Job summary
- Main area
- Legal
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a (subject to consistency checking)
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (The post is Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays. The postholder is required to work between the core working hours of 08:30 to 16:30. The postholder will be expected to work outside normal core hours on occasions to meet the needs of the service such as court attendances and external meetings.)
- Job ref
- 153-CO06599
- Employer
- University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Bournemouth Hospital
- Town
- Bournemouth
- Salary
- £57,528 - £64,750 pa
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 11/09/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 21/09/2026
Employer heading
Deputy Head of Clinical Legal Services
NHS AfC: Band 8a (subject to consistency checking)
As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.
We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.
In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.
We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.
We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.
At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.
As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.
We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.
Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced legal professional to join University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust as our Deputy Head of Clinical Legal Services.
Working within the Clinical Legal Services team, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the Head of Clinical Legal Services across the full remit of the department which manages inquests, clinical negligence and non-clinical claims, and healthcare law advice. You will lead the day-to-day operation of the Trust's inquest function, manage non-clinical claims and support in a caseload of clinical negligence claims along with providing specialist legal advice to clinical teams across a wide range of healthcare law matters.
This is a varied and rewarding role requiring excellent legal knowledge, strong analytical skills and the ability to manage sensitive and complex cases. You will work closely with senior clinicians, NHS Resolution, external solicitors, Coroners, patients' families and Trust leadership teams to ensure effective case management, support organisational learning and help minimise legal and reputational risk.
The primary base is the Royal Bournemouth Hospital site with a requirement to work across all Trust sites and off site locations including the Coroner's Courts.
Interview date: 21st September 2026
Main duties of the job
As Deputy Head of Clinical Legal Services, you will:
- Lead the day-to-day management of the Trust's inquest service, ensuring compliance with Coroner and Court deadlines.
- Manage a caseload of inquests, non-clinical claims and a number of clinical negligence claims from receipt through to resolution.
- Represent the Trust as an Interested Person at Coroner's Inquests, including making submissions on relevant matters of Coronial law.
- Provide specialist advice on healthcare law issues, including consent, capacity and best interests matters.
- Liaise with external solicitors, NHS Resolution, Coroners, claimants and internal stakeholders to progress cases effectively.
- Support staff in preparing witness statements and provide guidance and support before court appearances and legal proceedings.
- Identify and escalate patient safety concerns, reputational risks and governance issues arising from claims and inquests.
- Assist in the development of policies, procedures and training programmes relating to claims, inquests and healthcare law.
- Produce reports and present trends, outcomes and learning from cases to governance committees and senior Trust groups.
- Deputise for the Head of Clinical Legal Services, providing leadership, operational management and support to the wider team as required.
Working for our organisation
UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.
This service recently moved into new offices at Tringham House based on the Royal Bournemouth Hospital site, but also has a small office at Poole Hospital. A staff shuttle service operates between the two sites.
If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.
UHD has active networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.
AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Deputy Head of Clinical Legal Services is a senior specialist role responsible for supporting the delivery of a comprehensive clinical legal service across University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust.
The post holder will oversee the operational management of the Trust's inquest function, ensuring timely investigation, allocation and progression of coronial matters and will manage their own caseload of inquests.
The successful candidate will independently investigate and manage non-clinical claims under the Liability to Third Parties Scheme and Property Expenses Scheme, while also supporting the management of a caseload if clinical negligence claims. Working closely with NHS Resolution and external legal representatives, they will ensure compliance with relevant legislation, court procedures and NHS requirements.
A key aspect of the role involves providing specialist healthcare law advice to clinical teams, supporting decision-making in relation to patient care and treatment.
The role requires the ability to communicate highly sensitive and complex information with confidence and professionalism.
The post holder will work in partnership with clinicians, governance teams and senior leaders, helping to identify patient safety issues, organisational learning opportunities and reputational risks arising from legal casework.
The Deputy Head of Clinical Legal Services will contribute to service development by supporting the review and implementation of policies, maintaining compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and ensuring Trust procedures reflect current legal guidance and best practice. They will also assist in the supervision and development of Clinical Legal Services staff and contribute to educational programmes across the organisation delivering training sessions for clinical staff.
This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated legal professional seeking a challenging and influential role within a large NHS organisation currently undertaking a significant transformation programme. You will join a supportive team dedicated to improving patient safety, supporting staff and ensuring the effective management of legal risk across the Trust.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Solicitor/Barrister/CiLEX with 3 years relevant experience
- Law degree
- Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice
Desirable criteria
- Capsticks Diploma in Clinical Risk and Claims Management
Experience
Essential criteria
- At least 3 years’ experience of dealing with claims, inquests and healthcare law advice in an NHS setting
- Experience of appearing in court and representing clients in contentious matters
- Experience in managing challenging conversations with articulate, distressed and/or emotional individuals in highly sensitive situations in formal settings
- Experience of Mental Capacity Act, best interest, capacity and consent issues.
Desirable criteria
- Some exposure to Court of Protection matters
Technical Skills and Competencies
Essential criteria
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to negotiate and communicate contentious issues and information influencing change to senior individuals within and outside the organisation
- Able to work autonomously and with discretion within legal and Trust frameworks
- Ability to investigate complex cases
- Analyse data to produce key messages, reports, and recommendations
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Expert knowledge of Inquest procedures and requirements of Coroners Court
- Expert knowledge of the Pre-action Protocol for Personal Injury
- Knowledge of the Court of Protection process
- Ability to make decisions autonomously, on difficult issues, acting as a senior reference point of expertise and knowledge for members of the legal services team
- Knowledge of Mental Capacity Act
Other requirements specific to the role
Essential criteria
- Able to work in stressful and complex situations with professionalism and calmness
- Ability to deal objectively with difficult unpredictable situations
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
- Self-motivated and able to work independently and with minimal management and excellent time keeping
- Resilient
- Excellent time management skills
- Able to manage conflict and resolve problems.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Jennie Moffat
- Job title
- Head of Clinical Legal Services
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0300 019 6024
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