Job summary
The ME office at the Manor Hospital has been established since February 2020, and the benefits of medical examiner role has been clearly demonstrated. We are an established part of the Mortality governance and learning from deaths process, and now in a position to implement the service to include deaths that occur in the non-acute sector.
This is an opportunity for post holders to support the existing ME office in developing and embedding the service further into the community, be part of the medical examiner and Learning from Death Team contributing to improvement of care at WHT and generate skills for future leadership roles.
Your duties will include reviewing the notes of deceased patients, identifying cases for more detailed structured judgemental review, working with the bereavement team, liaising with families and carers, clinical teams and the coroner, supporting and training junior medical staff in the process around death certification,assuring the quality of death certification and completing cremation forms.
Main duties of the job
This post has been created by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in response to observations made in the Third Report of the Shipman Inquiry. The introduction of the medical examiner system will promote robust, transparent and independent scrutiny of death certification processes.
Dimensions of the Role
Medical Examiners (MEs) are appropriately trained (typically senior) 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. MEs will take a consistent approach to the formulation of MCCD content, which must be clinically accurate and reflect any discussions with the next of kin/informant. MEs must not have been involved in the care of the deceased patients for deaths they scrutinise.
About us
The trust is seeking to appoint Medical Examiners (ME) to assure an appropriate response to the Department of Health guidelines and reforms to death certification and scrutiny, and the inclusion of deaths in the non-acute sector into the existing ME process in acute care.
The Medical Examiner service completes independent scrutiny of all non-coronial deaths, providing support and reassurance for the bereaved and relatives of the deceased. Also providing support for completion of the MCCD and assistance with referrals to the coroner. The proportionate scrutiny done by the service helps to identify areas of exemplary care, and also areas for improving care for patients and where further review is required. This is well aligned to the learning from death recommendations from the CQC and National Quality Board Learning, Candour, and Accountability and National Guidance on Learning from Deaths papers.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To 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.
- To scrutinise the certified causes of death offered by attending doctors in a way that is proportionate, consistent and compliant with the proposed national protocol.
- To 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 predominantly conducted through telephone conversations where barriers to understanding information may exist.
- To 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.
- To maintain comprehensive records of all deaths scrutinised and undertake analysis to provide information to the National Medical Examiners Office.
- To participate in relevant clinical governance activities relating to death certification including audits, mortality review processes and investigations regarding formal complaints about patient care.
- To support the training of junior doctors in their understanding of death certification and promote good practice in accurate completion of MCCDs.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To 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.
- To scrutinise the certified causes of death offered by attending doctors in a way that is proportionate, consistent and compliant with the proposed national protocol.
- To 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 predominantly conducted through telephone conversations where barriers to understanding information may exist.
- To 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.
- To maintain comprehensive records of all deaths scrutinised and undertake analysis to provide information to the National Medical Examiners Office.
- To participate in relevant clinical governance activities relating to death certification including audits, mortality review processes and investigations regarding formal complaints about patient care.
- To support the training of junior doctors in their understanding of death certification and promote good practice in accurate completion of MCCDs.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Medical practitioner registered and licensed to practice in the UK by the GMC for the past 5 years
- commitment to life long learning and personal development opportunities
- 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
Desirable
- Completion of mandatory elearning modules
Clinical governance
Essential
- 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 organizational performance
- Ability to identify available data sources to support the detection and analysis of concerns and to recognise gaps in available knowledge
Communication
Essential
- 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
Personal qualities
Essential
- Proactive and self motivated with flexible working approach
- Resilience to manage own reaction to frequently distressing situations and support others in the team
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Medical practitioner registered and licensed to practice in the UK by the GMC for the past 5 years
- commitment to life long learning and personal development opportunities
- 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
Desirable
- Completion of mandatory elearning modules
Clinical governance
Essential
- 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 organizational performance
- Ability to identify available data sources to support the detection and analysis of concerns and to recognise gaps in available knowledge
Communication
Essential
- 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
Personal qualities
Essential
- Proactive and self motivated with flexible working approach
- Resilience to manage own reaction to frequently distressing situations and support others in the team
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).
