Job summary
The post-holder will provide a minimum of 1PA per week as part of a team of Medical examiners with a pro-rata contribution to the out of hours rota (Saturday, Sunday & UK bank holidays). They will be based in the mortuary/bereavement offices at LUHFT (Aintree or Royal).
The post-holder will work closely with the medical examiner officers and bereavement staff in the acute sector and their equivalents in the community and other organisations.
Given the impact of the introductions of the Regulations on the network, there is an expectation that MEs may need to provide session at more than one site. Routine scrutiny is provided as a 5-day service, with a weekend service for urgent certification & release requests for religious reasons.
The post holder will be registered with a licence to practice in the UK by the GMC. As a pre-condition of practicing, an ME must have successfully completed the mandatory components of the national online medical examiner curriculum. Face-to-face training must be completed within the first three months of being in post.
Main duties of the job
Ensure compliance with legal and procedural requirements associated with current reformed processes of certification, investigation by coroners and registration of deaths.
Scrutinise the certified causes of death offered by attending doctors.
Discuss and explain the cause of death with next of kin/informants in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner.
Ensure that all users are treated with respect and are not discriminated against.
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 training of junior doctors in their understanding of death certification and promote good practice in accurate completion of MCCDs.
Adopt a collaborative working relationship with other MEs, MEOs and external stakeholders.
About us
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.
UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.
For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.
Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women's Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services
For roles at Liverpool Women's, visit their careers page.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Scrutinise the certified causes of death offered by attending doctors.
Discuss and explain the cause of death with next of kin/informants in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner.
Ensure that all users are treated with respect and are not discriminated against.
Maintain comprehensive records of all deaths scrutinised and undertake analysis to provide information to the National Medical Examiners 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 training of junior doctors in their understanding of death certification and promote good practice in accurate completion of MCCDs.
Adopt a collaborative working relationship with other MEs, MEOs and external stakeholders.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Scrutinise the certified causes of death offered by attending doctors.
Discuss and explain the cause of death with next of kin/informants in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner.
Ensure that all users are treated with respect and are not discriminated against.
Maintain comprehensive records of all deaths scrutinised and undertake analysis to provide information to the National Medical Examiners 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 training of junior doctors in their understanding of death certification and promote good practice in accurate completion of MCCDs.
Adopt a collaborative working relationship with other MEs, MEOs and external stakeholders.
Person Specification
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- 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
- Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity
- Ability to manage and comply with sensitive information based processes under tight timescales with a proportionate approach.
- 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.
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered with a licence to practice in the UK by the GMC
- As a pre-condition of practicing, an ME must have successfully completed the mandatory components of the national online medical examiner curriculum. Face-to face (virtual) training must be completed as soon as possible after starting and ideally within the first three months of being in post.
- Commitment to ongoing personal development
Person Specification
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- 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
- Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity
- Ability to manage and comply with sensitive information based processes under tight timescales with a proportionate approach.
- 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.
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered with a licence to practice in the UK by the GMC
- As a pre-condition of practicing, an ME must have successfully completed the mandatory components of the national online medical examiner curriculum. Face-to face (virtual) training must be completed as soon as possible after starting and ideally within the first three months of being in post.
- Commitment to ongoing personal development
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).
