Medical Examiner officer

Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

Work with medical examiners and the Lead Medical examiner Officer to aid them in their responsibility for overseeing the death certification process for all deceased patients in the locality.

To establish the circumstances of individual patient deaths by performing a preliminary review of medical records to identify clinical and circumstantial information, sourcing additional details where required, for scrutiny by the medical examiner, highlighting to the Medical Examiner any inconsistences or areas of concern noted.

To act as an intermediary between the bereaved and clinicians to establish and resolve

any concerns relating to a patients death.

To work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders for the purposes of ensuring statutory requirements are maintained.

To be able to work on his/her own initiative, referring to the Lead Medical Examiner Officer when necessary.

To liaise with the bereavement team as required in relation to keeping the bereaved informed and arrangements to issue the death certificate to them.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Maintain an awareness of the diverse needs of users of the medical examiner system to ensure equality to any particular group defined by sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or disability.

Judgment is required involving matters and concerns which are complex that will require consideration of the options available.

To assist in highlighting cases for assessment by the Structured Judgement Review team (SJR), Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP), Clinical Governance teams and the Learning Disability Review Teams (LeDeR) or other organisational governance systems.

Keep accurate and contemporaneous records.

The post holder is not directly supervised although advice is available from the Senior Medical Examiners Officer, and from the Medical Examiner. The MEO must work closely with the Medical Examiner in relation to the delegated duties.

To contribute to and review departmental policies and procedures to reflect best practice in the delivery of an independent medical examiner system.

Provide support, information and explanations around the statutory requirements for Coroners post-mortems, including the procedures for the release of the deceased.

To maintain an awareness of the diverse needs of users of the medical examiner system to ensure equality to any particular group defined by sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or disability.

To be aware of the Safeguarding Adult and Child frameworks and processes and liaise as required.

To work collaboratively with the Medical Examiner, PALS and Bereavement Services to ensure bereaved relatives are supported advised and to establish, resolve and escalate appropriately any concerns the bereaved may have.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

To utilise the Trusts data systems and those of community partners to access all relevant records including the PAS and Pathology systems.

To utilise and maintain the Medical Examiner Service database and support the implementation of the National Medical Examiners data base.

To refer patients to the coroner for further investigation on approval by the medical examiner.

To observe arrangements for storing records of medical examiner scrutiny comply with relevant data protection legislation and the policies of the trust where the medical examiner office is based.

In liaison with the Bereavement Team to provide information to the family and visitors regarding the arrangements to be made following the death.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

A commitment to life-long learning and undertaking personal development opportunities.

RESEARCH & AUDIT

To contribute to and review departmental policies and procedures to reflect best practice in the delivery of an independent medical examiner system.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to Batchelor's degree level, or evidence of study/equivalent practical experience at an advanced level of clinical governance or investigative practice
• Completed e-learning MEO core training modules prior to starting in the post

Desirable

• A commitment to life-long learning and undertaking personal development opportunities

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations
• General knowledge of clinical/medical terminology

Desirable

• Experience of working in a healthcare setting with multi-disciplinary teams across organisational boundaries.
• Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity of issues around formalities following a death
• 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.

Skills

Essential

• The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including the recently bereaved.
• Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and professionalism with all stakeholders
• Ability to work as part of a team and organise fluctuating workload around competing priorities
• Competent in the use of IT software systems and handling sensitive personal identifiable data
• Proactive and self-motivated with the ability to deputise for senior MEO often at short notice.
• Approachable and supportive to all levels of staff and bereaved families in a non-judgemental and discreet manner.

Desirable

• Ability to maintain a calm manner in a range of challenging and emotive circumstances.

Other

Essential

• Use of computer for periods significant in time.
• There is significant emotional effort associated with dealing with bereaved families.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Southport DGH

Town Lane

Southport

PR8 6JN

Employer's website

https://www.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)