Medical Examiner Officer

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

In order to continually improve all aspects of our patient experience, we rely upon having a highly skilled, motivated, diverse, productive and patient focused workforce.

Stockport Foundation Trust is one of four ‘specialist’ hospital sites in Greater Manchester. Being a ‘specialist’ hospital will enhance our general surgery, anaesthetics, critical care and emergency medicine for the benefit of people in Stockport, High Peak, Cheshire and across Greater Manchester.

Our values ‘We Care, We Respect, We Listen’ are at the heart of everything we do, and come from our promise: ‘Making a difference every day.’ They drive the behaviour and actions for everyone in our organisation.

In your application for this post, please describe how your experience and skills align with 'Our values-based behaviours' ( see additional documentation) and provide examples.

Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment

If you currently work for one of the above organisations and successfully apply for a post with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, please ensure the Recruitment team are aware so that this service is reflected in your contract of employment.

Our Values:

We Care

About each other

Our patients and their families

The communities we serve

The environment

We support them and deliver on their promises

We Respect

Each other

Our patients and their families

Our partners

We are kind and helpful, and we expect the same in return

We Listen to

Each other

Our patients and their families

Our partners

We act and learn from what we hear

Job overview

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.

• To act as an intermediary between the bereaved and clinicians to establish and resolve any concerns relating to a patient’s 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 send Medical Certificate of cause of death (MCCD) to registration services and discuss causes of death with the bereaved.
• 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.
• The Medical Examiner Officer at Stockport NHS FT and East Cheshire Trust will support the Medical Examiner team with the roll out and implementation of the service across Stockport, East Cheshire and High Peak.

Working for our organisation

We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and we are one of its largest employers.

Our mission is to make a difference every day. Our values are that we care, we respect, and we listen

We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.

We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from you.

We recognise that flexible working is important. We take requests for flexible working seriously, consider any request we receive and try to work with you, so we can explore if your request may fit with the needs of the service.

The salary for the role is only one part of the excellent package of benefits we offer to you:

• Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
• NHS pension scheme membership
• Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further
• NHS Staff discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary finance – for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt
• Stockport Credit Union– for local financial advice

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Medical Examiners Team is based at Stepping Hill Hospital and Macclesfield District General Hospital on a rota basis.

We are a hard working, experienced team from a variety of backgrounds. You can be assured that you will be fully supported as you work to become accredited as an MEO.

It is a highly responsible, challenging and involved role which will require close teamwork with the existing MEO's, ME's and Bereavement Team. Whilst the role can be demanding it is also hugely rewarding.

• Act as an intermediary between the bereaved and clinicians to establish and resolve any concerns relating to a patient’s death.
• Work with Medical Examiners to aid them in their responsibility for overseeing the death certification process for all deceased patients.
• Carry out the initial screening of medical notes of deceased patients to identify cases that clearly requires referral to the coroner on approval from the ME.
• 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.
• Work with the ME(s) to ensure proper and proportionate scrutiny of medical records.
• Discuss the findings of the ME on medical cause of death with the qualified attending practitioners.
• Ensure any concerns raised by the relatives are passed on the ME in a timely fashion before the MCCD is released to relatives.
• Discuss the content of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) with relatives of the deceased and in all cases, collect additional information. This may include the need to communicate sensitive information and offer explanations.
• 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).
• Offer support and pastoral care to families and colleagues and to facilitate effective communication between families and health care professionals alongside Bereavement Office staff.
• Assist relatives in identifying appropriate information and additional / further advice and support e.g. Patient Advice Liaison Service contacts, Bereavement Office information.
• Establish clear and effective channels for communicating and co-operating with all departments, wards, and relevant professionals.
• Participate in the development and introduction of protocols, guidelines, and policy as appropriate.
• Manage own workload ensuring project timescales are adhered to.
• Continually monitor one’s own performance in the provision of care; ensuring professional standards are met at all times.
• 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.

• Provide documentation and quality data as required for audit and evaluation
• Provide surveillance data for the Lead Medical Examiner Officer as required.
• Attend departmental meetings as required

• Participate in education and training appropriate to the role, including trust mandatory training.
• Participate in sharing outcomes of the reforms though the publication of papers and presentations of findings at a local and national level.

• Maintain a safe environment with due regard to the Trust Health and Safety & risk management policies and procedures.
• Follow the Trust complaints policy, ensuring solutions are achieved and learning is shared and disseminated as appropriate
• Initiate evidence-based practice and update own knowledge related to current practice.
• Participate in audit activity

• Maintain accurate records having due regard to legal aspects, confidentiality, and managerial information / project requirements.
• Maintain an effective and valid professional registration.
• Fulfil the role in accordance with the relevant Code of Professional Conduct.
• Seek regular appropriate supervision and to participate in regular process of appraisal, monitoring own performance, ensuring professional standards are met at all times.
• Maintain an awareness of the diverse needs of users of the Medical Examiner system to ensure equality

• Bachelor's degree or evidence of study at a higher level or equivalent experience.
• IT skills - Microsoft excel, Word
• Ability to work across professional boundaries with medical staff in different specialities.
• Completed E-LfH MEO training ( or within 3 months of start date).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Highly evolved empathetic and self-awareness skills
• Understanding of medical terminology
• Knowledge of the statutory process around death certification legal frameworks and how the medical examiner system aligns with other related organisations and NHS initiatives.
• Specialist knowledge of various faith groups’ funeral wishes/practices

• Act as an intermediary between the bereaved and clinicians to establish and resolve any concerns relating to a patient’s death.
• Deal with bereaved families who may have barriers to understanding information due to their grief or disability.
• Understanding medical terminology to enable informed discussions about causes/circumstances of death with bereaved families, clinicians, coroner and registration service staff.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trust’s policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately.

If successful this vacancy will require a Standard DBS check at a cost of £26.50. This cost will be deducted from your first Trust salary. In addition to this it will be a condition of your employment that you will join the DBS update service and pay the annual subscription fee of £13.

Person specification

Education + Qualification

• Educated to degree level or relevant experience in healthcare or related field
• A commitment to life-long learning and undertaking personal development opportunities.
• The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including the recently bereaved.
• Completed free ‘e-learning for health’ MEO core training modules prior to starting in the post

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the statutory process around death certification legal frameworks and how the medical examiner system aligns with other related organisations and NHS initiatives.

• General knowledge of clinical/medical terminology.
• 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

Experience

• Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations.
• Experience of working in a healthcare setting with multi-disciplinary teams across organisational boundaries.

Skillls & abilities

• Excellent interpersonal and communication 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 in a fast paced environment.
• Competent in the use of IT software systems such as excel, and handling sensitive personal identifiable data.
• Approachable and supportive to all levels of staff and bereaved families in a non-judgemental and discreet manner.
• Professional appearance, manner and awareness of impact of own behaviour on others.
• Ability to maintain a calm manner in a range of challenging and emotive circumstances.
• Use of/or own car for travel between Stepping Hill Hospital and Macclesfield District General Hospital

Applicants are encouraged to read the documents attached to this vacancy before applying, including the job description and person specification and the information for applicants which includes useful information to assist you in completing your application.

From time to time we may need to close a vacancy early when in receipt of a sufficient number of applications. If you are interested in this post and wish to be considered, we strongly advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

Please also note that Stockport NHS Foundation Trust are unable to refund Interview expenses or re-location costs.

Our "two tick" kite mark guarantees a candidate with a disability, who fulfills the essential criteria, an interview at the Trust. We can make reasonable adjustments, and offer support and advice in a variety of ways on request.