Legal Assistant Subject Access Requests

Transformation Unit; Chester; Hybrid; GBP 23.000 - 28.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a focused Subject Access Assistant to join our busy Legal Services team. You will manage requests from patients and authorised representatives for health record access with care, discretion and strict data protection compliance.

The role is full-time with training provided; you will work within a supportive team, meeting deadlines and escalating complex redactions to senior staff as needed. DBS checks apply where required.

Qualifikationen

• Knowledge of Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR in handling Subject Access Requests
• Experience handling sensitive and confidential information in healthcare
• Previous NHS/healthcare or information governance experience
• Willingness to follow DBS and sponsorship guidance as required

Aufgaben

• Register and acknowledge new Subject Access Requests
• Obtain identification and authority documentation where required
• Request and collate records from electronic and paper-based systems
• Maintain accurate case records and monitor deadlines
• Prepare documentation for review and secure disclosure
• Respond professionally to enquiries from patients and Trust colleagues
• Follow information governance and data protection procedures
• Provide general administrative support to the service

Kenntnisse

Data protection

UK GDPR

Information governance

Confidential data handling

NHS/healthcare experience

Ausbildung

GCSEs English and Maths

A-levels or equivalent

Vocational qualification (data protection, information governance, healthcare administration)

Further education in related field (Business Admin, Law, Health and SOC)

Jobbeschreibung

Employer Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Countess of Chester Hospital Town Chester Salary £25,272 pa Salary period Yearly Closing 08/11/2026 23:59

Legal Assistant Subject Access Requests

Band 2

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.

Our vision is to improve the lives of our community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation

Our High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.

As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit.

Job overview

Working Full time: 37.5 hours per week

We are looking for an organised, accurate and motivated Subject Access Assistant to join our busy Legal Services team.

The Subject Access team is responsible for processing requests from patients and authorised representatives for access to health records. This is an important administrative role requiring care, accuracy and discretion when handling sensitive and confidential information.

Main duties of the job

Working as part of a supportive team, you will:

• register and acknowledge new Subject Access Requests
• obtain identification, consent and authority documentation where required
• request and collate records from electronic and paper-based systems
• maintain accurate case records and monitor progress against deadlines
• prepare documentation for review and secure disclosure
• respond professionally to enquiries from patients, representatives and Trust colleagues
• follow established procedures for information governance, confidentiality and data protection
• provide general administrative support to help the service manage requests efficiently

You will receive training and support to develop the knowledge needed for the role. More complex decisions concerning redaction, exemptions and disclosure will be escalated to senior members of the team.

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

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

Person specification

Qualifications

• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics at grade C (or equivalent) or above.
• A-levels (or equivalent) in relevant subjects, or demonstrable equivalent experience in an administrative, compliance, or healthcare setting.
• A relevant vocational qualification (e.g., in data protection, information governance, healthcare administration).
• Further education in a related field (e.g., Business Administration, Law, Health and Social Care).

Knowledge and Experience

• Working knowledge of the Data Protection Act 2018, UK GDPR, and other relevant legislation, particularly in relation to Subject Access Requests (SARs).
• Experience handling sensitive and confidential information, ideally within a healthcare or legal environment.
• Previous experience in an NHS, healthcare, or information governance role.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
If the role is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 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.

Enhanced DBS check applications that are submitted with omitted or incorrect information will be withdrawn. In the event errors are identified on your original application, a new application will need to be submitted and you will be required to pay the DBS application fee again.

The cost of the DBS application will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. 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 - Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet these immigration rules.

For further details on skilled worker sponsorship, please consult the UK Home Office guidance: Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK. Additionally, the New guidance for overseas applicants | NHS Employers provides helpful information on the recruitment process for candidates applying for roles in the UK.

Overseas candidates are responsible for their travel expenses.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependent's (over 18 years old) will also be subject to this requirement.