Job summary
The Inquest Services Officer will work as a member of the Risk Management team. They will be responsible for their own case load and will support the Inquest Services Managers in providing a comprehensive inquest service to the department and the Trust. The Inquest Services Officer will provide an important role in ensuring that inquests are dealt with in an effective, efficient and sensitive manner.
The post holder will have day to day contact with staff at all levels, including the Trust Executive Board members where the inquest is high profile. The post holder will manage a complex and sensitive case load related to inquests, and maintain excellent working relationships with Trust employees and external organisations including Leeds City Council, panel solicitors, CQC, CCG and HM Coroner.
Main duties of the job
You will be required to support the Medical Director for Risk and Governance and the senior management team in the Risk Management Department in requesting evidence for inquests; undertaking reviews of draft statements; provisional reviews of internal investigation reports and highlighting areas of conflict and concern. The post holder will be a source of support to staff called to inquests. They will ensure that the Coroners specific directions have been addressed and any associated risks have been managed.
About us
Our services include:
High quality and effective hospital services for our community in Leeds, such as two Emergency Departments, outpatients, inpatients, maternity and older people services; and
Highly specialised services for the population of Leeds, Yorkshire and the Humber, nationally and beyond.
This means that people in Leeds and across Yorkshire have access to some of the very best care in the country and benefit from a seamless provision of all services.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Plays a pivotal role in providing an efficient, compassionate and effective inquest management function by:
Identifying and obtaining statements from witnesses called to give evidence at the Coroners courts
Liaising between staff and Coroners courts regarding availability for inquests
Ensuring Coroners specific Directions have been addressed
Maintaining a complete and accurate inquest management database ensuring all stages of the inquest process are adhered to within the timescales set by Coroners;
Preparing and typing of documents and supporting documentation for court; panel solicitors; ensuring absolute accuracy
Acting as a source of advice and support regarding inquest process for patients and staff within CSUs;
First point of contact for Coroners courts and staff and relatives requiring advice and support;
Using analytical and judgement skills to identify issues of concerns relating to witness evidence.
Dealing with highly sensitive and emotive issues in a professional manner.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Plays a pivotal role in providing an efficient, compassionate and effective inquest management function by:
Identifying and obtaining statements from witnesses called to give evidence at the Coroners courts
Liaising between staff and Coroners courts regarding availability for inquests
Ensuring Coroners specific Directions have been addressed
Maintaining a complete and accurate inquest management database ensuring all stages of the inquest process are adhered to within the timescales set by Coroners;
Preparing and typing of documents and supporting documentation for court; panel solicitors; ensuring absolute accuracy
Acting as a source of advice and support regarding inquest process for patients and staff within CSUs;
First point of contact for Coroners courts and staff and relatives requiring advice and support;
Using analytical and judgement skills to identify issues of concerns relating to witness evidence.
Dealing with highly sensitive and emotive issues in a professional manner.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Working knowledge of Data Protection Act/Access to Health Records Working knowledge of Coroners Rules to be able to apply these in relation to disclosure of documents; statements; investigations.
- Working knowledge of the Coroners inquest processes.
- Understanding of NHS Complaints procedure and how this links to Coroners inquests.
- Understanding of the clinical negligence processes and how this links to Coroners inquests.
- Understanding of the root cause analysis reports.
- Working knowledge of principles of inquest law.
- Knowledge of secretarial and administrative procedures and systems to vocational levels or equivalent acquired through training and experience.
- Experience in dealing with conflicting demands and competing priorities.
Desirable
- Incident Investigation experience.
- Working knowledge of PPM+ Previous experience of Datix software.
Qualifications
Essential
- Minimum of GCSE in English and Maths Evidence of further education to minimum of NVQ level 4.
Desirable
- Claims Handling Qualification.
Skills and behaviours
Essential
- Substantial evidence of professional development.
Desirable
- Developed analytical and judgement skills.
- Developed written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills with ability to communicate information of a highly sensitive or contentious nature in a credible and professional manner.
- Ability to concentrate for prolonged periods with frequent interruptions.
- Ability to work on own initiative without supervision IT literate (Word; Excel; Powerpoint as minimum) coupled with excellent keyboard skills. Developed problem solving skills to provide solutions for non-routine queries/concerns of mixed complexity.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Working knowledge of Data Protection Act/Access to Health Records Working knowledge of Coroners Rules to be able to apply these in relation to disclosure of documents; statements; investigations.
- Working knowledge of the Coroners inquest processes.
- Understanding of NHS Complaints procedure and how this links to Coroners inquests.
- Understanding of the clinical negligence processes and how this links to Coroners inquests.
- Understanding of the root cause analysis reports.
- Working knowledge of principles of inquest law.
- Knowledge of secretarial and administrative procedures and systems to vocational levels or equivalent acquired through training and experience.
- Experience in dealing with conflicting demands and competing priorities.
Desirable
- Incident Investigation experience.
- Working knowledge of PPM+ Previous experience of Datix software.
Qualifications
Essential
- Minimum of GCSE in English and Maths Evidence of further education to minimum of NVQ level 4.
Desirable
- Claims Handling Qualification.
Skills and behaviours
Essential
- Substantial evidence of professional development.
Desirable
- Developed analytical and judgement skills.
- Developed written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills with ability to communicate information of a highly sensitive or contentious nature in a credible and professional manner.
- Ability to concentrate for prolonged periods with frequent interruptions.
- Ability to work on own initiative without supervision IT literate (Word; Excel; Powerpoint as minimum) coupled with excellent keyboard skills. Developed problem solving skills to provide solutions for non-routine queries/concerns of mixed complexity.
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.
