Medical Examiner

Job Reference: 435-MQ106-26. Site: RBH Town Blackburn. Salary: £113,565 - £150,569 per annum pro rata. Closing date: 03/08/:59.

Job overview

The Medical Examiners service at ELHT is looking to fill a 1.25 PA. The role includes a weekday 4 hour session per week plus weekend cover on a rota equating to 0.11 PA per week and 4 weekends a year.

The available sessions are on a Monday, AM or PM.

The role requires attendance at the ME offices at Royal Blackburn Hospital, working alongside Medical Examiner Officers.

Medical Examiners must be registered with a license to practise in the UK by the GMC, with at least five years experience.

Main duties of the job

• Ensure compliance with the legal and procedural requirements associated with certification, investigation by coroners and registration of deaths within a Local Authority area.
• Support doctors who call for medical advice on suspected natural causes of death before they prepare an MCCD, and provide general medical advice to the coroner.
• Scrutinise the certified causes of all in scope deaths in a way that is compliant with the proposed national protocol.
• Maintain comprehensive records of all deaths scrutinised and undertake analysis and provide information to ONS and locally for clinical governance purposes.
• Work with other medical examiners in the trust to arrange reciprocal cover for holidays and other periods of absence and ensure no potential conflict of interest between the medical examiner and the death being scrutinised.
• Explain to bereaved relatives the cause of death in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner, respecting different faith, cultural, ethnic and diversity considerations, and refer on to a bereavement specialist nurse where necessary.
• Refer cases over to the quality and safety team if the medical examiner has concerns that the quality of care received was poor, or if the bereaved raises concerns about the quality of care.
• Support the training of junior doctors in completion of MCCDs and provide feedback on accuracy of certification locally.

Additional responsibilities and competencies

You will be expected to comply with national protocols to ensure in each case the cause of death is scrutinised in a robust, proportionate and consistent way.

• Complete the first 26 modules of the HEE online training ().
• Maintain up to date knowledge of medical conditions, treatments and medicines that may or may not have contributed to death and exercise judgement on seeking specialist advice to determine the appropriate level of scrutiny required.
• Distinguish between natural and unnatural causes of death and decide where the death must be reported and investigated by a coroner.
• Have detailed knowledge of relevant legislation and processes applicable to coroners and death certification; deaths abroad where bodies are returned to England and Wales for disposal; deaths where relatives wish to transport the body abroad for disposal; certifying and registering deaths; and regulations to authorise cremation or burials of stillbirths abroad.
• Maintain comprehensive records in an appropriate format.

Person specification

• Consultant or GP with at least five years of experience.
• Medical practitioner registered and licensed to practice in the UK by the GMC.

Equal opportunities and safeguarding

The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operates a zero tolerance policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. Our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first class service to the recruitment of people into positions of trust.

We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve and welcome applications from everyone irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background. We especially welcome applicants from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, as we have identified that ELHT has an under representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit.

Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if they indicate they wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

Disclosures and Barring Scheme (DBS): If the role is identified as a controlled or regulated activity any offer of employment is provisional upon a satisfactory DBS check being obtained. The cost of an enhanced disclosure will be £55.38 and for a standard disclosure £27.38. This cost is not applicable for a volunteer post. Candidates can choose to pay the cost over 1-3 months as a deduction from the monthly salary, or pay in full at the time of employment checks if employed as a bank worker.

Furthermore, the postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of duties and the submission for disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service is required.