Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to work within Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Learning from deaths and reducing variation are key enablers to improving safety and quality. Reducing mortality and improving patient experience are priorities for our Trust.
Our Medical Examiners Service comprises of a Lead Medical Examiner, Medical Examiners and Medical Examiner Officers.
This role will be remunerated at 1 PA per session. The appointment is on a 3 year fixed term basis and the successful applicant will be expected to work across the sites within Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at both Scunthorpe General Hospital and Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby.
A training package consisting of 26 modules has been produced by the Royal College of Pathologists which will be mandatory for anyone wishing to take up the role and will need to be followed by a 1 day face to face training day to be completed within 6 months of appointment.
You are invited to apply if you can demonstrate the following:
At least 5 years experiences as a fully registered medical practitioner with the GMC.
Are currently practicing either in primary or secondary care.
Hold a licence to practice with the GMC.
Capacity to undertake the role within your job plan.
Main duties of the job
The main responsibilities of the Medical Examiner are to support the Lead Medical Examiner to:
ensure compliance with the legal and procedural requirements associated with the current processes of certification, investigation (by Coroners) and registration of deaths within a Local Authority area;
support those doctors who call for medical advice on suspected natural causes of death before they prepare an MCCD, and provide general medical advice to the coroner;
scrutinise the certified causes of all in-scope deaths in a way that is compliant with the proposed national protocol;
maintain comprehensive records of all deaths scrutinised and undertake analysis and provide information as required to Office for National Statistics (ONS) & locally for clinical governance purposes;
work with any other local medical examiner(s) to arrange reciprocal cover for holidays and other periods of absence and also to ensure that there is no potential conflict of interest between the medical examiner and the death being scrutinised;
explain to bereaved relatives cause of death in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner, which respects different faith, cultural, ethnic and diversity considerations;
Support the training of junior doctors in completion of MCCDs and provide feedback on accuracy of certification locally.
About us
The Humber Health Partnership is one of the largest acute and community Partnership arrangements in the NHS, seeing well over one million patients every year and managing a budget of over £1.3 billion.
Made up of two Trusts - Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG) and Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (HUTH) - our Partnership has significant ambitions and is committed to delivering world-class hospital and community services for the 1.65 million people we serve.
Together we employ nearly 20,000 staff. Our five main hospital sites are Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, Scunthorpe General Hospital and Goole and District Hospital, for NLAG and Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital for HUTH.
As Teaching Hospitals working with the Hull York Medical School, we both lead and contribute to research in many areas - biomedical research, primary care, palliative medicine, cardiovascular and respiratory medicine, vascular surgery, cancer surgery and oncology.
We believe that by developing a diverse, inclusive, innovative, skilled and caring workforce, we can deliver excellent care to our patients and a great future for our employees, our Partnership and our community.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be expected to comply with national protocols to ensure that in each case the cause of death is scrutinised in a way that is robust, proportionate and consistent.
You must have up to date knowledge of medical conditions, treatments and medicines which may or may not have contributed to death, and be able to exercise judgement in where to seek specialist advice in order to determine the appropriate level of scrutiny required.
You must be able to distinguish between natural and unnatural causes of death and to decide where a death must be reported to, and investigated by, a coroner.
Additionally, you must have detailed knowledge of the relevant legislation and processes which apply to:
coroners and death certification;
deaths abroad where bodies are returned to England and Wales for disposal; and;
deaths where relatives wish to transport the body abroad for disposal;
certifying and registering deaths; and
the regulations to authorise cremation or burials of stillbirths abroad.
For more detailed information, please read the job description linked below.
As a Trust we are keen to offer and encourage flexible working opportunities to address health and wellbeing and work-life balance for our employees, this will have a positive impact on the care we provide.
Flexible working is part of a wider commitment to improve the quality and experience of working life and we recognise that it is a key contributor for the recruitment and retention of our employees.
We therefore support and encourage open conversations around a specific working pattern to suit your work-life balance or a multi-role career, if it works for you and works for the role, we'll do our best to make it happen.
Local flexible working arrangements are developed in partnership between the line manager and employee in order to ensure equality of access to flexible working, as far as practicable, regardless of role, shift pattern, team or pay, based on: patient/service user and staff experience, service delivery and work-life balance of colleagues.
We are committed to creating and maintaining a fair and supportive working environment and culture, where contributions are fully recognised and valued by all and staff feel empowered to carry out their duties to the best of their abilities. As employers we are committed to promoting and protecting the physical and mental health and well-being of all our staff. This underpins our values as set out in the NHS Constitution, supports us to be an Employer of Choice and ultimately enables our employees to support the effective care of our patients.
We strongly value the different perspectives and ideas a diverse workforce brings to deliver better outcomes for our patients. We welcome applications irrespective of peoples age, disability, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances.
To learn more about Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, and discover the unique benefits on offer to employees, view our latest videos, plus more, please visit our recruitment website at https://join.humberhealthpartnership.nhs.uk/
In line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Recruitment & Workforce team will use and hold your personal data for the intended purpose and in line with the Recruitment & Workforce Privacy Statement.
We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children/vulnerable adults and expect the same commitment from all staff and volunteers.
Please be aware that all new employees starting work with us will be charged for the cost of their DBS check, if it is required for their role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
You will be expected to comply with national protocols to ensure that in each case the cause of death is scrutinised in a way that is robust, proportionate and consistent.
You must have up to date knowledge of medical conditions, treatments and medicines which may or may not have contributed to death, and be able to exercise judgement in where to seek specialist advice in order to determine the appropriate level of scrutiny required.
You must be able to distinguish between natural and unnatural causes of death and to decide where a death must be reported to, and investigated by, a coroner.
Additionally, you must have detailed knowledge of the relevant legislation and processes which apply to:
coroners and death certification;
deaths abroad where bodies are returned to England and Wales for disposal; and;
deaths where relatives wish to transport the body abroad for disposal;
certifying and registering deaths; and
the regulations to authorise cremation or burials of stillbirths abroad.
For more detailed information, please read the job description linked below.
As a Trust we are keen to offer and encourage flexible working opportunities to address health and wellbeing and work-life balance for our employees, this will have a positive impact on the care we provide.
Flexible working is part of a wider commitment to improve the quality and experience of working life and we recognise that it is a key contributor for the recruitment and retention of our employees.
We therefore support and encourage open conversations around a specific working pattern to suit your work-life balance or a multi-role career, if it works for you and works for the role, we'll do our best to make it happen.
Local flexible working arrangements are developed in partnership between the line manager and employee in order to ensure equality of access to flexible working, as far as practicable, regardless of role, shift pattern, team or pay, based on: patient/service user and staff experience, service delivery and work-life balance of colleagues.
We are committed to creating and maintaining a fair and supportive working environment and culture, where contributions are fully recognised and valued by all and staff feel empowered to carry out their duties to the best of their abilities. As employers we are committed to promoting and protecting the physical and mental health and well-being of all our staff. This underpins our values as set out in the NHS Constitution, supports us to be an Employer of Choice and ultimately enables our employees to support the effective care of our patients.
We strongly value the different perspectives and ideas a diverse workforce brings to deliver better outcomes for our patients. We welcome applications irrespective of peoples age, disability, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances.
To learn more about Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, and discover the unique benefits on offer to employees, view our latest videos, plus more, please visit our recruitment website at https://join.humberhealthpartnership.nhs.uk/
In line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Recruitment & Workforce team will use and hold your personal data for the intended purpose and in line with the Recruitment & Workforce Privacy Statement.
We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children/vulnerable adults and expect the same commitment from all staff and volunteers.
Please be aware that all new employees starting work with us will be charged for the cost of their DBS check, if it is required for their role.
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- Currently practising in Primary or Secondary Care
- Capacity to undertake the role
Desirable
- Knowledge of relevant legistation and processess relating to deaths
- Knowledge of NHS clinical governance systems
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to work in multi disciplinary team
Registration
Essential
- Medical practitioner registered and licensed to practice in the UK by the GMC, with at least five years' experience.
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- Currently practising in Primary or Secondary Care
- Capacity to undertake the role
Desirable
- Knowledge of relevant legistation and processess relating to deaths
- Knowledge of NHS clinical governance systems
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to work in multi disciplinary team
Registration
Essential
- Medical practitioner registered and licensed to practice in the UK by the GMC, with at least five years' experience.
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
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).
