Medical Examiner Officer

We have an opportunity for a Medical Examiner Officer - Histopathology Mortuary.

You will be accountable to the Lead Medical Examiner Officer and Service Manager and be responsible for supporting them to investigate the circumstances and causes of death.

You will be expected to liaise with the recently bereaved, Mortuary Staff, Medical Examiners, clinicians, nursing staff, porters, police, funeral directors, Coroners office, Registrar of Birth and Deaths, GP surgeries on a daily basis on a range of topics relating to deaths and management of deceased patients.

Please note that this is a B4 development role to B5 once online and face to face training has been completed via RCPath. This role is for 17 hours per week Tuesday 08:00 – 16:30 and Friday 08:00 to 16:30.

Provide primary administrative support for the Medical Examiners by collating and documenting information pertaining to a deceased patient’s care episode and past medical history.

Identify which deaths require referral to HM Coroner and providing an administrative contact between Doctors, Wards, Funeral Directors, Midwives and the Chaplaincy and to liaise with medical staff to expedite timely completion of Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCD) and Cremation forms.

Expedite the completion and release of a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death to the family of the deceased (delays in the process can cause distress to the bereaved and prolong the length of time a patient is held in our Mortuary)

Liaise with Medical Examiners, HM Coroner’s Office, Registration Services, Crematoria, Funeral Directors, next of Kin, Police, Solicitors, Social Services, tissue and organ donation co-ordinators, anatomy schools and GP Practices on a range of matters as required on a daily basis to facilitate the process of releasing deceased patients from our care.

Provide advice and support to the recently bereaved, Medical Examiners, clinicians, funeral directors and partner organisations ensuring information sharing is managed appropriately.

One of the largest Trust’s in East Anglia, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) provide hospital and community health services to people living across a wide geographical area. We deliver care from two main hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, six community hospitals and in patients’ own homes. You will be joining a team of over 11,000 amazing colleagues providing care to 800,000 residents.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health & Wellbeing programme offer a range of services including mental health support. We offer a range of flexible working opportunities.

Our philosophy is thatTime Mattersto everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which do not work or cause time delays for our staff and patients.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge then we are keen to hear from you.

Find out about living and working with us -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Leadership

You will directly report to the Lead Medical Examiners Officer.

There is an expectation that you shall contribute to the training and assist with supporting and supervising newly appointed staff

Service Delivery and Improvement

Working practices must comply with all national regulations, statutory requirements and Trust Policies. Departmental Standard Operating Procedures must be followed at all times. There are areas of National Guidance that apply and may be employed as best practice to inform local policy.

Contribute to the ongoing development of Policies and Procedures and patient information leaflets as required to reflect best practice in the delivery of the Medical Examiners system, and to improve the services offered to the bereaved. Where shortfalls are identified in processes to escalate these for remedial action to be taken and offer suitable solutions.

Help to distribute the Trust Bereavement Surveys sent out quarterly.

Escalate service deficiencies and problem areas to the Mortuary & Bereavement Services Manager and the Trust End of Life Care Steering Group as appropriate.