Job summary
Due to service expansion an exciting opportunity has arisen within the Bereavement and Medical Examiner Service at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for a Medical Examiner Officer (MEO). You will work as part of a well-established and friendly team to support Medical Examiners (senior doctors) in carrying out their independent review of the circumstances of death for deceased patients from a range of care provider organisations across the county. We offer a supportive, values driven and compassionate culture in which to develop your existing interpersonal skills in this highly rewarding role within bereavement care.
The post-holder will be required to have the flexibility to work at either Cheltenham General or Gloucestershire Royal hospital sites on an as needed basis. The 22.5 hours will be worked over three set days per week.
Interview date: Friday 16th February
Main duties of the job
We are looking for enthusiastic, self-motivated and empathic individuals to complement our respected, competent and friendly team. The role requires frequent communication with bereaved people, the coroner service and a wide range of clinical teams. This is to ensure that the legal procedures within death certification processes are carried out to support raising concerns with care and ensuring appropriate escalation to either the Coroner, Patient Safety/Complaints departments where necessary.
You will need highly evolved communication skills to be able to hold conversations with bereaved people in an impartial, supportive and compassionate manner. In addition, to discuss and review the medical circumstances of patient deaths, to enable effective conversations with various clinicians from a range of care providers across Gloucestershire. An understanding of medical terminology is required in order to complement the existing skills and experience of the team.
About us
The Bereavement and Medical Examiner service in Gloucestershire is a recognised centre of excellence in this new profession. This has resulted from being a government funded pilot site for more than 10 years whereby we have tested and shaped a proven workable ME service model with success. Therefore, the team has much experience and credibility, in this exciting and rewarding profession.
We are proud of a values driven culture which prevails in both our own service delivery and that of the organisation we work within. The successful candidates will join a nurturing, warm and well supported team/management culture which aids emotional resilience in this sensitive and sometimes distressing area of practice.
The advertised post has been newly created to support the additional workload generated from the expansion of the service into the Primary Care sector over the coming months.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Knowledge, skills and experience
- Educated to Batchelors degree level, or evidence of study/equivalent practical experience at an advanced level; this might include within health and social care.
- To have qualifications/skills in day-to-day operational/process management of a customer-facing service where users may have unpredictable and emotionally charged needs.
- 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.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- To have an understanding of medical terminology that enables informed discussions about causes/circumstances of death with bereaved families, clinicians, coroner and registration service staff.
- 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 highlight statistical information for the National Medical Examiners office and Public Health surveillance.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Knowledge, skills and experience
- Educated to Batchelors degree level, or evidence of study/equivalent practical experience at an advanced level; this might include within health and social care.
- To have qualifications/skills in day-to-day operational/process management of a customer-facing service where users may have unpredictable and emotionally charged needs.
- 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.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- To have an understanding of medical terminology that enables informed discussions about causes/circumstances of death with bereaved families, clinicians, coroner and registration service staff.
- 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 highlight statistical information for the National Medical Examiners office and Public Health surveillance.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree Level or equivalent working knowledge in related field
- A commitment to life-long learning and undertaking personal development opportunities
- The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders countywide, including the recently bereaved.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations
- 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 or as a stand-alone office.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a health/social care setting with multi-disciplinary teams across organisational boundaries.
Skills, Abilities
Essential
- Demonstrate ability to work to deadlines and agreed objectives in area of specialty.
- Competent in IT software systems whereby handling sensitive personal identifiable data is the predominant content.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree Level or equivalent working knowledge in related field
- A commitment to life-long learning and undertaking personal development opportunities
- The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders countywide, including the recently bereaved.
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations
- 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 or as a stand-alone office.
Desirable
- Experience of working in a health/social care setting with multi-disciplinary teams across organisational boundaries.
Skills, Abilities
Essential
- Demonstrate ability to work to deadlines and agreed objectives in area of specialty.
- Competent in IT software systems whereby handling sensitive personal identifiable data is the predominant content.
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.
