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Working for the Medical Examiner Service
Becoming a Medical Examiner
You can apply to become a Medical Examiner if you:
- Have five years’ experience as a fully registered medical practitioner
- Are currently practicing or have recently retired
- Hold a licence to practice with the General Medical Council
In addition, you’ll need to demonstrate:
- Up to date knowledge of medical conditions and causes of death
- Knowledge of recent legislation and processes
- Knowledge of local and national clinical governance systems
- Strong communication skills that enable service delivery in a compassionate, professional and discreet manner
- An ability to work in a Multi-Disciplinary Team
Appointment to the role of Medical Examiner is contingent on the completion of the mandatory components of an e-learning programme and a face-to-face training session run under the auspices of the Royal College of Pathologists.
Further information on the role of Medical Examiner and trainingApplication for the role of Medical Examiner can be made on completion of the e-learning programme component only, with any appointment then made contingent on completion of the face-to-face training session within 3 months of appointment.
See The Royal College of Pathologists Conferences and CPD events calendar Go to the Medical Examiner e-learning moduleFurther online modules are available as part of an ongoing CPD programme.
The Medical Examiner Service will provide a full scrutiny of death service during the week from Monday to Friday during office hours and will operate a Medical Examiner telephone out of hours service only on weekends and Bank Holidays between 7:30am and 6pm. This is only to allow the early release of bodies where appropriate, for example to adhere to requirements of a particular faith and to act as a contact point for professional advice in these cases.
In applying for a role, you will be committing to work a given number of sessions per year, with a weekly Job Plan agreed and these will be confirmed during the appointment process.
Becoming a Medical Examiner Officer
You can apply to become a Medical Examiner Officer if:
- You are educated to degree level or have equivalent practical experience.
- You have qualifications/skills in day-to-day operational/process management of a customer-facing service where users may have unpredictable and emotionally charged needs.
- You have highly evolved empathetic and self-awareness skills to deal with bereaved families who may have barriers to understanding information due to their grief or disability.
- You have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- You have an understanding of medical terminology that enables informed discussions about causes/circumstances of death with bereaved families, clinicians, coroner and registration service staff.
- You have the ability to work in a highly pressurised, unpredictable environment where bereavement care is central to the service delivery.
- You are computer literate to use multiple IT software for recording personal identifiable data and producing statistical information for the National Medical Examiner’s Office and Public Health surveillance.
Desirable knowledge for the role includes:
- knowledge of the statutory process around death certification legal frameworks and how the Medical Examiner system aligns with other related organisations and NHS initiatives
- knowledge of various faith groups’ funeral wishes/practices to enable respectful compliance with tight and specific timescales and procedures.
Appointment to the role of Medical Examiner Officer is contingent on the completion of an e-learning programme with any appointment then made contingent on completion of the Royal College of Pathologists face-to-face training session within a reasonable time period (expected to be 3 months). Additional training once in post will be given.
Train to become a medical examiner officer Go to the Medical Examiner e-learning moduleIn applying for a role you will be committing to work a given number of hours per year and these will be confirmed during the appointment process. Medical Examiner Officer remuneration and terms and conditions will be at Agenda for Change Band 5.
If you would like to discuss the role or application process, please contact: nbn-tr.medicalexaminer@nhs.net