Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.

Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

Band: NHS Agenda for Change Band 5 - £31,049 to £37,796 per annum pro rota

Hours: Consideration will be given to both full time and part time applicants.

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: Queen Alexandra Hospital, Southwick Hill Road, Cosham, PO6 3LY

Please note, this vacancy is only open internally to applications from employees of Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

Are you an good communicator? Passionate about improving care and supporting the bereaved?

Looking for a new challenge in the newest Medical Specialty?

Then please come and work for with our diverse team of colleagues that share in these values, with a drive to improve clinical care and the after-death process for the bereaved.

We are looking for Medical Examiner Officers to help the Medical Examiners (senior doctors) scrutinise all deaths in Portsmouth, South East Hampshire and Fareham and Gosport. The overarching purpose of the National Medical Examiner service is to:

• Provide greater safeguards for the public by ensuring proper scrutiny of all non-coronial deaths
• Ensure appropriate referrals to the coronial system
• Provide a better service for the bereaved to ensure they can raise any concerns to a doctor not involved in the care of the deceased
• Improve the quality of both death certification and mortality data.

The post holder should have strong interpersonal skills and be able to communicate effectively in difficult and emotional settings to provide non-judgemental, compassionate and sensitive support to the bereaved relatives and clinical staff. An ability to work as part of a small multidisciplinary team and organisational skills to manage fluctuating workloads is essential as each day is unique.

The service will be hosted by Portsmouth Hospitals University Trust, who will be your employer and the service is directly part of the NHS England National Medical Examiner System. The job is based at Queen Alexandra Hospital, with a shift pattern encompassing the working week.  

Our current MEOs find the job challenging but rewarding. The post holder will work closely with the team of Medical Examiners to support their roles in independently scrutinising the circumstances and cause of deaths for patients and discussing this with the bereaved, improving clinical care by integrating with Governance systems, and improving death certification and referrals to the Coronial system.

Competence with electronic systems is necessary to review records and complete notes. Team working is important, particularly with our team of Medical Examiners, but also with GP practices, medical teams, Coroners, General Registrars and other after-death professional services.

The role requires someone with a degree level education or equivalent experience; and either with a professional clinical background or relevant experience in the bereavement or coroner service as well as the ability to talk to bereaved families in a sensitive and appropriate manner. As the role involves reviewing medical notes and working closely with doctors from all disciplines and grades, an understanding of medical terminology is essential. You should have completed the mandatory ME training e-learning prior to starting the post and Face to face (virtual) training will be delivered by the Royal College of Pathologists once in post.

For further details, please see enclosed Job Description

Qualifications
Essential

• Educated to Batchelor’s degree level, or equivalent working knowledge in related field
• A commitment to maintaining professional development
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a wide range of stakeholders, including the recently bereaved
• Completed e-learning Royal College of Pathology ME core training modules (successful applicant will be asked to complete prior to starting in the post)
• Face to face (virtual) MEO training will be delivered by the Royal College of Pathologists once in post
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Outlook, and MS TEAMS

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• General knowledge of clinical/medical terminology Proactive and self-motivated with the ability to deputise for senior MEO often at short notice

Desirable

• Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and understanding
• Completed e-learning MEO core training modules prior to starting in the post
• Excellent communication skills (verbal & written) with the ability to engage at all levels including senior clinicians/coroners etc about sensitive issues
• Ability to work as part of a team and organise fluctuating workload around competing priorities
• Competent in the use of multiple IT software systems and 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 Coroner and Justice Act 2009 reference to the medical examiner system
• Full understanding of the medical examiners system operational remits

Experience
Essential

• Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations
• Proven track record of co-ordinating and using communication skills with a variety of professionals and services.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a healthcare setting with multi-disciplinary teams across organisational boundaries.
• Using case management and referral-based processes

The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and DisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.

We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.