Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity to be part of the Medical Examiner service. We are recruiting Medical Examiner Officers to join the Trust.
You will assist the Lead Medical Examiner Officer in ensuring internal and external qualitative and quantitative key performance indicators are managed and achieved.
You will be a point of contact and source of advice for relatives of deceased patients, healthcare professionals, HM Coroner and registration services.
This is a challenging role which combines some clinical knowledge, skilled communication in sensitive areas and IT skills.
Successful applicants are expected to undertake the mandatory Royal College of Pathologists' Medical Examiner e-learning modules and face to face training.
The posts are cross-site positions between Royal Liverpool & Aintree sites.
Main duties of the job
Main duties of the job
To act as an intermediary between the bereaved and clinicians to establish and resolve any concerns relating to a patient's death. Work with medical examiners to aid them in their responsibility for overseeing the death certification process for all deceased patients.
To establish the circumstances of individual patient deaths by performing a preliminary review of medical records.
To refer patients to HM Coroner for further investigation on approval by the Medical Examiner.
Maintain an awareness of the diverse needs of users of the Medical Examiner system to ensure equality to any particular group defined by sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or disability.
Educated to Bachelor's degree level, or evidence of study/equivalent practical experience at an advanced level; this might include nursing or other clinical experience..
To have an understanding of medical terminology.
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 Hospitalis 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 Hospitalis home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation.Liverpool Women's Hospitalspecialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. TheRoyal Liverpool University Hospitalis 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 theircareers page.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details;
Knowledge of the statutory process around death certification legal frameworks and how the medical examiner system aligns with other related organisations and NHS initiatives.
The ability to work in a highly pressurised, unpredictable environment where bereavement care is central to the service delivery.
Specialist knowledge of various faith groups funeral wishes/practices to enable respectful compliance with tight and specific timescales and procedures.
Computer literate to use multiple IT software for recording personal identifiable data and producing statistical information for the National Medical Examiners office and Public Health surveillance.
Be able to juggle conflicting demands, prioritise tasks and deal with queries as they arise.
Identify relatives concerns and escalate them appropriately.
Full compliance with secure handling of patient identifiable data is essential.
Contribute to and review departmental policies and procedures to reflect best practice in the delivery of a medical examiner system.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for further details;
Knowledge of the statutory process around death certification legal frameworks and how the medical examiner system aligns with other related organisations and NHS initiatives.
The ability to work in a highly pressurised, unpredictable environment where bereavement care is central to the service delivery.
Specialist knowledge of various faith groups funeral wishes/practices to enable respectful compliance with tight and specific timescales and procedures.
Computer literate to use multiple IT software for recording personal identifiable data and producing statistical information for the National Medical Examiners office and Public Health surveillance.
Be able to juggle conflicting demands, prioritise tasks and deal with queries as they arise.
Identify relatives concerns and escalate them appropriately.
Full compliance with secure handling of patient identifiable data is essential.
Contribute to and review departmental policies and procedures to reflect best practice in the delivery of a medical examiner system.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent working knowledge within a related field
- Completed e-learning Medical Examiner Officer core training modules prior to commencing in post
- Completed face to face Medical Examiner Officer training modules within 3 months of commencing in post
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a healthcare setting with multi-disciplinary teams
- Experience of working across organisational boundaries
Knowledge
Essential
- To have an understanding of medical terminology that enables informed discussions about causes/circumstances of death with bereaved families, clinicians, coroner and registration staff
- 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 and as a X standalone service.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity of issues around formalities following a death.
- Understanding of quality management systems
- Understanding of the requirements of Human Tissue Authority and the Human Tissue Act 2004
Skills
Essential
- Evidence of excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- The ability to work as part of a team and organise fluctuating workloads around competing priorities
- The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including the recently bereaved.
- Highly evolved empathetic and self awareness skills to deal with bereaved families who may have barriers to understanding information due to their grief or disability
- The ability to work in a highly pressured, unpredictable environment where bereavement care is central to the service delivery
- Good IT skills. Use of various IT software systems and handling of personable identifiable data
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent working knowledge within a related field
- Completed e-learning Medical Examiner Officer core training modules prior to commencing in post
- Completed face to face Medical Examiner Officer training modules within 3 months of commencing in post
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a healthcare setting with multi-disciplinary teams
- Experience of working across organisational boundaries
Knowledge
Essential
- To have an understanding of medical terminology that enables informed discussions about causes/circumstances of death with bereaved families, clinicians, coroner and registration staff
- 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 and as a X standalone service.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity of issues around formalities following a death.
- Understanding of quality management systems
- Understanding of the requirements of Human Tissue Authority and the Human Tissue Act 2004
Skills
Essential
- Evidence of excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- The ability to work as part of a team and organise fluctuating workloads around competing priorities
- The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including the recently bereaved.
- Highly evolved empathetic and self awareness skills to deal with bereaved families who may have barriers to understanding information due to their grief or disability
- The ability to work in a highly pressured, unpredictable environment where bereavement care is central to the service delivery
- Good IT skills. Use of various IT software systems and handling of personable identifiable data
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).
