Job summary
The role of Medical Examiner has been created by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in response to observations made in the Third Report of the Shipman Inquiry. The medical examiner system aims to promote robust, transparent and independent scrutiny of death certification processes feeding into the Clinical Governance of all healthcare providers within the Doncaster and Bassetlaw area.
The Lead Medical Examiner is a local role to oversee development and leadership of an effective Medical Examiner service consistent with regional and national best practice, reporting and accountable to the Trust Board as necessary, liaising and working with local partner organisations.
Main duties of the job
Ensure compliance with the legal and procedural requirements associated with the processes of certification, investigation by coroners and registration of deaths.
Scrutinise 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 next of kin/informants in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner.
Ensure that all users of the ME system are treated with respect and are not discriminated against on the grounds of sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or disability.
Maintain comprehensive records of all deaths scrutinised and undertake analysis to provide information to the National Medical Examiner's office.
Participate in relevant clinical governance activities relating to death certification including audits, mortality review processes and investigations regarding formal complaints about patient care.
Support the training of junior doctors in their understanding of death certification, promote good practice in accurate completion of MCCDs.
Work with medical examiner officers (MEOs), delegating duties as appropriate.
Engage with lead ME/lead MEO for the region.
Adopt a collaborative working relationship with other MEs by sharing experiences and expertise to support peer learning and set uniform standards of service delivery.
About us
DBTH is one of Yorkshire's leading acute trusts, serving a population of more than 440,000. Our services are based over three main hospital sites and several additional services employing over 7,000 colleagues.
At DBTH we have a comprehensive framework of behaviours that guide us in our daily working lives, these form the DBTH Way. We pride ourselves on our commitment to the values of We Care and now the DBTH Way builds upon these foundations, providing further clarity on what it means to embody these values in our everyday interactions.
As an organisation that supports flexible working, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applicants from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including those with disabilities, members of our ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ communities.
We offer a range of benefits to support our people including:o Extensive range of learning opportunitieso NHS Pension Schemeo Generous holiday entitlement in line with Terms & Conditionso Comprehensive health and wellbeing supporto NHS Car Lease schemes and a range of salary sacrifice schemeo Discounts on restaurants, getaways, shopping and finance through external providers.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached to the advert a Job Description and Person Specification for further details. Please ensure you read both documents carefully.
Please note, if your application is successful you will be required to present original certificates of qualifications that are listed in the person specification under essential.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached to the advert a Job Description and Person Specification for further details. Please ensure you read both documents carefully.
Please note, if your application is successful you will be required to present original certificates of qualifications that are listed in the person specification under essential.
Person Specification
Knowledge, Skills and Performance
Essential
- Medical practitioner registered and licensed to practise in the UK by the GMC.
- A commitment to life-long learning and undertaking personal development opportunities.
- Candidates must have successfully completed the mandatory e-learning modules by the time they start the role. Candidates must attend a face-to-face training session within the first three months in post.
- MEs should have up-to-date knowledge of causes of death and an understanding of the legal frameworks associated with death certification processes
- IT skills including use of email and commonly used software.
- Ability to manage and comply with sensitive information based processes under tight timescales with a proportionate approach.
- Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity
Safety and Quality - Clinical Governance
Essential
- Knowledge of local and national clinical governance systems and an understanding of how the ME can work collaboratively to improve patient safety by identifying sub-optimal clinical and organisational performance.
- Ability to identify available data sources to support the detection and analysis of concerns and to recognise gaps in available knowledge.
- Ability to identify and disseminate examples of good practice amongst relevant colleagues
Communication and teamwork
Essential
- Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and professionalism
- Ability to work effectively and efficiently within own team and also closely with people in other disciplines
- Ability to work as part of a team and organise a fluctuating workload around competing priorities and numerous interruptions
Person Specification
Knowledge, Skills and Performance
Essential
- Medical practitioner registered and licensed to practise in the UK by the GMC.
- A commitment to life-long learning and undertaking personal development opportunities.
- Candidates must have successfully completed the mandatory e-learning modules by the time they start the role. Candidates must attend a face-to-face training session within the first three months in post.
- MEs should have up-to-date knowledge of causes of death and an understanding of the legal frameworks associated with death certification processes
- IT skills including use of email and commonly used software.
- Ability to manage and comply with sensitive information based processes under tight timescales with a proportionate approach.
- Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity
Safety and Quality - Clinical Governance
Essential
- Knowledge of local and national clinical governance systems and an understanding of how the ME can work collaboratively to improve patient safety by identifying sub-optimal clinical and organisational performance.
- Ability to identify available data sources to support the detection and analysis of concerns and to recognise gaps in available knowledge.
- Ability to identify and disseminate examples of good practice amongst relevant colleagues
Communication and teamwork
Essential
- Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and professionalism
- Ability to work effectively and efficiently within own team and also closely with people in other disciplines
- Ability to work as part of a team and organise a fluctuating workload around competing priorities and numerous interruptions
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).
