The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word HOSPITALS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
H
O
S
P
I
T
A
L
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "his places of work" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case his places of work = hospitals.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does HOSPITALS mean?
HOSPITALS noun- A large medical facility, usually in a building with multiple floors, where seriously ill or injured patients are given extensive medical and/or surgical treatment.
- A building founded for the long-term care of its residents, such as an almshouse. The residents may have no physical ailments, but simply need financial support.
- A place of lodging.