Medical Examiner Officer

Band: NHS Agenda for Change Band 5 - 31049 to 37796 per annum pro rota

Hours: Consideration will be given to both full time and part time applicants.

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: Queen Alexandra Hospital Southwick Hill Road Cosham PO6 3LY

Are you an good communicator Passionate about improving care and supporting the bereaved

Looking for a new challenge in the newest Medical Specialty

Then please come and work for with our diverse team of colleagues that share in these values with a drive to improve clinical care and the after-death process for the bereaved.

We are looking for Medical Examiner Officers to help the Medical Examiners (senior doctors) scrutinise all deaths in Portsmouth South East Hampshire and Fareham and Gosport. The overarching purpose of the National Medical Examiner service is to:

• Provide greater safeguards for the public by ensuring proper scrutiny of all non-coronial deaths
• Ensure appropriate referrals to the coronial system
• Provide a better service for the bereaved to ensure they can raise any concerns to a doctor not involved in the care of the deceased
• Improve the quality of both death certification and mortality data.

The post holder should have strong interpersonal skills and be able to communicate effectively in difficult and emotional settings to provide non-judgemental compassionate and sensitive support to the bereaved relatives and clinical staff. An ability to work as part of a small multidisciplinary team and organisational skills to manage fluctuating workloads is essential as each day is unique.

The service will be hosted by Portsmouth Hospitals University Trust who will be your employer and the service is directly part of the NHS England National Medical Examiner System. The job is based at Queen Alexandra Hospital with a shift pattern encompassing the working week.  

Our current MEOs find the job challenging but rewarding. The post holder will work closely with the team of Medical Examiners to support their roles in independently scrutinising the circumstances and cause of deaths for patients and discussing this with the bereaved improving clinical care by integrating with Governance systems and improving death certification and referrals to the Coronial system.

Competence with electronic systems is necessary to review records and complete notes. Team working is important particularly with our team of Medical Examiners but also with GP practices medical teams Coroners General Registrars and other after-death professional services.

The role requires someone with a degree level education or equivalent experience; and either with a professional clinical background or relevant experience in the bereavement or coroner service as well as the ability to talk to bereaved families in a sensitive and appropriate manner. As the role involves reviewing medical notes and working closely with doctors from all disciplines and grades an understanding of medical terminology is essential. You should have completed the mandatory ME training e-learning prior to starting the post and Face to face (virtual) training will be delivered by the Royal College of Pathologists once in post.

For further details please see enclosed Job Description