About this role
Job summary
If you are an experienced Consultant or General Practitioner willing to use your knowledge and expertise in the field of Pathology, join North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust to become our new Medical Examiner within the newly established Medical Examiner service.
The main base will be at Peterborough City Hospital, however, cross-site work will be required at Hinchingbrooke Hospital and around 50 primary care and private healthcare providers in the region. Our Medical Examiner service will expand from September 2024 to cover all non-coronial deaths for these secondary and primary healthcare providers.
The main responsibilities of the role will be reviewing deaths to facilitate the completion of death certificates, ensuring appropriate referrals to the coroner, addressing any questions from families, and triaging cases for Structured Judgement Review (SJR) or other clinical governance processes.
Main duties of the job
The principal responsibilities of the role are to:
Screen the case records (paper and electronic) of patients who have died Support doctors completing the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) Provide advice on the appropriate referral of cases to the coroner Scrutinise current cases, regardless of the location of death. Contact the deceased's next of kin to explain the cause of death in a transparent, tactful and sympathetic manner, which respects different faith, cultural, ethnic and diversity considerations Ask the next of kin if they have any questions about the death certificate, the quality of care provided or any other matters relating to the patient's death Complete cremation forms, where applicable, in line with current guidance Maintain comprehensive records of all deaths screened and provide input to the analysis of mortality data Comply with local protocols to ensure that each death is screened in a way that is robust, proportionate and consistent Exercise judgment in when and where to seek specialist advice to determine the appropriate level of scrutiny required.
About us
We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in our workforce and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, with a special focus on welcoming individuals from disabled, Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, as well as those from our local area.
In line with our dedication to employee support, we offer a variety of benefits. For more information, please see the attached staff benefits leaflet.
We strive to create a supportive and inclusive workplace where employees feel valued and empowered to excel in their roles. Join us and become part of a team dedicated to making a positive difference in our community.
Job description Job responsibilities
See attached full job description and person specification which can be found in the uploaded documents.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications Essential
Medical degree GMC licence to practise Satisfactory ongoing yearly appraisal Continuing professional development Successful completion of the approved components of the national online training curriculum prior to taking up the post
Experience Essential
Minimum of 5 years' experience at consultant level or as a GP Registered as a medical practitioner with a licence to practise throughout the previous 5 years as at the date of appointment Commitment to maintain knowledge and keep skills up to date Ability to act proportionately and report sub-standard clinical and organisational performance to relevant colleagues to protect patients and to identify good practice and ensure the spread of knowledge amongst relevant colleagues
Desirable
Experience of undertaking clinical case note reviews as part of Mortality and Morbidity, SJR or serious incident process Experience of applying principles of Quality Improvement Experience of chairing of Specialty Mortality and Morbidity or Audit Group Experience of MCCD and cremation form completion process
Knowledge Essential
Working knowledge of practice in a healthcare environment Up to date knowledge of clinical causes of death, together with death certification requirements and processes Knowledge of clinical governance systems as they affect the work of professionals and organisations
Desirable
Detailed knowledge of the relevant legislation and processes which apply to coroners, registering deaths, cremations and burials Knowledge of legal framework and relevant jurisdiction relating to the process of death certification
Key skills Essential
Good written communication skills, including the ability to summarise clearly and accurately Ability to communicate effectively and with sensitivity with the relatives or representatives of the deceased when explaining the cause of death and to communicate with the bereaved of all faiths and communities in a sensitive and understanding manner Ability to manage an information-based process under tight timescales
Desirable
IT competent, for the purposes of accessing medical records across a number of IT systems
Other Essential
Excellent personal integrity, personal effectiveness and self-awareness Able to work independently and autonomously and manage own workload Able to make timely and informed decisions Good working relationships and credibility with professional colleagues and relevant stakeholders
Desirable
Significant commitment to ongoing personal education and development
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
Address Cross site working, either Peterborough or Hinchingbrooke Hospital sites.
Peterborough City Hospital
Peterborough
PE3 9GZ
Employer's website https://www.nwangliaft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)