Job summary
University Hospitals Sussex NHSFT - cross site Medical Examiner Officers:
An exciting opportunity is available at University Hospital Sussex (UHSx) NHS Foundation Trust for further full time Medical Examiner Officers. After successful implementation of the Medical Examiner (ME) Service in our acute hospitals, we are expanding into the Community and Primary Care Settings in the West Sussex and Brighton locations.
We are looking for enthusiastic, motivated, and compassionate Medical Examiner Officers (MEO) to join our team, to help support the continued delivery of the Acute ME Service across our hospital sites. You will be key in supporting the Medical Examiner process, the Trust's mortality process and provide support to a range of staff within the Trust around mortality and the ME Service.
We have more than 1 full time position available and may be able to offer some part time positions which will be site specific and dependent on the service needs. Please highlight your desired working pattern in the supporting information of your application.
Please contact uhsussex.medicalexaminersoffice@nhs.net for further details.
Main duties of the job
These roles will incorporate administrative skills in ensuring necessary paperwork is accurate and complete, but also excellent communication skills during liaison with doctors, nurses, families, and where appropriate, the Coroners' services. Part of the day to day work will also involve investigation work and perusal of patient notes so a good working knowledge of medical terminology is important together with relevant clinical experience in an acute/community setting.
We have set up Medical Examiner Offices within the following sites of the Trust:
- St Richards Hospital in Chichester
- Worthing General Hospital
- Princess Royal Hospital at Haywards Heath
- Royal Sussex County Hospital at Brighton.
This enables the Medical examiners to scrutinise every applicable inpatient death in the Trust as well as developing the service to take on the responsibility of reviewing the circumstances of all community deaths in West Sussex and Brighton locations as the national programme rolls out locally. To do this, we have aimed to develop a responsive and fluid service which is adaptable to the needs of the Trust, our patients, and our workforce. An element of cross site working is expected in consideration of work base preference at recruitment.
Successful applicants will be expected to complete formal training appropriate to the role when in post, online training produced by the Royal College of Pathologists should be completed prior to commencement of the post.
About us
Join us at UHSussex, every day is different, you can be the change, better never stops
At UHSussex we're proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK's largest acute Trusts, we're a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.
Improving lives: We are a vibrant and inclusive organisation, with hardworking, talented and dedicated individuals, who work together towards a common goal, to always put our Patient First. Our mission is summed up by our 'where better never stops' motto and no matter the role at UHSussex, you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex. We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our wellbeing programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
Build a career with us: As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Effective verbal, non-verbal, and written communication with all members of the multidisciplinary team within own department and relevant departments and both internal and external to the Trust. To discuss content of medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) with relatives of deceased and in all cases, collect additional information. This may include the need to communicate sensitive information and offer explanations. Communicate via all mediums with families, carers, clinical teams, in relation to medical examiner scrutiny and the outcomes of any discussions. To assist relatives in identifying appropriate information and additional/further advice and support e.g. Patient Advice Liaison Service, Bereavement Office information and external agencies. To ensure any concerns raised by the relatives are escalated as appropriate to the Medical Examiner or Coroners Office in a timely manner. Address inappropriate behaviour in others in a professional manner. To participate in meetings with relatives alongside the Medical Examiner and other members of the multidisciplinary team.
Please see Job Description and Person Specification for full details.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Effective verbal, non-verbal, and written communication with all members of the multidisciplinary team within own department and relevant departments and both internal and external to the Trust. To discuss content of medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) with relatives of deceased and in all cases, collect additional information. This may include the need to communicate sensitive information and offer explanations. Communicate via all mediums with families, carers, clinical teams, in relation to medical examiner scrutiny and the outcomes of any discussions. To assist relatives in identifying appropriate information and additional/further advice and support e.g. Patient Advice Liaison Service, Bereavement Office information and external agencies. To ensure any concerns raised by the relatives are escalated as appropriate to the Medical Examiner or Coroners Office in a timely manner. Address inappropriate behaviour in others in a professional manner. To participate in meetings with relatives alongside the Medical Examiner and other members of the multidisciplinary team.
Please see Job Description and Person Specification for full details.
Person Specification
Experience/qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse/Allied Health profession or equivalent professional qualification/experience
- Experience of working in a healthcare or related setting with multi-disciplinary teams and of working across organisational boundaries
- To have an understanding of medical terminology that enables informed discussions about causes/circumstances of death with bereaved families, clinicians, coroner and registration service staff.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage at all levels including senior clinicians/coroners etc about sensitive issues
- Computer literate to use multiple IT software for recording personal identifiable data and producing statistical information for the National Medical Examiner's office and Public Health surveillance. To include Access, Word, Excel
Person Specification
Experience/qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse/Allied Health profession or equivalent professional qualification/experience
- Experience of working in a healthcare or related setting with multi-disciplinary teams and of working across organisational boundaries
- To have an understanding of medical terminology that enables informed discussions about causes/circumstances of death with bereaved families, clinicians, coroner and registration service staff.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage at all levels including senior clinicians/coroners etc about sensitive issues
- Computer literate to use multiple IT software for recording personal identifiable data and producing statistical information for the National Medical Examiner's office and Public Health surveillance. To include Access, Word, Excel
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.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
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).
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 Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
Address
Worthing General Hospital/Royal Sussex County Hospital
Lyndhurst Rd, / Eastern Road
Worthing/Brighton
BN11 2DH
Employer's website
https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
