The Medical Examiner Department is a new service that became statutory from the 9th September 2024. The purpose of the function is to introduce, monitor and audit stringent safeguards over the patient death certification and mortality review process.

The function's purpose is to provide greater safeguards for the public by:

• Ensuring rigour and robust scrutiny of all non-coronial deaths
• Ensure the appropriate direction of deaths to the coroner
• Provide a seamless service for the bereaved and an opportunity for them to raise any concerns to a doctor not involved in the care of the deceased
• Improve the quality of death certification
• Ensure provision of training and support to clinicians undertaking death certification

We are looking for a motivated individual to join the Medical Examiner Team at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation (NCIC) Trust. This new post will be based at West Cumberland Hospital. The successful candidates will be expected to work across the two hospital sites (CIC and WCH) to provide clinical support and advice.

Main duties of the job

The Medical Examiner Officer's role is to work as part of a team, along side the Medical Examiners, Lead and Senior Medical Examiner Officers to:

• Ensure the Medical Examiner Service operates safely within the parameters of national and local policy and guidance
• Support the Medical Examiner's in their role scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death
• Be a point of contact and source of advice for the relatives of deceased patients, healthcare professionals, Coroner and Registration Services
• Coordinate the prompt completion of Medical Certificates of Cause of Death (MCCD) and cremation forms, liaising closely with the bereaved
• To support the development of the service

All staff are expected to work to the Trust Values:

Kindness

Respect

Ambition

Collaboration

About us

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of 'safe, high quality care every time':

Being a clinically led organisation

Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust

A positive patient experience every time

A great place to work

Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment.Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed.

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Important Information

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

For candidates applying using a Hotmail account or have strict firewall settings please ensure the following:

• Junk Mail is checked regularly

Disclosure and Barring Service:

On 28 November 2020, the new Disclosure and Barring Service filtering rules will come into effect.

The changes mean that:

• youth cautions, reprimands and final warnings will no longer be subject to automatic disclosure
• the multiple conviction rule has been removed, meaning that if an individual has more than one conviction, regardless of offence type or time passed, each conviction will be considered against the remaining rules individually, rather than being automatically disclosed.

If you are unsure about whether you need to disclose certain criminal record information, free confidential advice may be sought from one of the charity bodies listed below. These bodies can advise you on what you are legally required to declare and may also be able to advise you on how you can disclose criminal record information to a prospective employer and your legal rights when doing so.

Nacro Tel: 0300 123 1999, or email: helpline@nacro.org.uk

Unlock Tel: 01634 247350, email advice@unlock.org.uk or complete the online form on the Unlock websit

The Trust is committed to safeguarding adults and children therefore if the post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended) the successful candidate(s) will be subject to a criminal records check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

Standard Check: £18 + Administration cost of £3.85 = £21.85. Deducted at £6.85 from 1st month salary and £5 deducted from salary over following 3 months.

Enhanced Check: £38 + administration cost of £3.90 = £41.90. Deducted at £11.90 from 1st month salary and £10 deducted from salary over following 3 months.

As part of the one of the largest employers in the UK NCIC future employees will have also access to the following benefits.

A lease car may be available for this position further details will be provided upon appointment if applicable.

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

Flexible working Scheme

Excellent opportunities for development

Competitive NHS Pension scheme

Access to NHS discounts with retailers and leisure companies

EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problem

These schemes are subject to availability

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or equivalent relevant knowledge to this role
• Highly developed interpersonal skills

Desirable

• Advanced communication skills certificate or equivalent
• Training Qualification
• Completion of the core 30 Medical Examiner

Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills holding a positive attitude to difference
• Confidence and ability to engage/challenge at all levels including senior clinicians /coroners office/registrars
• Ability to organise work around competing demands and fluctuating workloads
• Analytical skills, with ability to produce concise, accurate reports
• Well developed IT skills use of Windows
• Ability to reflect upon and learn from experience.
• Ability to handle difficult situations safely and recognise own limitations
• Able to use initiative
• Self compassion
• Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and understanding

Personal circumstances

Essential

• Proactive and self-motivated
• Ability to maintain a calm manner in a range of challenging and emotive circumstances
• Approachable
• Confident with ability to assert self
• Sensitive and compassionate
• Committed to the concept of lifelong learning and undertaking personal development opportunities
• Ability to adapt and flex to service needs out of hours and weekends on rota basis

Other requirements

Essential

• Ability to travel between sites as required across North Cumbria

Desirable

• Driving licence

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Good knowledge of clinical / medical terminology
• Understanding of the Department of Health's Death Certification reforms and Medical Examier system
• Good understanding of the Medical Examiner function and operational remit
• Sound knowledge of Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts
• Good understanding of the Calcicott Principles

Desirable

• Knowledge of Coroners' and Justice Act 2009 (relating to death certification)
• Knowledge of requirements of various faith groups and awareness of equality and diversity issues surrounding death certification and arrangements
• Knowledge of care and complaints handling

Employer details

Employer name

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cumberland Infirmary

Newtown Road

Carlisle

CA2 7HY

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

262-A-24-6737109