Lead Medical Examiner Officer (Band 6) - Medical Examiner Officer - Northampton General Hospita[...]

Site Northampton General Hospital Town Northampton Salary £37,338 - £44,962 Dependant on experience Salary period Yearly Closing 06/05/2025 23:59

Job overview

The Medical Examiner (ME) system was introduced in 2019 to independently review and confirm cause of death in all patients who died within the Trust. Medical Examiners are supported in this role by medical examiner’s officers (MEO) who administer the service and are a point of contact and a source of expertise and advice for healthcare professionals, relatives, the coroner and Registration services.

Since September 2024, it has been a statutory requirement to include the review of all deaths in the local health community of West Northamptonshire – covering all healthcare providers (NGH, primary care, community hospitals and mental health providers). The medical examiner officer team consists of 3 MEOs and 1 lead MEO.

We are looking to recruit 1 lead MEO to fill a vacancy we have due to our current lead MEO’S retirement.

We are looking for someone with outstanding communication skills, especially under pressure, who demonstrates leadership qualities and is comfortable making decisions and taking responsibility. We are looking for a great team player who is confident speaking to the recently bereaved and interacting with stakeholders including HMC Coroner, Regional and National Medical Examiner Teams and clinical teams from all healthcare settings.

Main duties of the job

• To lead a team of Medical Examiner Officers to support the Medical Examiner team to deliver a high quality, timely service to the bereaved (issue of death certificate)
• To communicate compassionately with the bereaved
• To communicate with other stakeholders including the Bereavement Service at NGH, HM Coroner and health care providers in all settings
• To maintain accurate records for local and national use

Working for our organisation

Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.

Our Excellence Values

Compassion
Accountability
Respect
Integrity
Courage

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone’s full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.

We are a Defence positive trust, supporting our reservists, veterans, spouses and partners.

The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.

We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Professional

The role requires knowledge and experience of the statutory process around death certification, legal frameworks and the relationship between the ME service and other related organisations.

The post holder will work alongside the Lead ME to develop protocols, guidelines and policies for service development and expansion of the service, particularly expansion of the service into the community.

The post holder will work alongside the NGH Bereavement team to ensure timely and correct completion and communication of death certification (for deaths at NGH).

The post holder will work closely with community healthcare providers in all settings to ensure timely and correct completion and communication of death certification (for deaths in the community).

The post holder will be required to provide documentation and quality data for audit of the ME system for internal and external purposes, including collecting and analysing data to maximise learning from deaths.

The post holder should have knowledge and experience of quality and service improvement to be able to develop the service.

The post holder should be familiar with the Datix system.

The post holder will support the Lead ME to monitor the quality of the service provided including process data, next of kin experience and feedback and interactions with relevant governance processes.

The post holder will be expected to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage at all levels and lead discussions on highly sensitive and emotive issues with bereaved families, clinicians and coroners

Key Responsibilities

Support and facilitate the development of practice relating to the ME service as directed by national organisations.

Support the Lead ME to produce reports to the Trusts committees and commissioners regarding the ME service.

Develop and implement a framework to support monitoring of quality standards and performance.

Prepare staff rotas of MEs and MEOs and work schedules (including OOH cover) to address service and training needs.

Work with the lead ME in reviewing or developing guidelines, processes or SOPs.

Communicate with relatives/next of kin in a professional and compassionate way and listen to any concerns raised.

Act as a source of expertise, advice and knowledge for relatives and health care professionals involved in the ME process.

When relevant, discuss with relatives the involvement of the Coroner and its implications.

Clinical Responsibilities

Work with all MEs to support them in their role in overseeing the death certification process for all deceased patients in the organisation, including providing specific and varied advice and guidance in relation to administrative duties.

Communicate with and support doctors who are completing the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death.

Perform a preliminary review of medical records to identify potential Coroner’s referrals.

Identify relatives concerns and escalate appropriately - supporting relatives and ensuring links with bereavement, PALS and clinical staff with feedback of any issues – including acting as an intermediary to establish and resolve any concerns raised.

Participate in relevant clinical governance activities relating to death certification including audits, mortality review processes and investigations regarding formal complaints about patient care.

To collate and feedback examples of excellent care.

Data collection and scrutiny responsibilities

Ensure all deaths and activities of the ME office are recorded and kept up to date.

Develop, establish and maintain appropriate data systems to record the activities of the ME office.

To track referrals of cases sent for further review, to collate lessons learnt and present this to the team.

Ensure systems are in place to provide statutory information and reports to the National ME team.

Responsible for procuring supplies and equipment necessary for efficient functioning of the ME office.

Management responsibilities

Provide leadership to and supervision of the other band 5 MEOs within the team, including yearly appraisal, identifying their training and CPD needs.

Work with the Lead ME to develop the strategy for the service, including supporting the lead ME in implementation and roll out of the ME functions in the organisation and the community.

Provide training to all levels and disciplines of staff in the functions of the MEs office across the whole organisation, including presentations and teaching sessions.

Ensure full compliance with secure handling of all patient identifiable data.

Ensure that all staff are aware of and adhere to Trust policies.

Person specification

Education, Training & Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant experience

Knowledge & Experience

• Proficient in Microsoft packages and skills in report writing
• Experience of NHS systems
• Experience in managing/supervising staff
• Experience of working to targets in a busy and demanding environment
• Experience in implementing HR and departmental policies and maintaining associated records
• Project management
• Experience in conducting appraisals

Skills

• Proven administration and organisational skills
• Ability to analyse data and present in an appropriate format
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills
• Experience of developing a new process and adapting to change

At Northampton General Hospital we provide general acute services and hyper-acute stroke, vascular and renal services to people living in Northamptonshire. As well as this we are an accredited cancer centre and provide cancer services to a wider population of Northamptonshire and parts of Buckinghamshire.

We are proud to be the first hospital in the UK to have obtained Pathway to Excellence designated accreditation from the American nurses credentialing centre (ANCC).

We celebrate staff achievements and value the importance of working as one big team. That’s why we talk about Team NGH. It’s all about working together to provide the best possible care for our patients and supporting each other to grow and develop our skills. We are driven to helping you to be the best you can be.

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone’s full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities. The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative. We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds.This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.

Apply today and join the largest family in Northamptonshire.

Our Excellence Values:

• Compassion
• Respect
• Integrity
• Courageous
• Accountable

To apply for this post, scroll down to the bottom of this page and select “apply online now”.

In submitting an application form, you authorise Northampton General Hospital to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Electronic Staff Record Inter Authority Transfer process should you be appointed to the post.

Due to the high number of applications received we are unable to respond to each application individually. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you have been unsuccessful in this application.

For further information on nursing, apprenticeships, A&E or any other departments please visit our specific website or pages that are indicated on the right hand side of this advert.

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust recognises that staff of differing backgrounds and life experiences enrich our workforce and bring different skills and knowledge. We therefore encourage and welcome applications for our vacancies from all candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CLOSE VACANCIES PRIOR TO THE ADVERTISED CLOSING DATE WHEN WE ARE IN RECEIPT OF SUFFICIENT APPLICATIONS

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.