Job summary
The Medical Examiner service is now well established within
the acute Trust and in the local Community, Hospices, Mental Health Trusts and
Private hospitals. We cover a large population in Wakefield, Pontefract and
North Kirklees and our Medical Examiner service involves working with 2
Coroners (Leeds/Wakefield and Bradford) and 2 Registrar services (Wakefield and
North Kirklees). Doctors working in acute Trusts as well as non-acute sector
doctors/GPs would be welcomed to apply for this role.
This is an exciting
opportunity to be part of an important statutory service underpinned by the
recent Death Certification reforms under the guidance of the National Medical
Examiner delivering:
A
unified approach to the medical certification of death
Proportionate
and independent scrutiny of all non Coronial deaths
Accurate
certification of death
A
chance for the bereaved to ask questions and discuss issues
A
system that learns from errors and poor practice
Each post will be appointed for a period of three
years in the first instance. Subject to mutual agreement, this contract may be
extended for a further three-year term. Appointment will involve the Regional
Medical Examiner, the Trusts Deputy Medical Director (Quality and Patient
Safety) and the Trusts Lead Medical Examiner. The time allowance for this post
will be 1PA plus 0.19 PAs and 3 % Cat A on-call supplement for participation
in our out of hours ME service at weekends and on Bank Holidays.
Main duties of the job
MEs will:
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.
scrutinise the certified
causes of death offered by attending doctors in a way that is proportionate,
consistent and compliant with the proposed national protocol.
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.
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.
maintain comprehensive
records of all deaths scrutinised and undertake analysis to provide information
to the National Medical Examiners office.
participate in relevant
clinical governance activities relating to death certification including
audits,
support the training of
junior doctors in their understanding of death certification and promote good
practice in accurate completion of MCCDs.
work with medical examiner
officers (MEOs), delegating duties as appropriate.
engage with lead ME and
lead MEO for the region.
About us
We provide care and support to over half a million
people in Wakefield and Kirklees in their homes, in community settings and
across our three hospital sites at Pontefract, Dewsbury and Pinderfields (in
Wakefield).
Always striving for excellence, we are at the
forefront of innovation and research and we invest in teaching and the
development of our workforce.
We live by our values of caring, improving, being
respectful and maintaining high standards. We listen and learn because we aim
to make Mid Yorkshire the best place to work and the best place to receive care.
We have a clear vision, and you could be part of
this! If you share our values and you want to make a difference to the lives of
our patients and their families and carers, we would love to hear from you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post of Medical Examiner has been created in response to observations made in the Third
Report of the Shipman Inquiry to promote robust, transparent and independent
scrutiny of death certification processes.
Medical examiners (MEs) are part of a national network of specifically trained independent
senior doctors overseen by the National Medical Examiner for NHS England who
are responsible for scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death in
non-coronial cases to ensure appropriate referrals to the Coroner, accuracy and consistency of MCCD content and
to identify concerns re care prior to death. The ME service has been statutory since 9th
September 2024 and now involves independent scrutiny of
all non Coronial deaths within acute Trusts and the Community. It also involves
scrutiny of deaths in local hospices, Mental Health Trusts and private
hospitals.
Applicant working in both acute Trusts
as well as non-acute sector doctors /GPs would be welcomed to apply for this
role.
MEs are appropriately trained doctors who will verify
clinical information on Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCDs) and
ensure that the right referrals are made to the Coroner for further
investigation. A practising medical practitioner who has been on the General Medical
Council register for a minimum of five years post registration can apply to be
an ME. MEs will adopt a consistent
approach to the formulation of MCCD content agreed with the attending
practitioner, which must be clinically accurate and reflect any discussions
with the next of kin/informant.
Key Responsibilities
MEs will:
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.
scrutinise the certified
causes of death offered by attending doctors in a way that is proportionate,
consistent and compliant with the proposed national protocol.
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.
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.
maintain comprehensive
records of all deaths scrutinised.
support the training of
junior doctors in their understanding of death certification and promote good
practice in accurate completion of MCCDs.
work with medical examiner
officers (MEOs), delegating duties as appropriate.
engage with the Lead ME and
Lead MEO for the Trust.
adopt a collaborative
working relationship with other MEs by sharing experiences and expertise to
support peer learning and set uniform standards of service delivery.
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.
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.
provide information to
local Child Death Overview panels in respect of all child deaths which are not
being investigated by the coroner.
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.
Have an independent professional
line of accountability to the Lead Medical Examiner for the organisation and
also to a regional structure of NHS England outside the employing organisation
and immediate line management structure.
comply with guidance issued
by the National Medical Examiner when carrying out ME duties.
Communications and working relationships
MEs will be a source of expert knowledge and advice for health
professionals and wider stakeholder groups; these include:
Internally:
Medical
Director
All
grades of clinicians
Clinical
governance leads
MEOs and
bereavement service staff
Mortuary
staff.
Externally:
Coroners
and their officers
Registrar
of births and deaths
Local
Authorities, including care homes and safeguarding teams
Spiritual
and faith community leaders
Other
health care providers to including GPs
Lead MEs
and lead MEOs
National
Medical Examiner.
The post is
based at Pinderfields Hospital, but duties will involve scrutiny of deaths across
all sites within the Trust and/or within the North Kirklees and Wakefield
Communities and local Hospices, Mental Health Trusts and Private hospitals .
Terms & Conditions and Tenure
The post
will be appointed for a period of three years in the first instance. Subject to
mutual agreement, this contract may be extended.
The PA
allowance will be 1 session to be delivered on a Friday (am or pm to be
decided) to replace the current retiring Medical Examiner. The successful post
holder will be expected to hold a job plan of not more than 12 PAs if a
Hospital doctor or equivalent for GPs unless explicitly agreed with the
Medical Director. We have an established out of hours service at weekends and
on Bank Holidays to facilitate the request for early release deaths and
successful applicants will be expected to participate in this rota on a 1:14
basis which carries an allowance of 0.19 PAs and a 3 % Cat A on-call
allowance.
For
Hospital Doctors the post is based on the basis of the prevailing national TCS
and pay scales for either Consultants or Specialist doctors depending upon
whether the successful candidate possesses either CCT or CESR. GPs will be
engaged as Specialist doctors for this element of their work week on prevailing
national TCS and pay scales. These may be obtained from the NHS Employers
website or provided upon request.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post of Medical Examiner has been created in response to observations made in the Third
Report of the Shipman Inquiry to promote robust, transparent and independent
scrutiny of death certification processes.
Medical examiners (MEs) are part of a national network of specifically trained independent
senior doctors overseen by the National Medical Examiner for NHS England who
are responsible for scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death in
non-coronial cases to ensure appropriate referrals to the Coroner, accuracy and consistency of MCCD content and
to identify concerns re care prior to death. The ME service has been statutory since 9th
September 2024 and now involves independent scrutiny of
all non Coronial deaths within acute Trusts and the Community. It also involves
scrutiny of deaths in local hospices, Mental Health Trusts and private
hospitals.
Applicant working in both acute Trusts
as well as non-acute sector doctors /GPs would be welcomed to apply for this
role.
MEs are appropriately trained doctors who will verify
clinical information on Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCDs) and
ensure that the right referrals are made to the Coroner for further
investigation. A practising medical practitioner who has been on the General Medical
Council register for a minimum of five years post registration can apply to be
an ME. MEs will adopt a consistent
approach to the formulation of MCCD content agreed with the attending
practitioner, which must be clinically accurate and reflect any discussions
with the next of kin/informant.
Key Responsibilities
MEs will:
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.
scrutinise the certified
causes of death offered by attending doctors in a way that is proportionate,
consistent and compliant with the proposed national protocol.
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.
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.
maintain comprehensive
records of all deaths scrutinised.
support the training of
junior doctors in their understanding of death certification and promote good
practice in accurate completion of MCCDs.
work with medical examiner
officers (MEOs), delegating duties as appropriate.
engage with the Lead ME and
Lead MEO for the Trust.
adopt a collaborative
working relationship with other MEs by sharing experiences and expertise to
support peer learning and set uniform standards of service delivery.
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.
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.
provide information to
local Child Death Overview panels in respect of all child deaths which are not
being investigated by the coroner.
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.
Have an independent professional
line of accountability to the Lead Medical Examiner for the organisation and
also to a regional structure of NHS England outside the employing organisation
and immediate line management structure.
comply with guidance issued
by the National Medical Examiner when carrying out ME duties.
Communications and working relationships
MEs will be a source of expert knowledge and advice for health
professionals and wider stakeholder groups; these include:
Internally:
Medical
Director
All
grades of clinicians
Clinical
governance leads
MEOs and
bereavement service staff
Mortuary
staff.
Externally:
Coroners
and their officers
Registrar
of births and deaths
Local
Authorities, including care homes and safeguarding teams
Spiritual
and faith community leaders
Other
health care providers to including GPs
Lead MEs
and lead MEOs
National
Medical Examiner.
The post is
based at Pinderfields Hospital, but duties will involve scrutiny of deaths across
all sites within the Trust and/or within the North Kirklees and Wakefield
Communities and local Hospices, Mental Health Trusts and Private hospitals .
Terms & Conditions and Tenure
The post
will be appointed for a period of three years in the first instance. Subject to
mutual agreement, this contract may be extended.
The PA
allowance will be 1 session to be delivered on a Friday (am or pm to be
decided) to replace the current retiring Medical Examiner. The successful post
holder will be expected to hold a job plan of not more than 12 PAs if a
Hospital doctor or equivalent for GPs unless explicitly agreed with the
Medical Director. We have an established out of hours service at weekends and
on Bank Holidays to facilitate the request for early release deaths and
successful applicants will be expected to participate in this rota on a 1:14
basis which carries an allowance of 0.19 PAs and a 3 % Cat A on-call
allowance.
For
Hospital Doctors the post is based on the basis of the prevailing national TCS
and pay scales for either Consultants or Specialist doctors depending upon
whether the successful candidate possesses either CCT or CESR. GPs will be
engaged as Specialist doctors for this element of their work week on prevailing
national TCS and pay scales. These may be obtained from the NHS Employers
website or provided upon request.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Medical or dental practitioner with postgraduate qualifications or appropriate HR or management qualification
- Candidates must have successfully completed the mandatory e-learning modules by the time they start the role.
- Candidates must attend a face-to-face training session within the first three months in post.
Desirable
- Started or completed the online ME national training
GMC Registration
Essential
- Please state GMC number
- Full GMC Registration with licence to practise with a minimum of five years practise post registration
Knowledge
Essential
- MEs should have up-to-date knowledge of causes of death and an understanding of the legal frameworks associated with death certification processes.
- Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity.
- 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.
Desirable
- Knowledge of recent development in medical education and of key issues
- Knowledge of the training process for ME
Personal Attributes
Essential
- IT skills including use of email and commonly used software.
- Ability to manage and comply with sensitive information-based processes under tight timescales with a proportionate approach.
- Ability to identify available data sources to support the detection and analysis of concerns and to recognise gaps in available knowledge.
- Ability to identify and disseminate examples of good practice amongst relevant colleagues. Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and professionalism.
- Ability to work effectively and efficiently within own team and also closely with people in other disciplines
- Ability to work as part of a team and organise a fluctuating workload around competing priorities and numerous interruptions.
- Proactive and self-motivated with a flexible working approach
- Have the resilience to manage own reaction to frequently distressing situations and support others within the team.
- To sustain professional integrity and independence at all times, particularly where there is the potential for a conflict of interest.
Experience
Essential
- Consultant, SAS Grade Doctor
- Or GP
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Medical or dental practitioner with postgraduate qualifications or appropriate HR or management qualification
- Candidates must have successfully completed the mandatory e-learning modules by the time they start the role.
- Candidates must attend a face-to-face training session within the first three months in post.
Desirable
- Started or completed the online ME national training
GMC Registration
Essential
- Please state GMC number
- Full GMC Registration with licence to practise with a minimum of five years practise post registration
Knowledge
Essential
- MEs should have up-to-date knowledge of causes of death and an understanding of the legal frameworks associated with death certification processes.
- Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity.
- 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.
Desirable
- Knowledge of recent development in medical education and of key issues
- Knowledge of the training process for ME
Personal Attributes
Essential
- IT skills including use of email and commonly used software.
- Ability to manage and comply with sensitive information-based processes under tight timescales with a proportionate approach.
- Ability to identify available data sources to support the detection and analysis of concerns and to recognise gaps in available knowledge.
- Ability to identify and disseminate examples of good practice amongst relevant colleagues. Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and professionalism.
- Ability to work effectively and efficiently within own team and also closely with people in other disciplines
- Ability to work as part of a team and organise a fluctuating workload around competing priorities and numerous interruptions.
- Proactive and self-motivated with a flexible working approach
- Have the resilience to manage own reaction to frequently distressing situations and support others within the team.
- To sustain professional integrity and independence at all times, particularly where there is the potential for a conflict of interest.
Experience
Essential
- Consultant, SAS Grade Doctor
- Or GP
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).
