Job summary
Working hours: Full time (37.5 hours per week)
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has an exciting opportunity for a Medical Examiner Officer (MEO) to join our growing Medical Examiners Team.
This new role is part of the national implementation of the Medical Examiner Service in England and Wales
Main duties of the job
The Medical Examiner Service will:
- Strengthen safeguards for the public by providing robust, systematic and independent scrutiny of all deaths not referred directly to the Coroner.
- Improve the quality of death certification, providing advice based on a review of relevant health records.
- Avoid unnecessary distress for the bereaved by answering questions about the care given or certified cause of death, managing the Bereavement Services.
About us
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:
- The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds
- Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility
- Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Trust employs over 6258 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 407,000. This includes 357,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.
The Trust is a busy district general hospital and in 2022/2023, there were more than 503,342 patient attendances (inpatient, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery. This is an increase of nearly 10,000 compared to the previous year when there were 494,387 patient attendances.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £23 (standard) or £43 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £13 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details.
Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.
Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £23 (standard) or £43 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.
You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £13 per year applies.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.
Good luck with your application.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to Bachelor's degree level or equivalent working knowledge in related field.
- Qualification/equivalent practical experience at an advanced level; this might include nursing and/or other clinical experience.
- Completed e-learning MEO core training modules prior to starting in the post
Desirable
- Maintain NMC/AHP/HCPC Registration
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- A commitment to life-long learning and undertaking personal development opportunities
- Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations.
- General knowledge of clinical/medical terminology.
- Knowledge of the statutory process around death certification legal frameworks and how the medical examiner system aligns with other related organisations and NHS initiatives
Desirable
- Experience of working in a healthcare setting with multi-disciplinary teams across organisational boundaries
- Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity of issues around formalities following a death
- Knowledge of the Coroner & Justice Act 2009 reference to the medical examiner system.
- Full understanding of the medical examiner system operational remit when incorporated within Bereavement Services or as a standalone office.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to Bachelor's degree level or equivalent working knowledge in related field.
- Qualification/equivalent practical experience at an advanced level; this might include nursing and/or other clinical experience.
- Completed e-learning MEO core training modules prior to starting in the post
Desirable
- Maintain NMC/AHP/HCPC Registration
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- A commitment to life-long learning and undertaking personal development opportunities
- Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations.
- General knowledge of clinical/medical terminology.
- Knowledge of the statutory process around death certification legal frameworks and how the medical examiner system aligns with other related organisations and NHS initiatives
Desirable
- Experience of working in a healthcare setting with multi-disciplinary teams across organisational boundaries
- Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity of issues around formalities following a death
- Knowledge of the Coroner & Justice Act 2009 reference to the medical examiner system.
- Full understanding of the medical examiner system operational remit when incorporated within Bereavement Services or as a standalone office.
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).
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).
