Job summary
The Lead Medical Examiner is a key senior appointment suitable for an individual who is committed to ensuring that we scrutinise and learn from deaths that happen within our hospitals and in the community.
This post will lead the Medical Examiner (ME) Service at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and be responsible for providing senior clinical leadership to other MEs as well as other clinical and administrative staff who support the ME function. The post holder will also undertake scrutiny work
The role has a significant profile internally and externally. This position has dual accountability to both the Trust Medical Directors, and also the London Regional Medical Examiner, and ultimately the National Medical Examiner. The ability to lead a high-profile service in an engaging and strategic manner while maintaining focus on nearer-term goals for quality and operational effectiveness is vital.
We are looking for a clinical leader who is resilient, is clinically credible, has integrity, is open and can communicate effectively with a wide range of people, crucially with our staff, community partners, patients and the public. The post holder will be expected to use these qualities to improve engagement of these key people at a time when the role of the medical examiner is changing and extending nationally.
Up to of four PAs are available for the Lead ME role but there is some flexibility to reduce this depending on the existing job plan of suitable candidates.
Main duties of the job
Please see the job description for summary of duties.
- To provide clinical leadership to the Medical Examiner Service at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and across organisational boundaries with multiple different partner
- To work closely with the national and regional medical examiners and medical examiner offices.
- Represent the ME service and act as a subject matter expert
- To ensure compliance with the legal and procedural requirements
- To scrutinise the certified causes of death offered by attending doctors
- To discuss and explain the cause of death with next of kin/informants in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner.
- To ensure that all users of the ME system are treated with respect and are not discriminated against on any grounds
- To maintain comprehensive records of all deaths scrutinised and undertake analysis to provide information to the National Medical Examiner's office.
- To participate in relevant clinical governance activities
- To support the training of acute and non-acute medical colleagues in their understanding of death certification and promote good practice in accurate completion of MCCDs.
- To adopt a collaborative working relationship with other MEs
About us
At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care. Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You'll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.
Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This high-profile leadership role will be responsible for the Medical Examiners service at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. The post holder will be required to be an expert and advise key stakeholders as well as to collaborate and work in partnership with a multi-disciplinary team to ensure the smooth running of the service.
The service currently scrutinises all deaths that occur within the Trust and is extending this to all deaths that occur in London boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham and Westminster. This is part of the national roll out and statutory implementation of the medical examiner process.
The post holder will be expected to split their time between leading the service and carrying out case scrutiny, in the same way as other Medical examiners in the service.
MEs are senior doctors, specifically trained for the role, who will scrutinise the cause of death proposed by the treating doctor based on: a proportionate review of the medical records; a discussion with the next of kin and the qualified attending physician (QAP) and an external examination of the deceased where their body is to be cremated. The agreement of the ME will be necessary before a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) can be issued, or a death referred to HM Coroner.
A practising medical practitioner who has been on the general medical council register for a minimum of five years post registration can apply to be a ME. It is recommended that MEs are consultant grade doctors from a range of disciplines (including GP principals). MEs will take a consistent approach to the formulation of MCCD content, which must be clinically accurate and reflect any discussions with the next of kin/informant. MEs must not have been involved in the care of the deceased patients for deaths they scrutinise.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This high-profile leadership role will be responsible for the Medical Examiners service at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. The post holder will be required to be an expert and advise key stakeholders as well as to collaborate and work in partnership with a multi-disciplinary team to ensure the smooth running of the service.
The service currently scrutinises all deaths that occur within the Trust and is extending this to all deaths that occur in London boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham and Westminster. This is part of the national roll out and statutory implementation of the medical examiner process.
The post holder will be expected to split their time between leading the service and carrying out case scrutiny, in the same way as other Medical examiners in the service.
MEs are senior doctors, specifically trained for the role, who will scrutinise the cause of death proposed by the treating doctor based on: a proportionate review of the medical records; a discussion with the next of kin and the qualified attending physician (QAP) and an external examination of the deceased where their body is to be cremated. The agreement of the ME will be necessary before a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) can be issued, or a death referred to HM Coroner.
A practising medical practitioner who has been on the general medical council register for a minimum of five years post registration can apply to be a ME. It is recommended that MEs are consultant grade doctors from a range of disciplines (including GP principals). MEs will take a consistent approach to the formulation of MCCD content, which must be clinically accurate and reflect any discussions with the next of kin/informant. MEs must not have been involved in the care of the deceased patients for deaths they scrutinise.
Person Specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential
- On GMC's register with a Licence to Practice or eligible to apply for GMC registration and a Licence to Practice
- On GMC's Specialist Register or within six months of being admitted to the register by the date of the interviews or eligible for specialist registration
- Appropriate Royal College Membership
General
Essential
- Experience of teaching and training undergraduates/postgraduates and junior medical staff
- Understanding of principles of clinical audit
- Knowledge of finance/budgets
- Management of staff
Person Specification
Education/ Qualifications
Essential
- On GMC's register with a Licence to Practice or eligible to apply for GMC registration and a Licence to Practice
- On GMC's Specialist Register or within six months of being admitted to the register by the date of the interviews or eligible for specialist registration
- Appropriate Royal College Membership
General
Essential
- Experience of teaching and training undergraduates/postgraduates and junior medical staff
- Understanding of principles of clinical audit
- Knowledge of finance/budgets
- Management of staff
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).
