Claims Handler - 37 Hours

Application Deadline: 16 February 2026

Department: Corporate Services

Location: Torbay Council

Compensation: £35,412 - £38,220 / year

Description

Job Description & Person Specification >

Torbay is breath-taking, captivating, and welcoming, occupying a prime position on the south coast of Devon. Currently experiencing unprecedented levels of investment and the Council’s own ambitious transformation programme have given Torbay the opportunity to capitalise on the area’s profile and many assets.

As a unitary authority, you’ll discover Torbay is a place where you can make things happen quickly. We have real momentum building, fuelled by a shared sense of purpose and ambition - which is evident by our success in being awarded the ‘Most Improved Council’ in the Local Government Chronicle Awards 2023.

We want Torbay and its residents to thrive and are committed to making a difference in our community, delivering high quality services to local people. To complement this journey, we are now seeking a Claims Handler to join our Legal Services Team.

This post holder will carry a mixed case load primarily of civil litigation matters centred upon the defence of public and employers’ liability claims and will provide risk management and claims advice to Council departments covering a wide spectrum of public servic

es. No two days will be the same, for which those already working within local government will attest to and actively thrive upon.

Undertaking the role of Claims Handler, you will be excited by a fast-paced and varied caseload, conscientious, professionally curious, and a role model to other team members. You will be a flexible team player, adept at communicating with a wide variety of different audiences and be able to work to deadlines with a diverse and busy caseload. We are looking for someone who can hit the ground running so experience in claims handling is essential. Local authority experience is desirable but not necessary.

In return, you will join a supportive and rewarding organisation and team, whereby your talent will be valued and actively developed. At Torbay Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from our people, and we are excited for you to join us. We also understand the importance of an effective work-life balance, therefore offer an enviable hybrid working approach. This is managed effectively around the need to attend essential meetings and/or make court appearances in line with the remit of the role.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to work for an employer that is in a great period of change and sees legal services as not simply a support function, but an enabler in the pursuit of the highest standards and outcomes for its residents.

This post requires a Standard Criminal Level Check. This will show details of all spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions that have not been filtered in line with legislation.

If you are viewing this advert on a job board, you can access the full job description by placing the below URL into your browser:
https://www.torbay.gov.uk/jobs/job-descriptions/claims-handler/

For an informal chat please contact Samantha Goodwin on 01803 207164 or samantha.goodwin@torbay.gov.uk.

Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing 23rd February 2026.

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Our adverts do sometimes close early - even where there's a published deadline - so if you're keen, please apply as soon as possible.

Skills

Essential:

• Ability to give clear and accurate legal advice to client departments to ensure that they may effectively consider risk and statutory obligations in their decision making.
• To be analytical, investigative, and possess effective decision-making skills to enable accurate and reasoned determinations of legal liability.
• Ability to conduct legal research autonomously and confidently interpret statutes, regulations, and other legal resources to determine legal liability and quantum.

As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Knowledge

Essential:

• A high-level knowledge of the law of tort.
  
  

Experience & Qualifications

Essential:

• CILEX qualification level 3, or recognised claims handling qualifications from an approved body i.e., Chartered Insurance Institute, Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 3 years suitable and relevant claims handling experience.