Deputy Head of Clinical Legal Services: Sponsorship Available

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

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.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Solicitor/Barrister/CiLEX with 3 years relevant experience
  • Law degree
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice

Desirable

  • Capsticks Diploma in Clinical Risk and Claims Management

Experience

Essential

  • 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

  • Some exposure to Court of Protection matters

Technical Skills and Competencies

Essential

  • 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

  • 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

  • Able to work in stressful and complex situations with professionalism and calmness
  • Ability to deal objectively with difficult unpredictable situations

Personal Attributes

Essential

  • 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.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such 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.

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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had 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 dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 11 September 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.