About this role
Job summary
UHDB has a fantastic, efficient and supportive in-house legal team covering all aspects of legal advice including inquests, claims, advisory and employment. We have in-house solicitors, paralegals and administrative support largely dealing with matters entirely in-house.
This role is to act as a Senior Lawyer / Solicitor within the department providing management and supervision support to the team whilst also providing advocacy to more complex inquests and detailed engagement with the governance processes within the organisation.
Responsible for managing a caseload of inquests and personal injury claims, comprised of CNST (clinical negligence) claims and Employer's Liability and Public Liability claims. The portfolio of cases will be commensurate to seniority.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for assisting the Director of Legal Services and Deputy Head of Legal Services with the delivery of the full remit of services provided by the Legal Services Department at the Trust. This includes:
Meeting internal and external requirements.
Supporting staff in writing statements and other documents that may be required for legal matters.
Attending Inquests and other Court Hearings to represent the Trust and support Trust witnesses.
Undertaking advocacy in Court.
Delivering training to Trust staff and presentations and siting on committees and groups as required.
Providing a wide range of advice on medico-legal issues, including advice in emergencies.
Identifying Trust policies that require attention, re-drafting or amending as required and on request.
Being alive to Regulation 28 Prevention of Future Deaths issues and being able to escalate and deal with these accordingly.
Understanding the importance of and being able to triangulate knowledge with other Trust contacts appropriately.
Participating in governance processes.
To act as a role model and provide positive, professional and accountable leadership to the legal team.
The post holder will take a senior role in the delivery of the above aims, including supporting the wider team in delivery of the service.
Closing date of applications:21 June 2026
Interview date: 02 July 2026
About us
As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together
Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.
In return we will offer:
Development opportunities, both professional and leadership development On-going support from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond. Staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes Key Facts:
We see on average 4810 OP appointments a day. We are the 4th busiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England - an average of 2077 per week. An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day - 3rd largest in the country. Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily. Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres. We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres. We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day. UHDB is a research active University Hospital with a large and varied portfolio of clinical trials and research opportunities for all staff.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please see attached Job description and Person Specification. To apply please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account.
UHDB is committed to fair and transparent recruitment. We welcome authentic applications that reflect your own skills, experience and motivations for the role. While we understand that candidates may use AI tools for grammar, formatting or accessibility purposes, applications that appear to be substantially AIgenerated may be subject to additional review. If this applies to your submission, we will let you know and may ask for clarification. Please ensure your application accurately represents your experience and is written in your own words.
Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship Impacts of the changes to the UK immigration policy | NHS Employers
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Significant experience of working with a wide range of professionals. Significant experience of NHS Claims management, including high value clinical negligence claims and complex Coroner's Inquests or significant experience in a similar setting.
Desirable
Experience of working in a legal or insurance environment Court of Protection experience Experience of handling complex inquests, including jury and Art 2 inquests Supervision / management experience
Qualificatiions Essential
A qualified lawyer - Solicitor / Legal Executive / Barrister with relevant post qualification experience. Evidence of continuing professional development.
Desirable
Advocacy training, including higher rights qualification.
Skills Essential
Experience of managing/ supervising a team Experience of reporting on themes, trends and performance
Desirable
Knowledge of case management systems Experience of leading a team of other lawyers Experience of advising on a range of health law issues within the remit of the role Ability to develop and provide trend analysis and good governance so as to ensure the wider organisation is provided with the best data and tools to ensure system development and improvement
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Address Royal Derby Hospital
Uttoxeter Road
Derby
DE22 3NE
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)