Job summary
The Medical Examiner Service is fundamental to supporting the bereaved, ensuring consistency and accuracy in death certification and promoting continuous learning.
We are looking for a Medical Examiner Officer to play a key role in our ongoing development. Our service now includes deaths which occur in the community.
The successful candidate should have strong interpersonal skills and be able to communicate effectively in difficult and emotional settings to provide compassionate and sensitive support to bereaved relatives.
- Interview Date Thursday 20 March 2025
- 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Main duties of the job
To establish the circumstances of individual patients deaths by performing a preliminary review of medical records for scruitiny by the Medical Examiner.
Maintaining a database.
About us
Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
o Freeman Hospitalo Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)o Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)o Newcastle Dental Hospitalo Newcastle Fertility Centreo Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbriao Northern Genetics Serviceo Cramlington Manor Walks
These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To support the Medical Examiner in their role in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death.
- To be a point of contact and source of advice for relatives/carers of deceased patients, health professionals, coroner and registration service.
- To provide training and support to junior doctors and nursing staff regarding legal requirements relating to registration of death, completion of necessary investigations including referral to the coroners office.
- To work confidently and professionally with all grades of staff and external professionals to ensure the correct running of the medical examiner service in accordance with both statutory and Trust requirements.
- Ensure all staff are able to respond in an emergency or Major incident situation.
- Oversee and provide support to medical colleagues and ward staff in relation to notification of death and repatriation procedures.
- Communicate effectively with all staff groups across the organisation.
- Establish and maintain good working relationships with supporting services including Chaplaincy, mortuary and undertaker providers.
- To manage and work as part of a team, having a flexible approach, to ensure that all duties are carried out efficiently, in a sensitive and timely manner.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To support the Medical Examiner in their role in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death.
- To be a point of contact and source of advice for relatives/carers of deceased patients, health professionals, coroner and registration service.
- To provide training and support to junior doctors and nursing staff regarding legal requirements relating to registration of death, completion of necessary investigations including referral to the coroners office.
- To work confidently and professionally with all grades of staff and external professionals to ensure the correct running of the medical examiner service in accordance with both statutory and Trust requirements.
- Ensure all staff are able to respond in an emergency or Major incident situation.
- Oversee and provide support to medical colleagues and ward staff in relation to notification of death and repatriation procedures.
- Communicate effectively with all staff groups across the organisation.
- Establish and maintain good working relationships with supporting services including Chaplaincy, mortuary and undertaker providers.
- To manage and work as part of a team, having a flexible approach, to ensure that all duties are carried out efficiently, in a sensitive and timely manner.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Educated to -Degree level or equivalent working knowledge in related field
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Specialist knowledge of Bereavement Services o Experience, including knowledge of Trust principles, policies and Governance regulations o Specialist knowledge of notification of death requirements Extensive experience of dealing with members of the public who may be distressed and bereaved
- Completion of the e-learning MEO core training modules prior to starting the post
- Knowledge and understanding of Trust and NHS Policies and Procedures
- Knowledge and understanding of the Data Protection Act 1998
Desirable
- Knowledge of the Patient Administration System
- Understanding of Health and Safety statutory requirements
- Understanding of confidential issues
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Able to establish good working relationships with a wide range of professional groups internal and external to the trust
- Strong Communication/interpersonal skills with an ability to communicate effectively and the sensitivity with relatives or representatives of the deceased and to communicate with bereaved of all faiths and communities in a sensitive and understanding manner
- Excellent organisational /time management skills
- Ability to: -meet strict deadlines and work under pressure o standardise working practices
Desirable
- IT Skills
- Data Analysis skills
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- Educated to -Degree level or equivalent working knowledge in related field
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Specialist knowledge of Bereavement Services o Experience, including knowledge of Trust principles, policies and Governance regulations o Specialist knowledge of notification of death requirements Extensive experience of dealing with members of the public who may be distressed and bereaved
- Completion of the e-learning MEO core training modules prior to starting the post
- Knowledge and understanding of Trust and NHS Policies and Procedures
- Knowledge and understanding of the Data Protection Act 1998
Desirable
- Knowledge of the Patient Administration System
- Understanding of Health and Safety statutory requirements
- Understanding of confidential issues
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Able to establish good working relationships with a wide range of professional groups internal and external to the trust
- Strong Communication/interpersonal skills with an ability to communicate effectively and the sensitivity with relatives or representatives of the deceased and to communicate with bereaved of all faiths and communities in a sensitive and understanding manner
- Excellent organisational /time management skills
- Ability to: -meet strict deadlines and work under pressure o standardise working practices
Desirable
- IT Skills
- Data Analysis skills
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).