About this role
Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and compassionate clinician to join our team as SARC Clinical Lead. This is a senior leadership role responsible for providing clinical oversight, governance, and professional leadership across our Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) services.
As the Medical Lead Doctor, you will play a key role in ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, trauma-informed forensic healthcare for adults, children and young people who have experienced rape or sexual assault. Working closely with operational and clinical colleagues, you will help shape service development, maintain compliance with national standards, support quality improvement initiatives, and contribute to the ongoing development of our multidisciplinary workforce.
This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated clinician with extensive Sexual Offence Medicine experience who is passionate about safeguarding, clinical excellence, and improving outcomes for vulnerable individuals.
Hours: 28 hours per week (days and hours are negotiable)
Location: Bournemouth
Main duties of the job
The SARC Clinical Lead will provide clinical leadership and governance across SARC services, ensuring compliance with national standards, forensic regulations, and best practice guidance. The post holder will support and supervise Sexual Offence Examiners (SOEs), provide clinical advice and mentorship, lead training and peer review activities, and contribute to service development and quality improvement programmes.
The role includes undertaking forensic examinations of adult and paediatric patients, participating in clinical audits, incident investigations and safeguarding processes, and working collaboratively with police, healthcare partners, commissioners, and other agencies. The Clinical Lead will also support the organisation's UKAS accreditation journey, contribute to policy development, and help ensure the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred forensic services.
About us
Why Join Us?
PHL Group was founded in 2009 by a team of experienced General Practitioners and commercial partners, driven by a clear vision to deliver high-quality healthcare services that positively impact local communities. Led by an experienced team of clinicians and healthcare leaders with extensive expertise across urgent and primary care settings,
PHL Group operates a wide range of services across the UK and internationally, including Integrated Urgent Care, GP Practices, Custody Healthcare, ADHD services, Home Visiting, and Wait Time Support.
Supported by a well-established organisational infrastructure, robust clinical governance, and industry-leading professionals, PHL Group is committed to enabling people to remain well and receive the best possible health and social care through innovation, quality, and compassion.
At the heart of everything we do are our core values Truly Care, Team First, and Pioneering Innovationmaking PHL Group a forward-thinking organisation where people are empowered to make a real difference.
Applications
Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If your application is successful, you can expect to hear from us within 2 weeks of submission.
Please note that this advert will remain open until the position is filled. Interviews will be held throughout the advertising period, so we encourage you to apply early to avoid disappointment.
Job description Job responsibilities Job Description
The SARC Clinical Lead will provide clinical leadership and governance across Sexual Offence Examiner services, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality and nationally compliant forensic care.
Acting as Medical Lead Doctor, the post holder will support service development, clinical oversight and governance activity in collaboration with the Clinical Service Manager, contributing to continuous improvement and the professional development of Sexual Offence Examiners and Crisis Support Workers.
The post holder will support the provision of clinical leadership to the SARC team and provide leadership and mentorship to Sexual Offence Examiners and Doctors. This includes delivering induction, training and supervision for trainee Sexual Offence Examiners, including shadowing, competency assessment, case reviews and final sign-off. The post holder will support Sexual Offence Examiners in preparation for Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine examinations and practice profile sign-off and will deliver regular peer review sessions.
The role includes peer review of statements written by Sexual Offence Examiners within contractual obligations and provision of telephone support and clinical advice to Sexual Offence Examiners. The post holder will investigate clinical incidents and complaints, undertake clinical audits and contribute to the review and development of clinical policies and procedures.
The post holder will contribute to the development of SARC clinical services, innovation and research and undertake liaison and partnership working with key stakeholders. They will work collaboratively with paediatric services to develop paediatric referral pathways and service provision and participate in case strategy meetings.
The role includes carrying out forensic examinations for adult and paediatric victims of rape and sexual assault in accordance with relevant professional guidelines, organisational policy and national guidance. The post holder will participate in rota cover for forensic examinations and complete all required documentation in line with local guidelines, ensuring secure storage of records.
The post holder will complete written police witness statements within contractual obligations, complete child protection reports and safeguarding referrals as required and attend court as a professional witness when requested.
Working collaboratively with Crisis Workers and Police Officers, the post holder will support the delivery of services tailored to client needs and ensure all clients are treated with courtesy, consideration, care and respect.
The post holder will attend local and national Clinical Governance meetings, commissioner meetings and Employee Development Reviews as required. They will participate in multi-agency partnership working and support the establishment of effective referral pathways.
The post holder will adhere to organisational policies and procedures and maintain confidentiality in compliance with data protection and Caldicott requirements. They will participate fully in health and safety and infection prevention and control requirements and support the promotion of inclusion, equality and diversity in accordance with organisational policy.
The post holder will carry out any reasonable request from the Line Manager. This job description outlines the key duties and responsibilities of the role and may be reviewed as service requirements develop.
Person Specification
Skills & Abilities Essential
- Effective communication skills. - Excellent documentation skills. - Professional and non-judgemental approach. - Leadership skills. - Ability to deliver training. - Flexible approach to work and workload. - Ability to support and work collaboratively with others. - Ability to deliver high standards of customer service. - Discretion, confidentiality and integrity. - Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Desirable
- Educational supervision skills. - Appraisal skills.
Experience Essential
- Minimum five years' experience as a Sexual Offence Examiner. - Experience in forensic examination and medical aftercare of complainants of sexual assault. - Experience of clinical governance processes. - Leadership and management experience. - Teaching and presentation/training experience. - Excellent safeguarding knowledge and understanding.
Desirable
- Paediatric Sexual Offence Medicine (SOM) experience. - Root cause analysis training. - Training and/or experience in the role of educational supervisor.
Qualifications Essential
- General Medical Council (GMC) registration with a licence to practise. - Hold or be working towards Membership of the Faculty of Forensic & Legal Medicine (MFFLM) or Licentiate of the Faculty of Forensic & Legal Medicine (LFFLM), Sexual Offence Medicine (Children) (SOMc), or Sexual Offence Medicine (Adults & Children) (SOM A&C). - Enhanced DBS disclosure. - Medical indemnity cover (minimum £10 million). - Level 3 safeguarding experience for adults and/or children. - Access to own transport and full driving licence.
Desirable
- Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH) or able to demonstrate significant paediatric experience outside the SARC.
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 Partnering Health Ltd
Address SARC
The Shores
5 Madeira Road
BOURNEMOUTH
BH1 1QQ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.phlgroup.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)