Medical Examiner Officer

Job description

Job responsibilities

To work with medical examiners to support them in their responsibility for overseeing the death certification for all deceased patients within the Trust

To assist in the referral of deceased patients to the coroner for further medical investigation

To act as in intermediary to the medical examiners and the clinical teams to ensure all key messages are communicated in a timely and effective manner

To take a lead role to improve the process of death certification and referrals to the Coroner

To develop and maintain information for the Medical Examiner service and support structures, to support research and development

Ensure that financial requirements of the medical examiners service are monitored and maintained by monitoring the service budget and financial initiatives.

Analysis and assessment of progress against and compliance with the Quality Care Commission requirements for medical examiners service, providing advice and support to Associate Directors, Clinical Leads as required on adapting plans to achieve objectives and meet emerging priorities.

Use computer software to develop and produce statistical reports using appropriate formulae on a regular basis

Be responsible for completion of regular, at least monthly, complex audits to ensure compliance with local and national guidelines and requirements as directed by the Ministry of Justice and Department on Health and Social Care

Facilitates multi-agency cohesion between Medical Examiner, Coroners Officers, Health Practitioners, the Local Authority and General Registration Officer

To lead and provide training on the Medical Examiners system for Junior Doctor Inductions and any other agency that request i.e. Registration services, coroners office, and nursing staff.

Develop, lead and implement training packages to meet department/corporate needs and to continually improve the knowledge and experience of stakeholders.

Work to provide specialist support service which enables Medical Examiners to perform their role of scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death.

Plan, co-ordinate and manage the rota for medical examiners

Keep up to date with national guidance in relation to the medical examiners service and propose changes to policies and working practices which impact across the Trust.

Ensure that Trust policies and guidelines in relation to the medical examiners service are adhered to and ensuring staff are updated as changes occur

Maintain current records and progress reports on individual projects and initiatives.

Support and facilitate the implementation of change in practice relating to the medical examiners service as directed by national organisations.

Represent the Medical Examiners service at internal meetings where applicable

The post holder will be a point of contact and source of advice for relatives of deceased patients, healthcare professionals and coroner and registration services. They will need to be able to adapt their approach to suit a variety of situations and audiences which will require highly developed communication skills.

To ensure any concerns raised by the relatives are escalated in line with Trust policy

To analyse complex data and situations and identify any trends, interpret information and report on findings and escalate according to Trust policy

Ensure trends relevant to risk and threats are managed and shared with relevant stakeholders and support in the re-alignment of operational plans to meet increased risk.

To participate in meetings with relatives alongside the medical examiner and other members of the multidisciplinary team

Plan, co-ordinate and participate in Lessons Learned events and ensure they are communicated and implemented across relevant departments and with appropriate stakeholders.

The post holder will work with autonomy, planning and managing own workload and that of the Medical Examiner to effectively deliver a wide and complex range of duties sometime with competing demands and often of a sensitive and confidential nature. The post holder will be required to maintain an awareness of 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 post holder will be required to develop the ability to work in a highly pressurized, unpredictable environment where bereavement is central to the service delivery.

To maintain confidentiality in line with Trust policy

To support the department and Trust by carrying out any other duties that reasonably fit within the broad scope of a job of this Band and type of work.

Interviews will be held on Thursday 17th July 2025.

Person Specification

Special Requirements

Essential

• Discreet and able to work confidentially
• Flexible working approach and a team player.
• Must have a professional manner, attitude and appearance.
• Highly evolved self-awareness and communication skills to communicate in difficult situations with empathy and professionalism.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to produce accurate correspondence.
• Self-motivated and proactive.
• Ability to travel between Trust sites.
• Ability to be flexible to meet the needs of the team, the service and the Trust.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline.
• Experience of working in a healthcare or related setting with multi-disciplinary teams of working across organizational boundaries.
• To have qualifications/skills in day-to-day operational/process management of a customer-facing service where users may have unpredictable and emotionally charged needs.
• Relevant IT Skills
• Education to GCSE level Maths & English

Desirable

• Aware of the National Quality Board Learning from deaths framework.
• Risk Management experience or qualification.

Experience

Essential

• Specialist in depth experience at advanced level, this may include professional experience within a nursing/clinical background.
• Experience of delivering training.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage at all levels including senior clinicians/coroners etc about sensitive issues.
• Abe to work to a high standard.
• Experience of change management.
• Excellent verbal and written skills with evidence of good quality report writing, logic problem solving and analytical skills.
• To have an understanding of medical terminology that enables informed discussions about causes/circumstances of death with bereaved families, clinicians, coroner and registration staff.
• Knowledge of the special requirements of the various faith groups with an awareness of equality and diversity issues surrounding death certification and arrangements.
• Ability to work effectively and credibly with multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to work to deadlines and achieve agreed objectives.
• Ability to organize work around changeable competing demands and fluctuating workloads.
• Knowledge of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and its relation to the Death Certification process.

Desirable

• Experience of working with bereaved relatives
• Able to influence and negotiate change.
• Able to assess, plan, implement and evaluate own and others training needs.
• Knowledge of the statutory process around death certification legal frameworks and how the medical examiner system aligns with other related organisations and NHS initiatives.
• Experience of clinical audit/promoting quality issues within healthcare.

Special Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Experience of working with bereaved relatives
• Able to influence and negotiate change.
• Able to assess, plan, implement and evaluate own and others training needs.
• Knowledge of the statutory process around death certification legal frameworks and how the medical examiner system aligns with other related organisations and NHS initiatives.
• Experience of clinical audit/promoting quality issues within healthcare.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Trust patient admission system
• Report writing skills

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.

Employer details

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust

Hollyhurst Road

Darlington

County Durham

DL3 6HX

Employer's website

https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)