Deputy Head of Legal Services - Inquests | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

We are seeking a Deputy Head of Legal Services with a focus on Inquests.

As a pivotal member of our senior legal team, you’ll not only support the Head of Legal Services in steering a high‑performing department, but also take direct ownership of leading and developing our Claims and Inquest Officers. You will provide trusted cross‑cover for the Deputy Head of Legal Services-Claims, ensuring continuity at critical moments, and you’ll set the tone for the entire service by modelling the professionalism, accountability and integrity we expect at every level. This is your opportunity to influence, inspire and elevate a team that plays a vital role in our organisation’s success.

In this senior role, you will help shape the delivery, culture and strategic direction of our Legal Services function, acting as a trusted deputy to the Head of Legal Services. You will support the leadership and management of the department and provide direct line management and professional guidance to Claims and Inquest Officers, setting the tone for a high‑performing and supportive team.

You will independently manage a complex portfolio of coroner’s inquests, acting as the organisation’s advocate in court, liaising with coroners, instructing external legal advisers where needed, and preparing responses to Regulation 28 reports. You will identify and escalate risks arising from inquests, support organisational learning and patient safety, and provide clear, compassionate information to patients and families. In addition, you will contribute to policy development, legal training, inquest case management meetings and continuous professional development across the team.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trustis one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury. For more information on OUH please viewOUH At a Glance by OUHospitals - Issuu

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.

We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.

These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via theOUH YouTube channel.

*Healthcare Legal Advice: Providing expert legal advice on healthcare law including patient consent, capacity, confidentiality, safeguarding, and regulatory matters, and briefing senior management on sensitive legal issues with potential operational or reputational impact.

*Safeguarding Responsibilities: Liaising with safeguarding leads on care proceedings, providing advice on disclosure and statements, supporting staff giving evidence in family courts, and advising on complex legal issues related to Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

*Police and Criminal Cases: Deputising in managing police requests for healthcare records and statements, ensuring compliance with GDPR and confidentiality, liaising with police and security, and advising on legal actions to protect patients and staff during violent or threatening incidents.

*Reporting and Administration: Assisting in preparing claims reports, managing inquest data audits, attending committees, and supporting complaint and incident report reviews, alongside developing operational procedures for efficient inquest management.

This advert closes on Wednesday 1 Jul 2026

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