Job summary
- Main area
- Medical Examiner
- Grade
- NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
- Contract
- 23 months (Fixed Term 23 Months)
- Hours
- Part time - 2 sessions per week
- Job ref
- 241-336FD-25
- Employer
- Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Bolton Hospital
- Town
- Bolton
- Salary
- £105,504 - £139,882 Per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 06/08/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Lead Medical Examiner
NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
Job overview
The role of Medical Examiner has been created by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in response to observations made in the Third Report of the Shipman Inquiry. The medical examiner system aims to promote robust, transparent and independent scrutiny of death certification processes feeding into the Clinical Governance of all healthcare providers in Bolton.
The Lead Medical Examiner is a local role to oversee development and leadership of an effective Medical Examiner service consistent with legislation and National Medical Examiner guidance, reporting and accountable to the Trust Board, the National and Regional Medical Examiner as appropriate and liaising and working with local partner organisations.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Medical Examiners (MEs) are appropriately trained (typically senior) doctors who will verify clinical information on Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCDs) and ensure that the right referrals are made to the coroner or further investigation. MEs will take a consistent approach to the formulation of MCCD content, which must be clinically accurate and reflect any discussions with the next of kin/informant.
The present Medical Examiner Office is responsible for providing an ME service for Bolton, this includes all deaths not referred to the coroner in both the acute and non-acute (community) settings.
Main duties of the job
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To ensure compliance with the legal and procedural requirements associated with the processes of certification, investigation by coroners and registration of deaths.
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To engage with the regional lead Medical Examiner (ME) and regional Medical Examiner Officer.
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To take the lead for overseeing the effective delivery of the ME service within Bolton, ensuring that, with the support of the acute trust and national funding package, there are sufficient resources available including the recruitment and management of the MEs and MEOs.
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To provide professional direction for the MEOs.
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To have oversight of the MEs and MEOs employed by the Trust
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To ensure that the ME service is aligned and fully integrated with existing and evolving mortality review processes
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To ensure that there is a robust framework for the quality assurance and continuous development of the ME service including raising awareness, stakeholder feedback, peer review, training and education as required.
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To engage with all relevant stakeholders in Bolton, understanding their needs and maintaining good communication.
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To respond to concerns and complaints.
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To escalate concerns with care and any themes, if required, to the Regional Medical Examiner or Senior Coroner, as appropriate.
Working for our organisation
Our Values
• Vision
We have a plan that will deliver excellent health and care for future generations, working with partners to ensure our services are sustainable.
We make decisions that are best for long term health and social care outcomes for our communities
• Openness
We communicate clearly to our patients, families and our staff with transparency and honesty
We encourage feedback from everyone to help drive innovation and Improvements
• Integrity
We demonstrate fairness, respect and empathy in our interactions with people
We take responsibility for our actions, speaking out and learning from our mistakes
• Compassion
We take a person-centred approach in all our interactions with patients, families and our staff
We provide compassionate care and demonstrate understanding to everyone
• Excellence
We put quality and safety at the heart of all our services and processes
We continuously improve our standards of healthcare with the patient in mind
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For detailed job description and main responsibilities please see the attached job description and person specification for the role.
Person specification
Safety and Quality (Clinical Governance)
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of local and national clinical governance systems and an understanding of how the ME can work collaboratively to improve patient safety by identifying sub-optimal clinical and organisational performance.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Medical practitioner registered and licensed to practice in the UK by the GMC of at least 5 years standing
- A commitment to life-long learning and undertaking personal development opportunities.
- Candidates must have successfully completed the mandatory e-learning modules and attended a face-to-face training session. (Substantive appointment will only be confirmed once this has been achieved.)
- Up-to-date knowledge of causes of death and an understanding of the legal frameworks associated with death certification processes.
- Knowledge of quality improvement tools and techniques to support emergent widespread learning across organisations.
- Have good IT skills including use of databases, spreadsheets, electronic patient records, email, and commonly used software.
- Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity
- Have the ability and experience to lead and manage a service across multiple healthcare settings
Desirable criteria
- Can demonstrate previous experience as a Medical Examiner.
Communication and Teamwork
Essential criteria
- Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and professionalism.
- Ability to work effectively and efficiently within own team and also closely with people in other disciplines
- Ability to work as part of a team and organise a fluctuating workload around competing priorities and numerous interruptions.
- Ability to manage and deliver effective education to relevant healthcare providers.
Behavioural Attributes
Essential criteria
- Proactive and self-motivated with a flexible working approach
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Ability to manage and comply with sensitive information- based processes under tight timescales with a proportionate approach
Safety and Quality (Clinical Governance)
Essential criteria
- Ability to identify available data sources and interpret their meaning in order to support the detection and analysis of concerns and to recognise gaps in available knowledge.
- Ability to identify and disseminate examples of good practice amongst relevant colleagues.
Behavioural Attributes
Essential criteria
- Have the resilience to manage own reaction to frequently distressing situations and support others within the team.
- To sustain professional integrity and independence at all times, particularly where there is the potential for a conflict of interest.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Harni Bharaj
- Job title
- Deputy Medical Director
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01204 390390
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