Senior Medical Examiner Officer

Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic Medical Examiner Officer (MEO) to join our busy Medical Examiner Service, led by the Trust's Lead Medical Examiner.

In this role you will be part of a small team of MEOs, led by the Lead Medical Examiner Officer, who collectively support the Trust's Medical Examiners (ME), in the provision of the Medical Examiner Service.

Our Medical Examiner Service ensures that all deaths within the Trust's acute hospitals and community deaths in Lambeth and Southwark are scrutinised. The service is dedicated to working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, including Coroners' Offices, in supporting bereaved people as they progress with death registration and funeral arrangements.

You will be based primarily at the Medical Examiner Office located at St Thomas' Hospital, working alongside the Duty ME for that day, the Lead MEO and the other MEO's and the existing team of Bereavement Administrators. There may be a requirement for occasional cross-site working with travel between the Guy's and St Thomas' sites (and any satellite inpatient units where the occasional need arises).

Main duties of the job

• To assist and support Medical Examiners in their role in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death.
• To be responsible for the day-to-day case management of all acute and non-acute deaths referred to the ME Office. This will involve delegation and supervision of work for the Band 5 MEOs. The post holder will be required to evaluate and prioritise a large number of complex activities to meet competing and changing demands.
• To co-ordinate and supervise the handover of casework between any part-time Band 5 MEOs.
• To assist the Lead MEO in the collection and analysis of data and preparation of reports. This will require data input and interrogation of a number of complex clinical and bespoke case management systems.
• To give key stakeholders advice on relevant policy and procedural matters and to assist the Lead MEO in reviewing, developing and implementing policies and procedures both externally and Trust wide with respect to death certification and ME scrutiny.
• To deputise for the Lead MEO when required, including day to day management of the Band 5 MEOs and other associated staff. This may also include representing the ME service at meetings with internal and external stakeholders.

About us
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.

We are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.

We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and - as part of King's Health Partners - we are one of England's eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research's biomedical research centres, established with King's College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities.

Organisational Values:
Our values help us to define and develop our culture, what we do and how we do it. It is important that you understand and reflect these values throughout your employment with the Trust.

Caring -we put patients first
Ambitious -we innovate and strive for excellence
Inclusive - we respect each other and work collaboratively

Job responsibilities
Please see Job Description and Person Specification for the specific requirements of the post.

The role is open to full-time applicants and we would be willing to consider a job-sharing arrangement for this role

Qualifications/ Education
Essential

• 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
• Educated to Bachelor's degree level or significant equivalent practical experience at an advanced level working in a related field.
• Further training and/or experience as a Medical Examiner Officer equivalent to post-graduate diploma level
• Completed e-learning MEO core training modules prior to starting in the post

Desirable

• Degree in a relevant discipline e.g. Nursing, Paramedic Science.

Professional/ Statutory Registration
Desirable

• Registration with a relevant regulatory body e.g. NMC, HCPC.

Previous Experience
Essential

• Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations.
• Experience of working in a healthcare setting with multi-disciplinary teams across organisational boundaries.
• Demonstrable previous experience as a Medical Examiner Officer.

Skills/Knowledge/ Ability
Essential

• General knowledge of clinical/medical terminology
• Strong interpersonal 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.
• IT competent and an ability to quickly become competent in the use of new and potentially unfamiliar IT software systems. Competent in handling sensitive personal identifiable data.
• 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 Coroners & Justice Act 2009 and Notifications of Death Regulations 2019 in respect of the Medical Examiner system
• Full understanding of the Medical Examiner system operational remit when incorporated within Bereavement Services or as a stand-alone office

Additional Information
Essential

• 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.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).