Job summary
We wish to recruit an enthusiastic and motivated part time individual to join our Medical Examiner team based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead.
The post holder will be primarily responsible for ensuring that following the death of a patient in hospital and in the local community, relatives receive clear guidance about what to do next by providing an efficient, yet sensitive service. The post holder will be expected to communicate with relatives compassionately and tactfully, particularly in those cases requiring post mortem examination and Coroner's inquest. Ensuring that doctors complete the appropriate documentation promptly by liaising with all relevant parties.
The successful candidate will be educated to Batchelor's degree level or have equivalent working knowledge in a related field.
They will support medical examiners in their role in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death. To be a point of contact and source of advice for relatives of deceased patients, healthcare professionals and coroner and registration services. The successful applicant will be expected to complete core e-learning MEO training modules within a specific time frame which will be discussed further on appointment.
This post will require an individual who can demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and emotional maturity when dealing with other health professionals and the public.
Main duties of the job
- To support medical examiners in their role in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death.
- To work alongside the Lead MEO to provide a source of expertise and support for medical staff and families.
- To act as an intermediary between the bereaved, clinicians and coroner's office to establish and resolve any concerns relating to a patient's death.
- Work with medical examiners to aid them in their responsibility for overseeing the death certification process for all deceased patients in the organisation.
- To be a point of contact for GP Practices in relation to the roll out of Community Deaths.
About us
The Medical Examiner service is based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead but is an independent service. The team consists currently of a Lead Medical Examiner, 7 Medical Examiners, a Lead Medical Examiner Officer and a part time Medical Examiner Officer.
The Medical Examiner service has been running at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital since September 2020, 5 days a week, excluding Bank Holidays, scrutinising all in-hospital deaths, and is now looking to expand, to include scrutiny of community deaths too, prior to this becoming a statutory requirement.
The Medical Examiner Officer role will appeal to an experienced administrator who is passionate about supporting families, empathetic and has good listening skills. Knowledge of medical terminology would be beneficial but is not essential. The applicant should have good communication, analytical and IT skills.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To support medical examiners in their role in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death.
- To work alongside the Lead MEO to provide a source of expertise and support for medical staff and families.
- To act as an intermediary between the bereaved, clinicians and coroners office to establish and resolve any concerns relating to a patients death.
- Work with medical examiners to aid them in their responsibility for overseeing the death certification process for all deceased patients in the organisation.
- To be a point of contact for GP Practices in relation to the roll out of Community Deaths.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To support medical examiners in their role in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death.
- To work alongside the Lead MEO to provide a source of expertise and support for medical staff and families.
- To act as an intermediary between the bereaved, clinicians and coroners office to establish and resolve any concerns relating to a patients death.
- Work with medical examiners to aid them in their responsibility for overseeing the death certification process for all deceased patients in the organisation.
- To be a point of contact for GP Practices in relation to the roll out of Community Deaths.
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- Educated to Batchelor's Degree level or equivalent working knowledge in related field
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a healthcare setting with multi-disciplinary teams across organisational boundaries
- Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations
Skills
Essential
- Problem solving and providing solutions
- Ability to work as part of a team and organise fluctuating workloads around competing priorities
Desirable
- Competent in the use of IT software systems and handling sensitive personal identifiable data.
Knowledge
Essential
- General knowledge of clinical/medical terminology
- Knowledge of Data Protection Act 2018 (GDPR), and Caldicott Guidelines
Desirable
- Knowledge of the Coroner & Justice Act 2009 reference to the medical examiner system
- Knowledge of the legal requirements of the registration of death process
- Commitment to life-long learning and undertaking personal development
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- Educated to Batchelor's Degree level or equivalent working knowledge in related field
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a healthcare setting with multi-disciplinary teams across organisational boundaries
- Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations
Skills
Essential
- Problem solving and providing solutions
- Ability to work as part of a team and organise fluctuating workloads around competing priorities
Desirable
- Competent in the use of IT software systems and handling sensitive personal identifiable data.
Knowledge
Essential
- General knowledge of clinical/medical terminology
- Knowledge of Data Protection Act 2018 (GDPR), and Caldicott Guidelines
Desirable
- Knowledge of the Coroner & Justice Act 2009 reference to the medical examiner system
- Knowledge of the legal requirements of the registration of death process
- Commitment to life-long learning and undertaking personal development
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).
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).
