Job summary
FULL TIME POST - 37.5 HOURS A WEEK
PLEASE NOTE THIS VACANCY MAY CLOSE EARLY IF WE RECIEVE ENOUGH APPLICANTS
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is seeking Medical Examiner's Officers to work in their service across Stockport and East Cheshire NHS Trust as the service expands to cover non-acute deaths within Stockport, East Cheshire and High Peak.
Reporting to the Lead Medical Examiner Officer this role will support Medical Examiners in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death and will act as a point of contact and source of advice for relatives of deceased patients, healthcare professionals, Coroner and registration services.
The role requires someone with a degree level or equivalent working experience in a related field; either with a professional clinical background or relevant experience in the bereavement or coroner service as well as the ability to talk to bereaved families in a sensitive and appropriate manner. As the role involves reviewing medical notes and working closely with doctors from all disciplines and grades, an understanding of medical terminology is essential.
Main duties of the job
The overarching purpose of the National Medical Examiner service is to:
- Provide greater safeguards for the public by ensuring proper scrutiny of all deaths
- Ensure appropriate referrals to the coronial system
- Provide a better service for the bereaved to ensure they can raise any concerns to a doctor not involved in the care of the deceased
- Improve the quality of both death certification and mortality data.
The post holder should have strong interpersonal skills and be able to communicate effectively in difficult and emotional settings to provide non-judgemental and sensitive support to the bereaved and clinical staff.
A mandatory training / accreditation package has been produced and a commitment to ongoing training and development will be an essential requirement.
About us
The Medical Examiners Team is based at Stepping Hill Hospital and Macclesfield District General Hospital on a rota basis.
We are a hard working, experienced team from a variety of backgrounds. You can be assured that you will be fully supported as you work to become accredited as an MEO.
It is a highly responsible, challenging and involved role which will require close teamwork with the existing MEO's, ME's and Bereavement Team. Whilst the role can be demanding it is also hugely rewarding.
This is an exciting time to join the team as the service is expanding to cover community deaths within Stockport, East Cheshire and High Peak.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities
To act as an intermediary between the bereaved and clinicians 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 establish the circumstances of individual patient deaths by performing a preliminary review of medical records to identify clinical and circumstantial information, sourcing additional details where required, for scrutiny by the medical examiner.
- To assist in highlighting cases for assessment by the Structured Judgement Review team (SJR), Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP), Clinical Governance teams and the Learning Disability Review Teams (LeDeR).
- To refer patients to the Coroner for further investigation on approval by the Medical Examiner.
- Maintain an awareness of the diverse needs of users of the medical examiner system to ensure equality to any particular group defined by sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or disability.
- The Medical Examiner Officer at Stockport NHS FT will support the Medical Examiner Team with the roll out and implementation of the service across Stockport, East Cheshire and High Peak.
Communications
- Act as an intermediary between the bereaved and clinicians to establish and resolve any concerns relating to a patients death.
- Deal with bereaved families who may have barriers to understanding information due to their grief or disability.
- Regular interaction with the bereaved relatives in person or over the telephone, demonstrating empathy and remaining professional at all times.
- Refer patients to the Coroner for further investigation on approval by the Medical Examiner
- Understanding medical terminology to enable informed discussions about causes/circumstances of death with bereaved families, clinicians, coroner and registration service staff.
The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trusts policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately. If successful this vacancy will require a Standard DBS check at a cost of £26.50. This cost will be deducted from your first Trust salaryIn addition to this it will be a condition of your employment that you will join the DBS update service and pay the annual subscription fee of £13.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities
To act as an intermediary between the bereaved and clinicians 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 establish the circumstances of individual patient deaths by performing a preliminary review of medical records to identify clinical and circumstantial information, sourcing additional details where required, for scrutiny by the medical examiner.
- To assist in highlighting cases for assessment by the Structured Judgement Review team (SJR), Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP), Clinical Governance teams and the Learning Disability Review Teams (LeDeR).
- To refer patients to the Coroner for further investigation on approval by the Medical Examiner.
- Maintain an awareness of the diverse needs of users of the medical examiner system to ensure equality to any particular group defined by sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or disability.
- The Medical Examiner Officer at Stockport NHS FT will support the Medical Examiner Team with the roll out and implementation of the service across Stockport, East Cheshire and High Peak.
Communications
- Act as an intermediary between the bereaved and clinicians to establish and resolve any concerns relating to a patients death.
- Deal with bereaved families who may have barriers to understanding information due to their grief or disability.
- Regular interaction with the bereaved relatives in person or over the telephone, demonstrating empathy and remaining professional at all times.
- Refer patients to the Coroner for further investigation on approval by the Medical Examiner
- Understanding medical terminology to enable informed discussions about causes/circumstances of death with bereaved families, clinicians, coroner and registration service staff.
The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trusts policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately. If successful this vacancy will require a Standard DBS check at a cost of £26.50. This cost will be deducted from your first Trust salaryIn addition to this it will be a condition of your employment that you will join the DBS update service and pay the annual subscription fee of £13.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant degree or equivalent experience
- Completed ME training
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of medical terminology
Desirable
- Knowledge of processes around death certification frameworks
- Knowledge of faith group requirements
Experience
Essential
- Working with people in sensitive and emotive situations
Desirable
- Working with MDTs in healthcare setting
Skills
Essential
- Interpersonal amd communication skills, calm manner
- Team worker
- Professional appearance and supportive manner
Desirable
- Competent user of IT systems
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant degree or equivalent experience
- Completed ME training
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of medical terminology
Desirable
- Knowledge of processes around death certification frameworks
- Knowledge of faith group requirements
Experience
Essential
- Working with people in sensitive and emotive situations
Desirable
- Working with MDTs in healthcare setting
Skills
Essential
- Interpersonal amd communication skills, calm manner
- Team worker
- Professional appearance and supportive manner
Desirable
- Competent user of IT systems
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).
