Job summary
The Medical Examiner (ME) system was introduced in 2019 by the Department of Health and Social Care in response to the recommendations of the Shipman Enquiry which called for reform of the death certification process. The role of the Medical Examiner is to promote robust and transparent scrutiny of the death certification process through independent review of clinical case notes and confirmation of cause of death in all patients including the review of all deaths in the local health community of West Northamptonshire - covering primary care and community and mental health Trusts.
The role requires knowledge and experience of the statutory process around death certification, legal frameworks and the relationship between the ME service and other related organisations including Coroner's office and Registration service.
The post holder must be registered with a licence to practice as a doctor in the UK by the GMC. It is recommended that Medical Examiners are consultant grade doctors from a range of disciplines or GP principals . They must have been on the Medical register for a minimum of 5 years.
Prior to employment the ME must have successfully completed the mandatory components of the national online Medical Examiner curriculum. Face to Face training must be completed within 3 months of starting in post.
Main duties of the job
Scrutinise the clinical notes and certified causes of death offered by attending doctors in a way that is proportionate, consistent and compliant with the proposed national protocol;
Discuss and explain the cause of death with the next of kin/informants in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner (predominantly conducted through telephone conversations);
Maintain comprehensive records of all deaths scrutinised and undertake analysis to provide information to the National Medical Examiner's office;
Participate in relevant activities relating to death certification including audits;
Support the training of junior doctors in their understanding of death certification and promote good practice in accurate completion of MCCDs;
Work collaboratively with other medical examiners in the local authority, sharing experiences and expertise to support peer learning and set uniform standards of service delivery;
Work with medical examiner officers (MEOs) delegating duties as appropriate , and engage with the lead ME and lead MEO for the region;
Be part of an OOH rota with other MEs to ensure urgent release of a body can be achieved if requested.
About us
**Please submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close any adverts before the closing date once we have received sufficient applications**
Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.
Our Excellence Values
- Compassion
- Accountability
- Respect
- Integrity
- Courage
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential.
The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
We recognise the valuable contribution that the Armed Forces community make to our organisation. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and achieved Silver Award under the Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme.
We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For Key responsibilities - see previous section or full job description
MEs must have up to date knowledge of medical conditions and treatments and be able to exercise judgement about when to seek specialist advice.
MEs should be aware of how their personal communication style impacts on others and be able to adapt their approach to suit a variety of situations and audiences.
This will require:
Highly evolved self-awareness and empathetic skills to liaise effectively and sympathetically with bereaved families;
The ability to demonstrate and combine appropriate levels of compassion with professionalism and discretion;
Being open to constructive criticism, ideas and solutions;
Acting as a positive role model and interacting appropriately with all stake holders including MEOs , other MEs , the bereaved and the Coroner
Having the integrity to gain trust and comply with the independent nature of the ME role in the context of other clinical specialty duties.
The ME will be a source of expert knowledge and advice for health professionals and wider stakeholder groups including
Medical director and all grades of clinicians
MEOs , bereavement staff and mortuary staff
Coroners and their officers, Registrar of Births and Death
Spiritual and faith community leaders
Other healthcare providers including GPs
MEs must act in accordance with Equalities and Human Rights legislation and the Trusts Equality and diversity policies. MEs must avoid any potential conflicts of interest. In cases where they have a personal or professional relationship with the deceased, next of kin/informant, or with the attending doctor preparing the MCCD, they must transfer scrutiny of the death to another ME.
Accountability for ME work
MEs will have professional independence in scrutinising deaths. MEs will have an independent professional line of accountability to a regional structure of NHS improvement /NHS England outside the employing organisation and immediate line management. MEs will comply with guidance issued by the National Medical Examiner when carrying out Medical Examiner duties.
Safety and Quality
MEs are required to escalate any relevant governance concerns relating to scrutiny and confirmation of cause of death where concerns have been raised by the next of kin/informant of the deceased and/or clinical staff and ME scrutiny.
MEs will facilitate routine analysis of the MCCD information to identify trends, patterns and unusual features of deaths and report to the regional Lead ME and ultimately to the National Medical Examiners officer
MEs will provide information to local Child Death Overview panels in respect of all child deaths which are not being investigated by the coroner
Continuing Professional Development
MEs are expected to take responsibility for their own continuing professional development in accordance with any standards for maintaining a GMC licence to practice and membership of any relevant professional body. The ME role should be included in the whole practice appraisal. MEs should maintain a Personal Development Plan in agreement with their appraiser. There will be opportunities to attend local and national activities to maintain up to date knowledge.
Indemnity
Doctors working as an ME on behalf of the Trust will be indemnified for their activities in the pursuance of their work as part of their usual indemnity arrangements with the Trust as their employer.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For Key responsibilities - see previous section or full job description
MEs must have up to date knowledge of medical conditions and treatments and be able to exercise judgement about when to seek specialist advice.
MEs should be aware of how their personal communication style impacts on others and be able to adapt their approach to suit a variety of situations and audiences.
This will require:
Highly evolved self-awareness and empathetic skills to liaise effectively and sympathetically with bereaved families;
The ability to demonstrate and combine appropriate levels of compassion with professionalism and discretion;
Being open to constructive criticism, ideas and solutions;
Acting as a positive role model and interacting appropriately with all stake holders including MEOs , other MEs , the bereaved and the Coroner
Having the integrity to gain trust and comply with the independent nature of the ME role in the context of other clinical specialty duties.
The ME will be a source of expert knowledge and advice for health professionals and wider stakeholder groups including
Medical director and all grades of clinicians
MEOs , bereavement staff and mortuary staff
Coroners and their officers, Registrar of Births and Death
Spiritual and faith community leaders
Other healthcare providers including GPs
MEs must act in accordance with Equalities and Human Rights legislation and the Trusts Equality and diversity policies. MEs must avoid any potential conflicts of interest. In cases where they have a personal or professional relationship with the deceased, next of kin/informant, or with the attending doctor preparing the MCCD, they must transfer scrutiny of the death to another ME.
Accountability for ME work
MEs will have professional independence in scrutinising deaths. MEs will have an independent professional line of accountability to a regional structure of NHS improvement /NHS England outside the employing organisation and immediate line management. MEs will comply with guidance issued by the National Medical Examiner when carrying out Medical Examiner duties.
Safety and Quality
MEs are required to escalate any relevant governance concerns relating to scrutiny and confirmation of cause of death where concerns have been raised by the next of kin/informant of the deceased and/or clinical staff and ME scrutiny.
MEs will facilitate routine analysis of the MCCD information to identify trends, patterns and unusual features of deaths and report to the regional Lead ME and ultimately to the National Medical Examiners officer
MEs will provide information to local Child Death Overview panels in respect of all child deaths which are not being investigated by the coroner
Continuing Professional Development
MEs are expected to take responsibility for their own continuing professional development in accordance with any standards for maintaining a GMC licence to practice and membership of any relevant professional body. The ME role should be included in the whole practice appraisal. MEs should maintain a Personal Development Plan in agreement with their appraiser. There will be opportunities to attend local and national activities to maintain up to date knowledge.
Indemnity
Doctors working as an ME on behalf of the Trust will be indemnified for their activities in the pursuance of their work as part of their usual indemnity arrangements with the Trust as their employer.
Person Specification
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy
- Calm under pressure and emotionally robust, able to manage own reactions in distressing circumstances and support others in the team
Education
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant experience
Desirable
- Management qualification/post graduate diploma
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of local and national governance systems
- Medical Practitioner registered and licensed to practise in the UK by the GMC
- 5 years experience
Desirable
- Experience of dealing with the public and other organisations
Skills
Essential
- Ability to assimilate information quickly and summarise succinctly
- Excellent verbal and written communications skills
Person Specification
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy
- Calm under pressure and emotionally robust, able to manage own reactions in distressing circumstances and support others in the team
Education
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant experience
Desirable
- Management qualification/post graduate diploma
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of local and national governance systems
- Medical Practitioner registered and licensed to practise in the UK by the GMC
- 5 years experience
Desirable
- Experience of dealing with the public and other organisations
Skills
Essential
- Ability to assimilate information quickly and summarise succinctly
- Excellent verbal and written communications 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.
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).
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