Job summary
Applications are invited for this important role as Medical Examiner for the West Dorset Medical Examiner Service based at Dorset County Hospital. Currently all in-hospital deaths must be scrutinised by the Medical Examiner team including examination of the medical records and liaising with the staff and patient's family as appropriate. From the Summer of 2022 this system will become statutory and will also include all non-coronial community deaths which will require an expansion of our team and further development of the service. We are particularly keen to bring the experience and expertise of General Practitioners into our team as we develop and expand our community rollout to review approximately 3000 deaths per year.
We are looking for approximately 5 GMC registered Consultant/General Practitioners, to join our team here at Dorset County Hospital.
Interviews to take place 29th March.
Main duties of the job
The ME role can be challenging but rewarding: providing support and explanation for bereaved relatives, support for colleagues throughout the medical sphere, improving clinical care by integrating with Governance systems, and improving death certification and referrals to the Coronial system. We would be looking for each Doctor to provide 1-2 sessions of 4 hours each week based on a 42 week year. You would be expected to offer sessions flexibly (within reason) to fulfil a rota. There is currently no commitment beyond office hours. The role is based at Dorset County Hospital with elements of working remotely using electronic systems to scrutinise patient records and telephone calls to bereaved relatives and attending medical colleagues. Team working is important, particularly with our team of Medical Examiner Officers, Coroners and General Registrars.
About us
The Medical Examiner Service at Dorset County Hospital (DCH) was established in September 2019. We currently have 1 Lead Medical Examiner, 5 Medical Examiners and 1 Medical Examiner Officer (MEO); and are in the process of recruiting 1-2 additional MEOs. The service is based in DCH Mortuary and Bereavement Services Department working closely with the Bereavement Officer, Mortuary Technicians and the Mortuary and Bereavement Services Manager which ensures outstanding communication levels and completion of tasks in an efficient and timely manner.
At DCHFT, we pride ourselves on the care we provide for our patients, their families and friends, and the culture we create for our staff. We work hard to establish a fair, inclusive environment for all.
Our mission is to provide outstanding care for people in ways which matter to them, working with health and social care partners to improve the well-being of our communities.
We are a Trust that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people in all under-represented groups.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To ensure compliance with the legal and procedural requirements associated with the current and proposed reformed processes of certification, investigation by Coroners and registration of deaths.To scrutinise the certified causes of death offered by attending doctors in a way that is proportionate, consistent and compliant with the proposed national protocol.To discuss and explain the cause of death with next of kin/informants in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner. It is anticipated that such discussions will be predominantly conducted through telephone conversations.To ensure that all users of the ME system are treated with respect and are not discriminated against on the grounds of sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or disability.To support the training of junior doctors in their understanding of death certification and promote good practice in accurate completion of MCCDs.To work with medical examiner officers (MEOs), delegating duties as appropriate.To engage with lead ME and lead MEO for the region.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To ensure compliance with the legal and procedural requirements associated with the current and proposed reformed processes of certification, investigation by Coroners and registration of deaths.To scrutinise the certified causes of death offered by attending doctors in a way that is proportionate, consistent and compliant with the proposed national protocol.To discuss and explain the cause of death with next of kin/informants in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner. It is anticipated that such discussions will be predominantly conducted through telephone conversations.To ensure that all users of the ME system are treated with respect and are not discriminated against on the grounds of sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or disability.To support the training of junior doctors in their understanding of death certification and promote good practice in accurate completion of MCCDs.To work with medical examiner officers (MEOs), delegating duties as appropriate.To engage with lead ME and lead MEO for the region.
Person Specification
Education, Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Full GMC Registration
- Entry on the GMC Register via; CCT (proposed CCT date must be within 6mths of interview) or GP Register
Desirable
- MRCPath (Medical Examiner Mandatory eLearning modules and ace to face training session)
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Working knowledge of practice in a healthcare environment
- Up-to-date knowledge of causes of death and an understanding of the legal frameworks associated with death certification processes
- Ability to manage and comply with sensitive information based processes under a tight timescale with a proportionate approach
- Understanding of the Primary Care sector, including GP Practices, Community NHS Trusts and associated services.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the special requirements of the various faith groups
- Knowledge of local and national clinical governance systems and an understanding of how the ME can work collaboratively to improve patient safety by identifying sub-optimal clinical performance
- Ability to identify available data sources to support the detection and analysis of concerns and to recognise gaps in available knowledge.
- Ability to identify and disseminate examples of good practice amongst relevant clinical colleagues.
Current Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to work within information based processes under tight timescales.
- Ability to communicate effectively within the team and with other people in other disciplines.
- Ability to communication effectively and sensitively with the relatives or representatives of the deceased when explaining the cause of death.
- Excellent organisational skills.
- Excellent management skills- able to demonstrate effective and efficient working practices.
- IT Skills for the purpose of efficient scrutiny and routine analysis of information.
Management Training, Organisational Skills and Strategic Vision
Essential
- To sustain professional integrity and independence at all times, particularly where there is the potential for a conflict of interest.
Desirable
- Have the resilience to manage own reaction to potentially distressing situations and support others in the team.
Teaching & Communication
Essential
- Ability to assist or deliver training to enhance skills within the ME's team and junior doctors/General Practitioners in the process of death certification.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Ability to work as part of a team and organise a fluctuating workload around competing priorities and numerous interruptions.
- Ability to demonstrate transparency when explaining cause of death to bereaved families and make it easier to raise concerns.
- Proactive and self-motivated with a flexible working approach.
Desirable
- Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and professionalism.
Person Specification
Education, Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Full GMC Registration
- Entry on the GMC Register via; CCT (proposed CCT date must be within 6mths of interview) or GP Register
Desirable
- MRCPath (Medical Examiner Mandatory eLearning modules and ace to face training session)
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Working knowledge of practice in a healthcare environment
- Up-to-date knowledge of causes of death and an understanding of the legal frameworks associated with death certification processes
- Ability to manage and comply with sensitive information based processes under a tight timescale with a proportionate approach
- Understanding of the Primary Care sector, including GP Practices, Community NHS Trusts and associated services.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the special requirements of the various faith groups
- Knowledge of local and national clinical governance systems and an understanding of how the ME can work collaboratively to improve patient safety by identifying sub-optimal clinical performance
- Ability to identify available data sources to support the detection and analysis of concerns and to recognise gaps in available knowledge.
- Ability to identify and disseminate examples of good practice amongst relevant clinical colleagues.
Current Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to work within information based processes under tight timescales.
- Ability to communicate effectively within the team and with other people in other disciplines.
- Ability to communication effectively and sensitively with the relatives or representatives of the deceased when explaining the cause of death.
- Excellent organisational skills.
- Excellent management skills- able to demonstrate effective and efficient working practices.
- IT Skills for the purpose of efficient scrutiny and routine analysis of information.
Management Training, Organisational Skills and Strategic Vision
Essential
- To sustain professional integrity and independence at all times, particularly where there is the potential for a conflict of interest.
Desirable
- Have the resilience to manage own reaction to potentially distressing situations and support others in the team.
Teaching & Communication
Essential
- Ability to assist or deliver training to enhance skills within the ME's team and junior doctors/General Practitioners in the process of death certification.
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Ability to work as part of a team and organise a fluctuating workload around competing priorities and numerous interruptions.
- Ability to demonstrate transparency when explaining cause of death to bereaved families and make it easier to raise concerns.
- Proactive and self-motivated with a flexible working approach.
Desirable
- Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and professionalism.
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
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).
