Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Deputy Lead Medical Examiner Officer

The closing date is 09 September 2025

Job summary

Portsmouth Medical Examiner Service has been providing scrutiny for over 5 years and providing support to the bereaved. Now that the statutory system is well underway, we are looking for a Deputy Lead MEO to manage the office day to day, take responsibility for staff education and development and support the Lead MEO in developing our service further.

Main duties of the job

As Deputy Lead Medical Examiner Officer you will:

  • support the management and leadership of the MEO team
  • support the co-ordination of the Medical Examiner service to ensure timely and efficient completion of certification processes required after a death
  • support medical examiners in their role in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death
  • be a point of contact and source of advice for relatives of deceased patients, healthcare professionals, HM Coroner and registration services, involved in the death certification process.

  • support the Lead MEO and Lead ME in developing protocols, guidelines and policies for the development and delivery of the Medical Examiner Service across the acute trust and the community
  • About us

    Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.

    Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

    Details

    Date posted

    26 August 2025

    Pay scheme

    Agenda for change

    Band

    Band 6

    Salary

    £37,338 a year Band 6 - £37,338 to £44,962 per annum

    Contract

    Permanent

    Working pattern

    Full-time

    Reference number

    REF1642M

    Job locations

    Queen Alexandra Hosp, Southwick Hill Road

    Cosham

    Portsmouth

    Portsmouth

    PO6 3LY


    Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

    Southwick Hill Road, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3LY, Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom

    Portsmouth

    England

    PO6 3LY


    Queen Alexandra Hosp, Southwick Hill Road, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3LY, Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom

    Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3LY, Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom

    Portsmouth

    Portsmouth

    PO6 3LY


    Job description

    Job responsibilities

    All MEOs support medical examiners in their role in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death and have a vital role in explaining cause(s) of death proposed for the death certificate to the bereaved. This includes answering their questions, clarifying any terminology or misunderstandings, and signposting appropriately in cases of disagreement or concern.

    Job description

    Job responsibilities

    All MEOs support medical examiners in their role in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death and have a vital role in explaining cause(s) of death proposed for the death certificate to the bereaved. This includes answering their questions, clarifying any terminology or misunderstandings, and signposting appropriately in cases of disagreement or concern.

    Person Specification

    Qualifications

    Essential

    • - Educated to Degree Level and/or significant experience in a relevant field
    • - Advanced communication skills with a wide range of stakeholders, including the recently bereaved and senior level professionals.
    • - Qualified Medical Examiner Officer with experience working in the role

    Desirable

    • Leadership or management qualification

    Experience

    Essential

    • Leading and influencing teams to achieve objectives. Working with people in sensitive and emotional situations. Managing and implementing change in complex clinical environments. Experience of working in a healthcare setting with multi-disciplinary teams. Experience of preparing, developing, and delivering training of staff. Writing reports and presentations. Familiarity with HR and governance procedures. Experience of working as a Medical Examiner Officer. Experience of supporting the bereaved.

    Desirable

    • Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity of issues around formalities following a death.
    Person Specification

    Qualifications

    Essential

    • - Educated to Degree Level and/or significant experience in a relevant field
    • - Advanced communication skills with a wide range of stakeholders, including the recently bereaved and senior level professionals.
    • - Qualified Medical Examiner Officer with experience working in the role

    Desirable

    • Leadership or management qualification

    Experience

    Essential

    • Leading and influencing teams to achieve objectives. Working with people in sensitive and emotional situations. Managing and implementing change in complex clinical environments. Experience of working in a healthcare setting with multi-disciplinary teams. Experience of preparing, developing, and delivering training of staff. Writing reports and presentations. Familiarity with HR and governance procedures. Experience of working as a Medical Examiner Officer. Experience of supporting the bereaved.

    Desirable

    • Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity of issues around formalities following a death.

    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.

    UK Registration

    Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

    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.

    UK Registration

    Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

    Employer details

    Employer name

    Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

    Address

    Queen Alexandra Hosp, Southwick Hill Road

    Cosham

    Portsmouth

    Portsmouth

    PO6 3LY


    Employer's website

    https://www.porthosp.nhs.uk/work-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


    Employer details

    Employer name

    Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

    Address

    Queen Alexandra Hosp, Southwick Hill Road

    Cosham

    Portsmouth

    Portsmouth

    PO6 3LY


    Employer's website

    https://www.porthosp.nhs.uk/work-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


    Employer contact details

    For questions about the job, contact:

    Hiring Team Member

    Gemma Wakenshaw

    gemma.wakenshaw2@nhs.net

    Details

    Date posted

    26 August 2025

    Pay scheme

    Agenda for change

    Band

    Band 6

    Salary

    £37,338 a year Band 6 - £37,338 to £44,962 per annum

    Contract

    Permanent

    Working pattern

    Full-time

    Reference number

    REF1642M

    Job locations

    Queen Alexandra Hosp, Southwick Hill Road

    Cosham

    Portsmouth

    Portsmouth

    PO6 3LY


    Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

    Southwick Hill Road, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3LY, Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom

    Portsmouth

    England

    PO6 3LY


    Queen Alexandra Hosp, Southwick Hill Road, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3LY, Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom

    Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3LY, Portsmouth, England, United Kingdom

    Portsmouth

    Portsmouth

    PO6 3LY


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