Medical Examiner Officer
The closing date is 20 July 2025
Job summary
The West Dorset Medical Examiner Service (WDMES) is looking to recruit 2 full time Medical Examiner Officers to cover maternity leave of existing staff members. The two positions will be fixed term contracts with start and end dates to be confirmed.
The Service is based at Dorset County Hospital, providing independent review of all non-Coronial deaths in the West of Dorset for both the Hospital and in the Community.
The Medical Examiner Officers will support Medical Examiners in their role in scrutinising the circumstances surrounding causes of death, to act as an intermediary between the bereaved and clinicians to establish and resolve any concerns relating to a patient's death, andbe a point of contact and source of advice for relatives of deceased patients, healthcare professionals, His Majesty's Coroner and Registration Services.
The Medical Examiner Officers (MEOs) will be part of an existing team acting as experts in death certification and scrutiny of Non-Coronial deaths, assisting in highlighting cases for assessment by the Structured Judgement Review team, Child Death Overview Panel, Clinical Governance Teams and the Learning Disability Review Teams.
There is significant emotional effort associated with dealing with bereaved families.
Main duties of the job
To undertake a wide ranging a multifactorial initial review of medical records (paper and electronic), supporting the Medical Examiner in their scrutiny.
To analyse and assist in highlighting cases for assessment in respect of maternal and child death, safeguarding, Learning Disability (LeDeR) cases, and those requiring review under the Serious Incident reporting process.
To ensure cases are referred to the Structured Judgement Review (SJR) Process if required.
To maintain robust electronic records of all deaths, aligning with current information systems in place. This requires use of a computer for extended periods of time daily to undertake complex data input and analysis.
About us
The Medical Examiner Service is a statutory, independent service, hosted by DCHFT. At present, there are 3 full-time Medical Examiner Officers who assist 9 Medical Examiners in their role in scrutinising all non-coronial deaths in West Dorset. Medical Examiners work part-time, with a maximum of 2 per day.
The Medical Examiner Officers are integral to the effective operation of the department, ensuring continuity of service and coordination following the death of each person. They are jointly managed by the Mortuary & Bereavement Services Manager and the Lead Medical Examiner.
WDMES sits within the Mortuary & Bereavement Services Department, and there is a requirement to undertake DCHFT Mandatory Training.
At DCHFT, we pride ourselves on the care we provide for our patients, and on the culture, we are creating for our staff. We work hard to create a fair, inclusive environment for our staff.
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.
Details
Date posted
11 July 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 5
Salary
£29,970 to £36,483 a year Per Annum
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
12 months
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
405-25-AC284MEO
Job locations
Dorset County Hospital
Williams Avenue
Dorchester
DT1 2JY
Employer details
Employer name
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Dorset County Hospital
Williams Avenue
Dorchester
DT1 2JY
Employer's website
https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)








Employer contact details
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