Lead Medical Examiner Officer

Posting date:	26 January 2026
Salary:	£47,810.00 to £54,710.00 per year
Additional salary information:	£47810.00 - £54710.00 a year
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	09 February 2026
Location:	Stockport/Macclesfield, SK2 7JE
Company:	NHS Jobs
Job type:	Contract
Job reference:	C9362-26-0075

Summary

Communications 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. Carry out the initial screening of medical notes of deceased patients to identify cases that clearly requires referral to the coroner on approval from the ME. 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. Work with the ME(s) to ensure proper and proportionate scrutiny of medical records. Discuss the findings of the ME on medical cause of death with the qualified attending practitioners. Ensure any concerns raised by the relatives are passed on the ME in a timely fashion before the MCCD is released to relatives. Discuss the content of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) with relatives of the deceased and in all cases, collect additional information. This may include the need to communicate sensitive information and offer explanations. 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). Offer support and pastoral care to families and colleagues and to facilitate effective communication between families and health care professionals alongside Bereavement Office staff. Assist relatives in identifying appropriate information and additional / further advice and support e.g. Patient Advice Liaison Service contacts, Bereavement Office information. Establish clear and effective channels for communicating and co-operating with all departments, wards, and relevant professionals. Participate in the development and introduction of protocols, guidelines, and policy as appropriate. Manage own workload ensuring project timescales are adhered to. Continually monitor ones own performance in the provision of care; ensuring professional standards are met at all times. Maintain effective and positive communication between the MEO team to manage and p[prioritise workload 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. Responsibility for Patient Care Use specialist knowledge of various faith groups funeral wishes/practices to enable respectful compliance with tight and specific timescales and procedures. Planning and Organising Manage MEOs including recruitment, sickness, appraisal, CPD, and performance. Work within Trust HR policies. Work in a senior managerial role in the ME service, including maintaining rotas to ensure coverage for the ME service. Review performance of staff in consultation with the Lead ME and Pathology Operational Lead and make recommendations for development and further training. Assist in the monitoring of quality standards and performance. Work with the Regional Medical Examiner Officer (North West) to develop and provide outstanding service to bereaved families. Provide documentation and quality data as required for audit or evaluation of the Medical Examiner System as appropriate Provide surveillance data for the Lead Medical Examiner as required. Attend departmental meetings as appropriate . Responsibilities for Physical and / or Financial Resources Responsible for the procurement of physical assets & supplies. Responsible for the delivery of cost effective care in relation to equipment and resources used in the course of work. Facilitate the recovery of costs for services provided by the ME Service. Responsibility to consider implications of service development. Ensure resources are used efficiently and cost effectively, implementing new initiatives where possible to improve patient experience. Responsible for ensuring the effective use of stock and equipment in line with the workload requirements. Responsible for ensuring that equipment is appropriately used, stored, and maintained. Responsibility for Policy and Service Development and Implementation The Lead Medical Examiner Officer will be required to support the Lead Medical Examiner in any relevant governance activities relating to scrutiny and confirmation of the cause of death where concerns have been raised by the next of kin/informant of the deceased and/or clinical staff and ME scrutiny. Contribute to and review departmental policies and procedures to reflect best practice in the delivery of a medical examiner system. Attend Regional meetings to ensure service development Continue communication with community stakeholders to ensure optimum service delivery Identify and action areas of improvement in both acute and non acute sites Responsibilities for Human Resources and Leadership The Lead Medical Examiner Officer is expected to take responsibility for their own continuing professional development in accordance with any standards for maintaining any relevant professional body. Manage team following Trust policies Maintain a safe environment with due regard to the Trust Health and Safety & risk management policies and procedures. Align to trust values and set a good example to the team Follow the Trust complaints policy, ensuring solutions are achieved and learning is shared and disseminated as appropriate Actioning any issues or concerns within the team in line with trust policies and procedures Utilise appropriate risk assessment tools in order to identify actual and potential risks and implement appropriate interventions and report outcomes to the Lead ME and Pathology Operational Lead Responsibilities for Teaching and Training Develop training programmes and induction training for Medical Examiners Officers. Plan, coordinate, and supervise the training within the department. Participate in education and training as associated with and appropriate to the role. Continually update and maintain own self-development and awareness, identifying and utilising appropriate educational and study resources. Participate in Trust mandatory training. Participate in sharing outcomes of the reforms though the publication of papers and presentations of findings at a local and national level. Responsibilities for Professional and Legal standards Maintain accurate records having due regard to legal aspects, confidentiality, and managerial information / project requirements. Maintain an effective and valid professional registration. Fulfil the role in accordance with the relevant Code of Professional Conduct. Seek regular appropriate supervision and to participate in regular process of appraisal, monitoring own performance, ensuring professional standards are met at all times. 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. Responsibilities for data and information resources 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. Use multiple IT software for recording personal identifiable data and producing statistical information for the National Medical Examiners office and Public Health surveillance. Full compliance with secure handling of patient identifiable data is essential. Research, Development and Audit Initiate evidence-based practice and update own knowledge related to current practice. Participate in audit activity as required including collection of data. Collect, collate and report data for national and local returns. Physical Skills and Effort There is significant emotional effort associated with dealing with bereaved families. To use a computer for prolonged periods of time daily. Car driver to enable travel between two or more sites The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and promote safeguarding by implementing the Trusts policies and procedures, acting promptly on concerns, communicating effectively and sharing information appropriately. If successful this vacancy will require a Standard DBS check at a cost of £26.90. This cost will be deducted from your first Trust salary In addition to this it will be a condition of your employment that you will join the DBS update service and pay the annual subscription fee of £16