Job Description

The Medical Examiner Service is fundamental to supporting the bereaved, ensuring consistency and accuracy in death certification and promoting continuous learning.We are looking for a Medical Examiner Officer to play a key role in our ongoing development. Our service now includes deaths which occur in the community.The successful candidate should have strong interpersonal skills and be able to communicate effectively in difficult and emotional settings to provide compassionate and sensitive support to bereaved relatives.

• Interview Date Thursday 20 March 2025
• 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
• You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.

NO AGENCIES PLEASEMain duties of the jobTo establish the circumstances of individual patients deaths by performing a preliminary review of medical records for scruitiny by the Medical Examiner.Maintaining a database.About usOur staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:o Freeman Hospitalo Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)o Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)o Newcastle Dental Hospitalo Newcastle Fertility Centreo Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbriao Northern Genetics Serviceo Cramlington Manor WalksThese include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustDate posted21 February 2025Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 5Salaryxc2xa329,970 to xc2xa336,483 a year per annumContractPermanentWorking patternFull-timeReference number317-2025-05-006Job locationsFreeman Hospital317 01 Freeman HospitalNE7 7DNJob descriptionJob responsibilities

• To support the Medical Examiner in their role in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death.
• To be a point of contact and source of advice for relatives/carers of deceased patients, health professionals, coroner and registration service.
• To provide training and support to junior doctors and nursing staff regarding legal requirements relating to registration of death, completion of necessary investigations including referral to the coroners office.
• To work confidently and professionally with all grades of staff and external professionals to ensure the correct running of the medical examiner service in accordance with both statutory and Trust requirements.
• Ensure all staff are able to respond in an emergency or Major incident situation.
• Oversee and provide support to medical colleagues and ward staff in relation to notification of death and repatriation procedures.
• Communicate effectively with all staff groups across the organisation.
• Establish and maintain good working relationships with supporting services including Chaplaincy, mortuary and undertaker providers.
• To manage and work as part of a team, having a flexible approach, to ensure that all duties are carried out efficiently, in a sensitive and timely manner.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you. Job descriptionJob responsibilities

• To support the Medical Examiner in their role in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death.
• To be a point of contact and source of advice for relatives/carers of deceased patients, health professionals, coroner and registration service.
• To provide training and support to junior doctors and nursing staff regarding legal requirements relating to registration of death, completion of necessary investigations including referral to the coroners office.
• To work confidently and professionally with all grades of staff and external professionals to ensure the correct running of the medical examiner service in accordance with both statutory and Trust requirements.
• Ensure all staff are able to respond in an emergency or Major incident situation.
• Oversee and provide support to medical colleagues and ward staff in relation to notification of death and repatriation procedures.
• Communicate effectively with all staff groups across the organisation.
• Establish and maintain good working relationships with supporting services including Chaplaincy, mortuary and undertaker providers.
• To manage and work as part of a team, having a flexible approach, to ensure that all duties are carried out efficiently, in a sensitive and timely manner.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.Person SpecificationQualifications & EducationEssential

• Educated to -Degree level or equivalent working knowledge in related field

Knowledge & ExperienceEssential

• Specialist knowledge of Bereavement Services o Experience, including knowledge of Trust principles, policies and Governance regulations o Specialist knowledge of notification of death requirements Extensive experience of dealing with members of the public who may be distressed and bereaved
• Completion of the e-learning MEO core training modules prior to starting the post
• Knowledge and understanding of Trust and NHS Policies and Procedures
• Knowledge and understanding of the Data Protection Act 1998

Desirable

• Knowledge of the Patient Administration System
• Understanding of Health and Safety statutory requirements
• Understanding of confidential issues
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Skills & AbilitiesEssential

• Able to establish good working relationships with a wide range of professional groups internal and external to the trust
• Strong Communication/interpersonal skills with an ability to communicate effectively and the sensitivity with relatives or representatives of the deceased and to communicate with bereaved of all faiths and communities in a sensitive and understanding manner
• Excellent organisational /time management skills
• Ability to: -meet strict deadlines and work under pressure o standardise working practices

Desirable

• IT Skills
• Data Analysis skills

Person SpecificationQualifications & EducationEssential

• Educated to -Degree level or equivalent working knowledge in related field

Knowledge & ExperienceEssential

• Specialist knowledge of Bereavement Services o Experience, including knowledge of Trust principles, policies and Governance regulations o Specialist knowledge of notification of death requirements Extensive experience of dealing with members of the public who may be distressed and bereaved
• Completion of the e-learning MEO core training modules prior to starting the post
• Knowledge and understanding of Trust and NHS Policies and Procedures
• Knowledge and understanding of the Data Protection Act 1998

Desirable

• Knowledge of the Patient Administration System
• Understanding of Health and Safety statutory requirements
• Understanding of confidential issues
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Skills & AbilitiesEssential

• Able to establish good working relationships with a wide range of professional groups internal and external to the trust
• Strong Communication/interpersonal skills with an ability to communicate effectively and the sensitivity with relatives or representatives of the deceased and to communicate with bereaved of all faiths and communities in a sensitive and understanding manner
• Excellent organisational /time management skills
• Ability to: -meet strict deadlines and work under pressure o standardise working practices

Desirable

• IT Skills
• Data Analysis skills

NHS