Clinical Medical Examiner Officer

Job description

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As Clinical Medical Examiner Officer you will:-
• Support Medical Examiners in their role in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death;
• Have daily responsibility for the ME Office effectiveness (on a rota basis with other Clinical MEO/Lead Clinical MEO);
• Be a point of contact and provide clinical advice on the Medical Examiners system for healthcare professionals including junior doctors, nursing teams, Hospice, GP's, Coroner's Officers and Registration Services;
• Deputise for the Senior Clinical Medical Examiner Officer when required;
• Participate in the Out of Hours Medical Examiner process (weekends and bank holidays);

Person specification

Training & Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Educated to degree level in a health care profession
• Postgraduate qualification with postgraduate study, or working towards, evidence of ongoing CPD in a specialist clinical area.
• A commitment to life-long learning and undertaking personal development opportunities
• Completed e-learning MEO core training modules prior to starting in the post

Desirable criteria

• Nursing Registration (Adults/General)

Skills and Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Computer literate to use multiple IT software (To include Microsoft Word, Excel), for producing reports and statistical information for the National Medical Examiner's office and Public Health surveillance.
• Ability to work effectively and credibly with multidisciplinary teams and across other healthcare organisations.
• 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

Desirable criteria

• Involvement in multi disciplinary / multi agency working
• Experience of using SystmOne
• Experience of working with a Medical Examiner Office

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of working in a UK health care setting with multi-disciplinary teams across organisational boundaries
• To have an extensive understanding of medical terminology that enables interpretation of clinical information and informed discussions about causes/circumstances of death with bereaved families, clinicians, coroner and registration service staff.
• Experience of facilitating meetings and compiling cases of need
• Budget and line management experience - to include maintaining stock control and ordering supplies as required
• required Supervision and support of junior members of staff
• To have qualifications/skills in day-to-day operational/process management of a customer-facing service where users may have unpredictable and emotionally charged needs.

Desirable criteria

• Ward or Clinical Department Manager or Community Health Services Team Leader (or equivalent) or Clinical Nurse Specialist (or Allied Health Professional Equivalent

communication and relationship skills

Essential criteria

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage at all levels including senior clinicians/coroners etc about sensitive issues
• Highly evolved empathetic and self-awareness skills to deal with bereaved families who may have barriers to understanding information due to their grief or disability

Desirable criteria

• Practical experience of working with the bereaved or families at 'end of life'

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

Essential criteria

• Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's Values and Behaviours

Analytical and Judgement skills

Essential criteria

• Ability to review and interpret clinical records (to include diagnostic tests, medication charts and clinical assessments/observations) and judge which information relevant to support cause of death discussion and medical examiner scrutiny
• Proven experience of analysing, investigating and interpreting complex data and producing reports

Desirable criteria

• Experience of statistical analysis and report writing
• Proven experience of Project management skills

Planning and organisation skills

Essential criteria

• Experience of planning a broad programme of activities and prioritising work to meet deadlines.
• Ability to organise work around changeable competing demands and fluctuating workloads.
• Ability to maintain a calm manner in a range of challenging and emotive circumstances

Desirable criteria

• The ability to work in a highly pressurised, unpredictable environment where bereavement care is central to the service delivery.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Essential criteria

• Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
• All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high quality care and interactions with others

Other requirements specific to the role

Essential criteria

• Ability to work within a team
• Ability to work flexibly both in terms of working • cross site/other LLR organisations • hours/days
• Awareness of Health and safety issues.
• Ability to use a computer for prolonged periods of time daily.
• Physical Effort - There is a frequent requirement for sitting or standing in a restricted position for a substantial proportion of the working time

Additional Information

Please submit your application form without delay to avoid disappointment; we will close vacancies prior to the publishing closing date if we receive a sufficient number of completed application forms.

Please check the email account (including your junk mail) that you supplied as part of your application on a regular basis following the closing date and throughout the recruitment process, as this is how we will communicate with you.

UHL is an equal opportunities employer. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds who match our job criteria.

Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if you indicate you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible.

UHL is committed to helping colleagues balance the demands of both their work and personal needs through flexible working arrangements wherever reasonably practicable and subject to service needs.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Please note if you are successful in obtaining this position and the post involves regulated activity you will be required to undertake a Disclosure & Barring Service check.

The Trust will pay for the check initially and the money will then be deducted from your salary over a three month period commencing on your first month's payment.

The current price of a check is £38 for an enhanced and £18 for a standard check.

COVID 19 Risk Assessment

Due to the current Covid pandemic we have introduced a staff risk assessment into our pre-employment process. This now forms part of the mandatory pre-employment checks that will be carried out if you receive a conditional offer.

The risk assessment is intended to ensure you are able to safely perform your duties in any of our work areas, and if you have been identified as being particularly vulnerable to coronavirus. Our main aim is to reduce risk and to ensure the safety of all new starters to the Trust as well as current staff, patients and visitors.

If it is identified that you are within a vulnerable category, we will endeavor to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate this through discussions with both Occupational Health and your recruiting manager.

Covid Vaccination Status

Covid-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, family, colleagues and our patients/service users from the Covid-19 virus. We therefore continue to encourage our current and potential colleagues to get vaccinated.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust holds the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything it does and all that it stands for. We are committed to developing a workforce that is representative of the community we serve. We welcome applications from the diverse community of Leicester, Leicester and Rutland, to help deliver healthcare services that meets the needs of our diverse communities.

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