Medical Examiner Officer
The closing date is 28 May 2026
The Medical Examiner Officer (MEO) role is to support the Lead Medical Examiner Officer in the daily operational activity of the Medical Examiner (ME) service.
The MEO will work in partnership with the Mortuary, Bereavement Service, on site Coroners officers, Registrars, local spiritual/faith representatives & funeral services to provide streamlined services for bereaved families.
To work with the Palliative Care team and support the End of Life Care Strategy where this relates to the Medical Examiner Service.
To be a central point of contact for the relatives of deceased patients, coordinating communications with other services and providing a seamless and compassionate experience for the bereaved.
Through delegated responsibility the MEO will scrutinise the patient record and prioritise cases of concern or those for potential Serious Investigation or Coronial investigation to the ME.
With delegated responsibility from the Lead MEO, to refer mandatory cases for SJR Mortality.
Review and also an additional minimum of 20% of cases per speciality.
To support the Lead MEO in monitoring performance and developing assurance reports for relevant internal and external stakeholders as required.
Review the services provided with the Lead MEO and make suggestions for continual improvement.
Main duties of the job
To act as an intermediary between the bereaved and clinicians to establish and resolve any concerns relating to a patient's death. Work with medical examiners to aid them in their responsibility for overseeing the death certification process for all deceased patients in the organisation.
To establish the circumstances of individual patient deaths by performing a preliminary review of medical records to identify clinical and circumstantial information, sourcing additional details where required, for scrutiny by the medical examiner.
To assist in highlighting cases for assessment by the Structured Judgement Review team (SJR), Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP), Clinical Governance teams and the Learning Disability Review Teams (LeDeR).
To refer patients to the coroner for further investigation on approval by the medical examiner.
Maintain an awareness of the diverse needs of users of the medical examiner system to ensure equality to any particular group defined by sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or disability.
About us
We are part of the NHS Medical Examiner Service in Lancashire, providing independent oversight of deaths to ensure accuracy, transparency, and high standards of care for patients and their families.
Our team is small, friendly, and supportive, but the impact of our work is significant. As a Medical Examiner Officer, you will play a key role in reviewing deaths, supporting bereaved families, and working closely with clinicians and coroners to ensure that causes of death are correctly recorded and any concerns are identified.
We are committed to compassion, professionalism, and continuous learning. By helping to improve patient safety and quality of care, our team makes a real difference across the local healthcare system.
Working with us means being part of a collaborative NHS environment where your contribution is valued, your development is supported, and your work has meaningful impact at a crucial time for families.
Job responsibilities
To act as an intermediary between the bereaved and clinicians to establish and resolve any concerns relating to a patients death. Work with medical examiners to aid them in their responsibility for overseeing the death certification process for all deceased patients in the organisation.
To establish the circumstances of individual patient deaths by performing a preliminary review of medical records to identify clinical and circumstantial information, sourcing additional details where required, for scrutiny by the medical examiner.
To assist in highlighting cases for assessment by the Structured Judgement Review team (SJR), Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP), Clinical Governance teams and the Learning Disability Review Teams (LeDeR).
To refer patients to the coroner for further investigation on approval by the medical examiner.
Maintain an awareness of the diverse needs of users of the medical examiner system to ensure equality to any particular group defined by sex, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or disability.
Qualifications & Education
* Educated to Bachelor's degree level, or evidence of study/equivalent practical experience at an advanced level; this might include nursing and/or other clinical experience.
* Degree level in relevant subject
* ompletion of the first 4 mandatory elearning modules prior to interview
Knowledge & Experience
* Demonstrable relevant experience in a bereavement environment
* Relevant experience of working with relatives of the deceased
* Have an up-to-date understanding of the legal frameworks associated with death certification processes
* Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity
* Experience of being involved in relevant investigatory processes e.g. Rapid Incident Review/Serious Incident investigations, mortality reviews where patient records are analysed and relatives have been involved.
* Knowledge of clinical governance systems and can identify sub-optimal clinical and organisational care and treatment
* Relevant Palliative Care or Bereavement Service experience
* Experience of working with faith groups and early release of the deceased
* Experience in participating with Mortality Reviews, preferably using the Structured Judgement Review methodology
* Experience in participating in Secondary &/or Learning Disabilities (LeDeR) Mortality Reviews
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
£32,073 to £39,043 a yearPer Annum, Pro Rota
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