Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland Medical Examiner (LLR ME)

Job responsibilities

Ensure that in each case the cause of death is scrutinised in a way that is robust, proportionate and consistent, ensuring compliance with the relevant legal and procedural requirements, local and national protocols;

Be able to distinguish between natural and unnatural causes of death and to decide where a death must be reported to a coroner. Additionally, the post holder must have detailed knowledge of the relevant legislation and processes which apply to:

Coroners and death certification;

• 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 stillbirths abroad;

In relevant cases the ME will agree with the Attending Practitioner (AP) the most appropriate way to complete the medical certificate of the cause of death (MCCD).

Speak to the bereaved to explain / respond to questions about the cause of death and also to provide an opportunity for the bereaved to ask questions or raise any concerns about care provided to the deceased.

The ME will also undertake proportionate scrutiny of the deceaseds clinical records in order to identify those deaths which would benefit from further review by the relevant mortality review process (or other appropriate agency) to take forward associated learning and quality improvement actions.

Before applying for this post you should:-

Arrange a visit to the ME Office either at the LRI or Glenfield to get a good understanding of what is involved in the role

Clarify that this role will be acceptable as part of your Job Plan with your Head of Service/GP Lead;

• Be aware that Interviews will be held on Thursday 24th July
• Start the National Online ME training before attending for interview, (if short listed):
• This is a very rewarding form of medical work.Information about the role and the training required is available athttps://www.rcpath.org/profession/medical-examiners.html.

For more information or to arrange a visit to the ME Office contact Rebecca Broughton on 07971 745188 or rebecca.broughton@uhl-tr.nhs.uk

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of five years' experience of working as a general practitioner or hospital doctor in the UK since full registration with the GMC.
• Registered as a medical practitioner within LLR with a license to practice throughout the previous five years as at the date of appointment.
• Commitment to maintain knowledge and keep skills up to date.
• Ability to act proportionately and report sub-standard clinical and organisational performance to relevant colleagues to protect patients and to identify good practice and ensure the spread of knowledge amongst relevant colleagues

Desirable

• Experience of applying principles of Quality Improvement.
• Chair of Mortality and Morbidity or Audit Group process Experience of undertaking clinical case note reviews as part o
• Mortality and Morbidity or Serious Incident process

Skills

Essential

• Able to work effectively in a team
• Good working relationships and credibility with professional colleagues and relevant stakeholders
• Excellent personal integrity, personal effectiveness and selfawareness.
• Able to work independently and autonomously and manage own workload.
• Able to make timely and informed decisions.
• Demonstrates a commitment to and focus on quality

Desirable

• Promotes high standards to consistently improve patient outcomes
• Commitment to on-going personal education and development.
• Uses evidence to make improvements.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Essential

• Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs
• All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high quality care and interactions with others

Training & Qualifications

Essential

• Medical degree
• GMC licence to practice
• Continuing professional development
• Successful completion of the approved components of the national on-line training curriculum prior to undertaking case record reviews as a UHL Medical Examiner

Communication and relationship skills

Essential

• Good written communication skills, including the ability to summarise clearly and accurately.
• Good oral communication skills, including active listening skills, the ability to understand and summarise a discussion, ask appropriate questions, provide constructive challenge and give effective feedback.
• Ability to communicate effectively and with sensitivity with the relatives or representatives of the deceased when explaining the cause of death and to communicate with the bereaved of all faiths and communities in a sensitive and understanding manner.
• Ability to demonstrate transparency when explaining cause of death to bereaved families and make it easier to raise concerns.
• Ability to manage an information-based process under tight timescales.
• Ability to work within own team and closely with people in other disciplines
• Ability to assist or deliver training to enhance skills within the ME's team and junior doctors in the process of death certification.
• Ability to identify available data sources to support detection and analysis of concerns and to recognise gaps in available knowledge.

Desirable

• IT competent, for the purposes of efficient screening of deaths

Analytical and Judgement skills

Essential

• Working knowledge of practice in a healthcare environment, Up to date knowledge of clinical causes of death, together with death certification requirements and processes.
• Awareness of equality and diversity issues within the community and a demonstrable ability to understand the requirements of diverse faith groups
• Ability to distinguish between natural and unnatural causes of death and when death must be reported to, and investigated by, a coroner.

Desirable

• Detailed knowledge of the relevant legislation and processes which apply to: -coroners; -registering deaths; -cremations and burials
• Knowledge of legal framework and relevant jurisdiction relating to the process of death certification.

Other requirements specific to the role

Essential

• Flexible working arrangements to support the: oME Rota in order to ensure there is ME cover from 08:30 to 05:30 Monday to Friday at both Glenfield and LRI sites o'Out of Hours' ME service as agreed at appointment (on a rotational basis

Planning and Organisation skills

Essential

• Good management skills - able to demonstrate effective and efficient working practices.
• Ability to put in place appropriate reporting, information sharing and feedback mechanisms

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

Essential

• Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's Values and Behaviours

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).