Job summary
Job overview
We are looking for a part time Band 5 Medical Examiner Officer (MEO) to join the Medical Examiner's Office at Kings College Hospital, Princess Royal University Hospital Farnborough.
The Medical Examiner system is a new service, recently introduced in England and Wales, which will become statutory in April 2024.
The principal functions are:
- To provide the bereaved with explanation, transparency and early opportunity to ask questions or raise concerns.
- To improve accuracy and quality in all aspects of the medical certification of the cause of death.
- To ensure appropriate referral to the Coroner.
- To safeguard the public through consistent scrutiny of all non-coronal deaths.
- To support clinical governance in learning and improvement.
- The current service is currently scrutinising all adult, paediatric and neonatal deaths in hospital, and has expanded into the community covering Bexley and Bromley Boroughs, including ST Christopher's Hospice.
Main duties of the job
We are seeking an individual who will be responsible for working within the Medical Examiner Offices.
The role will participate in all aspects of the department when required including the completion of paperwork required for the Medical Examiner to scrutinise each death and ensuring that all deaths arescrutinised in a timely manner.
You will work closely with the Lead Medical Examiner Officer in continually developing the Medical Examiner service and will take an active role in supporting the scrutiny of coronial deaths within the community.
The post holder will also be required to have working experience of being a Medical Examiners Officer and proven experience of taking part in building the Medical Examiner Service.
About us
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reachis our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible
Job description
Job responsibilities
The MEO will support Medical Examiners in their role in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death. They will be a point of contact, allow continuity and be a source of advice for relatives of deceased patients, healthcare professionals and coroner and registration services. The post holder will be based at Princess Royal Hospital and will work collaboratively and flexibly to ensure an efficient service is provided for all acute and non-acute deaths cross site.
Job Summary
- To support the Medical Examiners in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death.
- To be a point of contact, source of advice and expertise for the Medical Examiners Officer team.
- To take part in delivery of a high quality service including developing and reviewing protocols and policies for the service across Denmark Hill and PRUH alongside the Lead MEO.
- To take part in the expansion of the service across sites and into the community.
- The Medical Examiner Officer is central to the service and is primarily based on one site. They will provide a constant presence in the medical examiner office allowing day to day continuity. They are ideally placed to note concerns, identify and record trends and identify learning.
Key Working Relationships
Regional Medical Examiner, Regional Medical Examiner Officer, Medical Examiners within the Trust, Medical Examiner Officers within the Trust, Lead Medical Examiner Officer, Mortuary and Bereavement Service Manager, Assistant service Managers, Pathology Development Manager, Registrars, HM Coroners, Consultants, Pathologists, Clinicians, Nursing Staff, bereavement team, Mortuary Team, relatives, faith leaders, funeral directors and Primary Care colleagues.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership
- To support and manage the Medical Examiner Office day to day in the absence of the senior MEO.
- Work with Medical Examiner Officers in managing the teams delegated roles within the service.
- Assist the Lead MEO with the provision of accurate data returns to comply with National and Regional Medical Examiner requirements.
- Attend meetings as required to represent the Medical Examiner Service.
- To maintain workflow through the Medical Examiners Service to ensure all targets are met.
Education and Training
- Ensure training requirements are met and you are kept up to date.
- Participate in training appropriate to the role.
- Update and maintain own self development and awareness.
- Participate in Trust mandatory training.
- Work closely with the Mortuary and Bereavement Service Manager and Lead Medical Examiner Officer to ensure excellent working relationships between the ME office staff and Mortuary and Bereavement staff
Responsibilities
- To act as an intermediary between the bereaved and clinicians to establish and resolve any concerns relating to patients death.
- To work with the Lead Medical Examiner Officer to ensure proper and proportionate scrutiny of all deaths allocated to the Medical Examiner Service.
- To manage own workload ensuring timescales are adhered to
- To identify those cases that may require further review by pathways.
- Assist in highlighting cases for assessment by the Structured Judgement review team (SJR) Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) Clinical Governance teams and the Learning Disability Review Teams (LeDeR).
Job description
Job responsibilities
The MEO will support Medical Examiners in their role in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death. They will be a point of contact, allow continuity and be a source of advice for relatives of deceased patients, healthcare professionals and coroner and registration services. The post holder will be based at Princess Royal Hospital and will work collaboratively and flexibly to ensure an efficient service is provided for all acute and non-acute deaths cross site.
Job Summary
- To support the Medical Examiners in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death.
- To be a point of contact, source of advice and expertise for the Medical Examiners Officer team.
- To take part in delivery of a high quality service including developing and reviewing protocols and policies for the service across Denmark Hill and PRUH alongside the Lead MEO.
- To take part in the expansion of the service across sites and into the community.
- The Medical Examiner Officer is central to the service and is primarily based on one site. They will provide a constant presence in the medical examiner office allowing day to day continuity. They are ideally placed to note concerns, identify and record trends and identify learning.
Key Working Relationships
Regional Medical Examiner, Regional Medical Examiner Officer, Medical Examiners within the Trust, Medical Examiner Officers within the Trust, Lead Medical Examiner Officer, Mortuary and Bereavement Service Manager, Assistant service Managers, Pathology Development Manager, Registrars, HM Coroners, Consultants, Pathologists, Clinicians, Nursing Staff, bereavement team, Mortuary Team, relatives, faith leaders, funeral directors and Primary Care colleagues.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership
- To support and manage the Medical Examiner Office day to day in the absence of the senior MEO.
- Work with Medical Examiner Officers in managing the teams delegated roles within the service.
- Assist the Lead MEO with the provision of accurate data returns to comply with National and Regional Medical Examiner requirements.
- Attend meetings as required to represent the Medical Examiner Service.
- To maintain workflow through the Medical Examiners Service to ensure all targets are met.
Education and Training
- Ensure training requirements are met and you are kept up to date.
- Participate in training appropriate to the role.
- Update and maintain own self development and awareness.
- Participate in Trust mandatory training.
- Work closely with the Mortuary and Bereavement Service Manager and Lead Medical Examiner Officer to ensure excellent working relationships between the ME office staff and Mortuary and Bereavement staff
Responsibilities
- To act as an intermediary between the bereaved and clinicians to establish and resolve any concerns relating to patients death.
- To work with the Lead Medical Examiner Officer to ensure proper and proportionate scrutiny of all deaths allocated to the Medical Examiner Service.
- To manage own workload ensuring timescales are adhered to
- To identify those cases that may require further review by pathways.
- Assist in highlighting cases for assessment by the Structured Judgement review team (SJR) Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) Clinical Governance teams and the Learning Disability Review Teams (LeDeR).
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- o Educated to Batchelor's degree level or equivalent working knowledge in related field. A commitment to life- long learning and able to demonstrate undertaking of personal development opportunities relevant to the post o Completed e-learning MEO core training modules prior to starting in the post
- A commitment to life- long learning and able to demonstrate undertaking of personal development opportunities relevant to the post
- o Completed e-learning MEO core training modules prior to starting in the post
Teamwork
Essential
- Experience of working with patients families and staff forming good relationships
- Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations
- The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including the recently bereaved
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations.
- Excellent communication skills verbal and written
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and professionalism with all stakeholders
Desirable
- Ability to be able to work flexibly across all Trust sites
- Proactive and self-motivated. Ability to deputise for Senior Medical Examiner Officer
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- o Educated to Batchelor's degree level or equivalent working knowledge in related field. A commitment to life- long learning and able to demonstrate undertaking of personal development opportunities relevant to the post o Completed e-learning MEO core training modules prior to starting in the post
- A commitment to life- long learning and able to demonstrate undertaking of personal development opportunities relevant to the post
- o Completed e-learning MEO core training modules prior to starting in the post
Teamwork
Essential
- Experience of working with patients families and staff forming good relationships
- Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations
- The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including the recently bereaved
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations.
- Excellent communication skills verbal and written
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and professionalism with all stakeholders
Desirable
- Ability to be able to work flexibly across all Trust sites
- Proactive and self-motivated. Ability to deputise for Senior Medical Examiner Officer
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).
Employer details
Employer name
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Princess Royal University Hospital Fanborough
Farnborough Common
Farnborough Common
BR68ND
Employer's website
https://www.kch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
