Job summary
Applications are invited from senior doctors working across City & Hackney for the post of Medical Examiner (ME) for Homerton Healthcare. Each post will attract 1 PA. plus an on call supplement for 1:6 weekend/bank holiday 8-10am cover.
We especially welcome applications from those with links to Hackney, General Practice colleagues, and those who would bring diversity to the team but will happily accept applications from those who are either established MEs or new to the role.
It is varied, rewarding and valuable work. We are looking for people with a curious mind and excellent communication skills.
The Medical Examiner system has been introduced nationally as part of the Department of Health and Social Care's death certification reforms programme for England and Wales. It became statutory from September 2024.
Medical examiners (MEs) are experienced doctors who review a case after someone has died. They are independent of the doctors who cared for the patient. They decide in collaboration with the treating doctors on the cause of death, and speak to the bereaved to see whether they have any questions or concerns, before the medical certificate of cause of death (MCCD) is written. They are supported by medical examiners officers (MEOs).
Main duties of the job
To ensure compliance with the legal and procedural requirements associated with the current and proposed reformed processes of certification, investigation by coroners and registration of deaths.
To scrutinise the certified causes of death offered by attending doctors in a way that is proportionate, consistent and compliant with the proposed national protocol.
To support those doctors who call for medical advice on suspected natural causes of death before they prepare an MCCD, and provide general medical advice to the coroner.
To discuss and explain the cause of death with next of kin/informants in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner. It is anticipated that such discussions will be predominately conducted through telephone conversations where barriers to understanding information may exist.
To 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.
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 relating to death certification including audits, mortality review processes and investigations regarding formal complaints about patient care.
About us
Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (HH) is an acute hospital located in the east London Borough of Hackney. The current Chairman is Sir John Gieve, and the Chief Executive is Ms Basirat Sadiq.
Homerton became one of the first ten NHS foundation trusts in the country in April 2004. This allows the Trust to secure certain freedoms to facilitate innovation in the way services are developed and provided. As well as our Trust Board, we also have a Council of Governors comprised of governors representing the local community.
In 2011 the Trust integrated with City & Hackney Community Health Services thereby providing it with an opportunity to develop new service models and pathways that cross traditional organisational boundaries.
Employing over 3000 people, the hospital has approximately 500 beds and manages a 50-bed nursing home, Mary Seacole Nursing Home, in Shoreditch, East London. In 2022, the Trust saw over 300,000 people in outpatient clinics, and over 126,000 people were treated in the accident and emergency department. The Trust also had contact with over 280,00 patients and clients within the community, often in their own homes.
The Trust has a turnover in the region of £220 million, performs consistently well against national performance targets, and has an ambitious objective to increase its income to £300 million over the next few years.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Qualifications
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 should be completed within the first three months of being in post.
Behavioural attributes
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 stakeholders 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.
Communications and key working relationships
To be a source of expert knowledge and advice for health professionals and wider stakeholder groups including:
All grades of clinicians across healthcare settings in Hackney, including acute care, general practice, hospice and mental health services
Clinical governance leads
MEOs and bereavement service staff
Mortuary staff
Coroners and their officers
Registrar of births and deaths
Local Authorities, including care homes and safeguarding teams
Spiritual and faith community leaders
Lead MEs and lead MEOs
Homerton Healthcare Medical Director
National Medical Examiner
You must be able to communicate with the bereaved of all faiths and communities in a sensitive and understanding manner. You will be familiar with the role and function of the Coroner and be able to present complex medical information in such a way as to assist the Coroner in deciding whether to investigate a death about which they have been notified.
Knowledge
MEs must have up-to-date knowledge of a range of medical conditions and treatments, but will not be specialist in all areas. MEs must be able to exercise judgement about when to seek specialist advice.
MEs must have detailed knowledge of the relevant legislation and processes which apply to:
The determination of whether a death is natural or unnatural
Deaths that must be reported to the coroner
Deaths abroad where bodies are returned to England and Wales for disposal
Deaths where relatives wish to transport the body abroad for disposal
Certifying and registering deaths and the regulations to authorise cremation or burials of stillbirths abroad.
Accountability
MEs will have professional independence in scrutinising deaths but will be accountable to the employing organisations Board for achieving agreed standards or levels of performance.
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 structure.
MEs will comply with guidance issued by the National Medical Examiner when carrying out ME duties.
Safety and Quality Clinical Governance
MEs will be required to participate in any relevant governance activities relating to scrutiny and confirmation of the 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 MCCD information to identify trends, patterns and unusual features of deaths and report, as required, firstly to the regional Lead ME and ultimately to the National Medical Examiners office.
MEs will provide information to local Child Death Overview panels in respect of all child deaths which are not being investigated by the coroner.
Maintaining Trust - Equality and Diversity
MEs will act in accordance with Equalities and Human Rights legislation and the organisations Equality and Diversity policies.
Maintaining Trust - Independence
MEs must avoid any potential conflicts of interest. In cases where they have a personal or professional relationship with the deceased person, next of kin/informant, or with the attending doctor preparing the MCCD, they must transfer any scrutiny of the death to another ME.
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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Qualifications
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 should be completed within the first three months of being in post.
Behavioural attributes
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 stakeholders 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.
Communications and key working relationships
To be a source of expert knowledge and advice for health professionals and wider stakeholder groups including:
All grades of clinicians across healthcare settings in Hackney, including acute care, general practice, hospice and mental health services
Clinical governance leads
MEOs and bereavement service staff
Mortuary staff
Coroners and their officers
Registrar of births and deaths
Local Authorities, including care homes and safeguarding teams
Spiritual and faith community leaders
Lead MEs and lead MEOs
Homerton Healthcare Medical Director
National Medical Examiner
You must be able to communicate with the bereaved of all faiths and communities in a sensitive and understanding manner. You will be familiar with the role and function of the Coroner and be able to present complex medical information in such a way as to assist the Coroner in deciding whether to investigate a death about which they have been notified.
Knowledge
MEs must have up-to-date knowledge of a range of medical conditions and treatments, but will not be specialist in all areas. MEs must be able to exercise judgement about when to seek specialist advice.
MEs must have detailed knowledge of the relevant legislation and processes which apply to:
The determination of whether a death is natural or unnatural
Deaths that must be reported to the coroner
Deaths abroad where bodies are returned to England and Wales for disposal
Deaths where relatives wish to transport the body abroad for disposal
Certifying and registering deaths and the regulations to authorise cremation or burials of stillbirths abroad.
Accountability
MEs will have professional independence in scrutinising deaths but will be accountable to the employing organisations Board for achieving agreed standards or levels of performance.
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 structure.
MEs will comply with guidance issued by the National Medical Examiner when carrying out ME duties.
Safety and Quality Clinical Governance
MEs will be required to participate in any relevant governance activities relating to scrutiny and confirmation of the 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 MCCD information to identify trends, patterns and unusual features of deaths and report, as required, firstly to the regional Lead ME and ultimately to the National Medical Examiners office.
MEs will provide information to local Child Death Overview panels in respect of all child deaths which are not being investigated by the coroner.
Maintaining Trust - Equality and Diversity
MEs will act in accordance with Equalities and Human Rights legislation and the organisations Equality and Diversity policies.
Maintaining Trust - Independence
MEs must avoid any potential conflicts of interest. In cases where they have a personal or professional relationship with the deceased person, next of kin/informant, or with the attending doctor preparing the MCCD, they must transfer any scrutiny of the death to another ME.
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.
Person Specification
Knowledge, Skills and Performance
Essential
- Medical practitioner registered and licensed to practise in the UK by the GMC, currently employed in City & Hackney healthcare system.
- Candidates must have successfully completed the mandatory e-learning modules by the time they start the role. Candidates should 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.
- 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.
Person Specification
Knowledge, Skills and Performance
Essential
- Medical practitioner registered and licensed to practise in the UK by the GMC, currently employed in City & Hackney healthcare system.
- Candidates must have successfully completed the mandatory e-learning modules by the time they start the role. Candidates should 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.
- 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.
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).
