Senior Medical Examiner Officer - London, United Kingdom - Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

    Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
    Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust London, United Kingdom

    2 weeks ago

    Default job background
    Permanent
    Description

    Job summary

    Senior Medical Examiner Officer: Band 6

    We are seeking a Senior Medical Examiner Officer who has completed and consolidated their Medical Examiner Officer Royal College of Pathologists Training and is now able to step into a leadership role, managing a small team of Medical Examiner Officers on two hospital sites at Lewisham Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, the role is a cross-site role.

    You will need to have good communication skills, be able to work as part of a team and be able to represent the Medical Examiner Service.

    Previous applicants need not apply.

    Main duties of the job

    As the senior Medical Examiner Officer you will be responsible for the day to day office management, leading a small team of Medical Examiner Officers, working closely with the Lead Medical Examiner and Medical Examiners who work within the service.

    With effect from April 2024, the Medical Examiner Service will be statutory requiring all deaths at the Trust and local community to be scrutinised before a death certificate to be issues or coroners referral made.

    Key stakeholders you will liaise with are: Next of Kin, Trust Staff / Medical Staff, Registrars in our local boroughs and the Regional Medical Examiner and Regional Medical Examiner Officer for London.

    About us

    Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

  • Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
  • Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
  • Improving the experience of staff with disability
  • Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
  • Making equalities mainstream
    • Job description

    Job responsibilities

    Planning and allocating the work for the Medical Examiners and Medical Examiner Officers on a daily basis

    Collating figures for the weekly and monthly returns ensuring all key performance indicators are met

    Working closely with the Lead ME and Head of Bereavement

    Person Specification

    Qualifications

    Essential

  • Educated to Bachelor's degree level or equivalent working knowledge in related field; or evidence of study/equivalent practical experience at an advanced level; this might include nursing and/or other clinical experience.
  • A commitment to life-long learning and undertaking personal development opportunities.
  • The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including the recently bereaved.
  • Completed e-learning MEO core training modules prior to starting in the post
  • Formal MEO training provided by the Royal College of Pathologists

    • Experience

    Essential

  • Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations.
  • Experience of working in a healthcare setting with multi-disciplinary teams across organisational boundaries.
  • Understanding of medical terminology that enables informed discussions about causes/circumstances of death with bereaved families, clinicians, coroner and registration service staff.

    • Desirable

  • Experience of facilitating groups Leadership and influencing change

    • Knowledge

    Essential

  • Specialist knowledge of various faith groups' funeral wishes/practices to enable respectful compliance with tight and specific timescales and procedures.
  • Knowledge of the Coroner & Justice Act 2009 reference to the ME system. Full understanding of the ME system operational remit.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the statutory process around death certification legal frameworks and how the ME system aligns with other related organisations and NHS initiatives.

    • Desirable

  • Presentation Skills

    • Personal Qualities

    Essential

  • Ability to lead and work as part of a team and organise fluctuating workload around competing priorities.
  • Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and professionalism with all stakeholders.
  • Highly evolved empathetic and self-awareness skills to deal with bereaved families who may have barriers to understanding.
  • Ability to work in a highly pressurised, unpredictable environment where bereavement care is central to the service delivery.
  • Proactive and self-motivated.
  • Approachable and supportive to all levels of staff and bereaved families in a non-judgmental and discreet manner.
  • Professional appearance, manner and awareness of impact of own behaviour on others.
  • Ability to maintain a calm manner in a range of challenging and emotive circumstances.
  • Competent in the use of IT software systems and handling sensitive personal identifiable data.