Job overview

An opportunity has arisen for a full-time post to work within the Medical Examiners Service at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. The post will involve cross-site working at Good Hope, Heartlands and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The post-holder will work as part of a team and be responsible for liaising with bereaved relatives to ensure that the new government led death certification process is followed and relevant paperwork required after death issued promptly and accurately. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate attention to detail, work to tight timescales, and prioritise their own workload. They must demonstrate excellent communication and administrative skills as they will be in daily contact with bereaved families, Medical Examiners, medical staff, HMC, Funeral Directors and local authority staff involved in the registration of death.

The post holder is responsible for establishing the circumstance of individual patient deaths by performing a preliminary review of medical records to identify clinical and circumstantial information for scrutiny by the ME.

The post holder will provide a professional and high quality service at all times and be a source of advice for bereaved relatives, healthcare professionals, HMC and registration services. The post holder will work to the MES Manager to ensure a robust ME service is provided across all sites. They will also have day to day management responsibility for Medical Examiner Officers

Main duties, tasks & skills required

• To plan the day-to-day workload and to ensure the workload is carried out efficiently within the required timescales.
• To actively participate at Senior Management Team meetings and be part of strategic and organisation plans in order to deliver services within recognised frameworks to ensure a fully coordinated and supportive administrative team for the service/department.
• To maintain confidentiality and manage information sensitively, demonstrate discretion and respect when communicating with patients, colleagues and others.
• To deal with complex information and ensure team members are aware of any issues.
• To have day-to-day management responsibilities for the MEO administration team including sickness absence, appraisals, training and development, etc.
• To generate and update statistical and management information including reports as and when required.
• Co-operate in the introduction of new technology and new working practices to ensure the smooth running of the department.
• To implement KPI monitoring processes and work to continually improve performance against these.
• To ensure protocols and guidelines are developed and adhered to.
• To be able to identify risks within the department and escalate as appropriate.
• To work with the MEs, ensuring that all obtainable information is made available to allow timely and proportionate scrutiny of medical records.
• To participate in the development of support staff by providing mentoring, training and support.

About us

We are recognised as one of the leading NHS Foundation Trusts in the UK. Our vision is to Build Healthier Lives, and we recognise that we need incredible staff to do this.

Our commitment to our staff is to create the best place for them to work, and we are dedicated to:

Investing in the health and wellbeing of our staff, including a commitment of offering flexible working where we can;
Offer our staff a wide variety of training and development opportunities, to support their personal and career development objectives.

UHB is committed to ensuring that our staff are treated fairly and feel that they belong, by creating a kind and inclusive environment. This is about equity of opportunity; removing all barriers, including discrimination and ensuring each individual member of staff reach their true potential, achieve their ambitions and thrive in their work. This is more than words. We are taking action. Our commitment to an inclusive culture is embedded at all levels of the organisation where every voice is heard, driven by our diverse and active staff networks, and at Board level by the Fairness Taskforce led by our CEO. We nurture a culture which empowers staff to challenge discriminatory behaviours and to enable people to bring their 'whole self' to a kinder, more connected and bold place to work.

Job description

*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or equivalent experience
• Completion of the RCPath (MEO Training
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Desirable

• Clinical or Scientific Professional Qualification

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience working in a relevant discipline within the NHS
• Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations
• Proven track record of problem solving and managing a team of staff
• Experience of managing diaries using own judgement when dealing with conflicting appointments and priorities
• Experience of working in a busy environment working independently and exercising judgment and decision making skills

Desirable

• Clinical or scientific experience Experience of using Trust IT systems

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.