Medical Examiner Officer (Fixed Term Contract Until August 2026)

Job summary Medical Examiner Officer (Fixed Term Contract until August 2026) Department: Bereavement Band 5 £29,970 - £36,483 Per annum pro rata Hours: per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated person to assist the Medical Examiner Lead in supporting the Medical Examiner Service hosted by the trust.
We are seeking to appoint a Medical Examiner Officer (MEO) Band 5, who is a committed and highly organised individual with leadership skills, to be the point of contact for staff and bereaved relatives in respect of the Medical Examiner Service providing a polite, friendly and professional approach with all grades of staff and external professions.
The job will involve supporting the medical examiners in their role in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death.
To be a point of contact and source of advice for relatives of deceased patients, healthcare professionals and Coroner and registration services.
In this challenging post, the post holder will be required to handle a diverse workload and demonstrate a proficiency in prioritising work schedules, working autonomously to support the Medical Examiners Service in the scrutiny of the cause of death of deceased patients.
The post holder is expected to demonstrate leadership skills and aptitude in the care of the bereaved.
The nature of the post requires the post holder to convey complex information in a clear, concise, and appropriate manner.
Interview date: 19th December 2024 Main duties of the job To support medical examiners in their role in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death.
To be a point of contact and source of advice for relatives of deceased patients, healthcare professionals and coroner and registration services.Medical Examiner Officers manage cases from initial notificati0n through to completion and communication with the registrar.
They will be a constant presence in the office, enabling consistency across medical examiners who usually work part-time and come from a range of specialties.Medical Examiner Officers will obtain and carry out a preliminary review of all medical records (and additional details where required) to develop a case file setting out the circumstances of each death for the Medical Examiner.
This will require them to work with the Coroner's officer, Registrars, Bereavement Officers, Complaints Manager, Legal Services and others.
Their work is analogous to that of Coroner's Officers assisting the Coroner.
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(NHS Staff Survey 2023).
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At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including: Free on-site parking Free tea and coffee Great flexible workingopportunities Discounted gym membership Lease car scheme Generous annual leave and pension scheme On site nursery (chargeable) Extensive staff health and well-being programme Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients.
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'We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute' Job description Job responsibilities To act as an intermediary between the bereaved and clinicians to establish and resolve any concerns relating to a patients death.
Work with medical examiners to aid them in their responsibility for overseeing the death certification process for all deceased patients in the organisation.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.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).To refer patients to the coroner for further investigation on approval by the medical examinerMaintain 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.Discuss proposed causes of death with the qualified attending practitioner and advise about coroner referral.To have a good understanding of medical records and disease pathology.To be able to provide advice on terminology and causes of death, and to explain these and the Medical Examiners rational to Coroners Officers, Doctors, and those with no medical understanding.To have strong interpersonal skills and be comfortable with working with those who have had a bereavement.Please refer to the Job Description for further detailsWe believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity and embracing inclusion.
We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system.
Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS.
This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Person Specification Qualifications and knowledge Essential Educated to degree level, or evidence of study/equivalent practical experience at an advanced level; nursing and/or other clinical experience Working knowledge of Office 365 and Microsoft Office Package To have an understanding of the medical terminology that enabvles informed discussions about causes/circumstances of death with bereaved families, clinicians, coroner and registration services.
Knowledge of the statutory process around death certification legal frameworks and how the medical examiner system aligns with other related organisations and NHS initiatives.
Desirable Knowledge of cultural and faith beliefs which may impact requests with timescales and procedures following a death Completion of Medical Examiner Officer e learning training Experience Essential Experience of using initiative to solve problems.
Experience of working to deadlines Experience with operational/process management of a customer facing service where users may have unpredictable and emotionally charged needs.
Desirable NHS experience.
Skills Essential Able to prioritise workload Able to listen compassionately and offer appropriate support.
Good organisational skills.
Passion for Patient and Family Experience Triaging and resolution skills Building rapport with patients and staff as required.
Good and accurate record keeping Personal and people development Essential Ability to work with people of all backgrounds without prejudice.
Ability to embody and champion MKUH values.
Keeps care for the bereaved family at the centre of the service.
Communication Essential Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Kind and gentle manner Desirable Empathetic style which picks up on specific barriers which may need to be overcome due to disability or grief.