Act (AHRA), and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to ensure compliance with legal restrictions and to uphold individuals’ rights of access to records.
As a Legal Services (SARs) Assistant, you will support the Trust in managing Subject Access Requests (SARs) in accordance with legal and regulatory frameworks, including the Data Protection Act (2018), UK GDPR, Access to Health Records Act, and Access to Medical Reports Act. Your responsibilities will include receiving, assessing, and processing requests for health records from patients, relatives, solicitors, police, courts, and other agencies.
You will ensure all disclosures meet statutory requirements, safeguarding patient confidentiality through careful redaction and secure data handling.
The role involves regular communication with internal departments and external bodies, providing advice and guidance on information access, and prioritising urgent or complex requests. You will also be responsible for maintaining accurate records, updating databases, handling sensitive or emotional queries with empathy, and contributing to the smooth, compliant, and efficient running of the Legal Services Department. Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and a collaborative mindset are essential for this varied and important position.
The Trust’s services are provided from three locations:
- The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
- Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
- Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.
The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’
Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.
If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service. Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
