Job overview
Barts Health NHS Trust
Whipps Cross Hospital
Medical Examiner, 1PA (0.1WTE)
The medical examiner service at Barts Health NHS Trust is seeking to recruit a medical examiner.
The role of the medical examiner was created in response to several public inquiries including the Shipman Inquiry (third report) and the Morecombe Bay investigation.
Since September 2024, as part of the death certification reforms, all deaths that are not investigated by a coroner are independently reviewed by a medical examiner
Medical examiners are senior clinicians who are trained in the clinical and legal elements of the death certification process.
Independent scrutiny ensures accuracy of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, elicits any concerns the clinical team and next of kin have about the death, and identifies whether the case needs notification to HM Coroner or other governance structures.
The medical examiner team scrutinise deaths occurring across Bart’s Health’s four acute sites: St Bartholomew’s, Royal London, Newham and Whipps Cross and non-acute deaths in the boroughs they serve: the City of London, Tower Hamlets, Newham, and Waltham Forest respectively.
This vacant post is for 1 PA on Fridays between 12.00 – 16.00 (fixed term)
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will:
• Have highly evolved self-awareness and empathetic skills to liaise effectively and sympathetically with bereaved families
• Have the ability to demonstrate and combine appropriate levels of compassion with professionalism and discretion
• Have up-to-date knowledge of medical conditions and treatments and be able to exercise judgement about when to seek specialist advice
• Have the ability to manage and comply with sensitive information-based processes under tight timescales with a proportionate approach.
Successful completion of the 24 core components medical examiner e-learning provided by the Royal College of Pathologists is essential. The second component of training must be completed within 6 months of starting in post (if not already undertaken), (www.rcpath.org/profession/medical-examiners/medical-examiner-training.html)
Working for our organisation
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain’s leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The session must be worked on-site from one of our medical examiner offices at St Bartholomew’s or Whipps Cross, alongside the medical examiner officer team. Flexibility is welcomed during periods of high acuity and busy holiday periods.
Applicants must have capacity within their working week to accommodate a weekly fixed four hour session in the medical examiner office.
As this role is administrative, there is no SPA time allocated.
The service provides an extended hours service for 3 hours on weekends and bank holidays. There is an opportunity to participate in the extended hours service which is renumerated separately.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Registered with the GMC and currently practicing in the UK with a minimum of 5 years post qualification experience
2. Successful completion of the 24 core components of the national on-line training prior to starting in post
3. Completion of the face-to-face component of the national training curriculum within 6 months of starting in post
Experience and Knowledge
Essential criteria
4. A commitment to life-long learning and undertaking personal development opportunities.
5. Up-to-date knowledge of causes of death and an understanding of the legal frameworks associated with death certification processes.
6. IT skills including use of email and commonly used software.
7. Ability to manage and comply with sensitive information-based processes under tight timescales with a proportionate approach.
8. Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity.
9. Up to date knowledge of medical conditions, treatments and causes of death.
10. Knowledge of relevant legislation and processes.
11. Knowledge of local and national clinical governance systems.
12. Strong communication skills that enable them to deliver their role in a compassionate, professional, and discreet manner.
13. Professional integrity and independence at all times, particularly where there is a potential for a conflict of interest.
Communication & teamwork
Essential criteria
14. Ability to work independently and use own initiative, as well as take instruction and work collaboratively as part of a team.
15. Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and professionalism.
16. Ability to work effectively and efficiently within own team and closely with people in other disciplines.
17. Ability to work as part of a team and organise a fluctuating workload around competing priorities and numerous interruptions.
18. Proactive and self-motivated with a flexible working approach.
19. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to listen, empathies and communicate effectively.
20. Excellent relationship building skills and the ability to resolve conflict.