Bereavement & Medical Examiner Officer

Job summary

We are looking for a hard-working team player who is compassionate and able to manage grieving relatives with empathy. This is an exciting opportunity to work alongside an enthusiastic team who are passionate about bereavement care and supporting the bereaved in the practical and legal aspects following a death.

The Medical Examiner System is a nationally mandated service aiming to scrutinise the circumstances and causes of all deaths of patients who die in hospital and, all those who die in our community.

The Bereavement & Medical Examiner Officer (B&MEO) role is to work closely with the Medical Examiner (ME), reviewing cases with the clinical team, providing advice & support to doctors regarding the legal requirements relating to the certification of death, including referral to HM Coroner.

The B&MEO will be the first point of contact for bereaved relatives/carers, providing advice & support regarding the ME process, coronial referrals, cause of death, registration of death and signposting for ongoing emotional support.

As a part of the wider Learning from Deaths process, the B&MEO will also listen to & respond to questions or concerns, raised by both staff & the bereaved, about the care or circumstances of death and highlight these concerns to the ME and Learning from Deaths team.

This post will require a successful candidate to work across both Musgrove and Yeovil sites. It will initially be a full-time role for a fixed-term of 9 months.

Main duties, tasks & skills required

• To support medical examiners in their role in scrutinising the circumstances and causes of death.
• To be a point of contact and source of advice for relatives of deceased patients, healthcare professionals, coroner and registration services.
• To provide consistency across the Trust for bereavement information and practical support to families and friends of deceased patients.
• To provide person centred evidence based care
• Provide effective day to day running of the Bereavement & Medical Examiner Service

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Job description

Please see attached Job Description & Person Specification for further details of duties and responsibilities.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

Educated to a Batchelors degree level or equivalent experience in related field.

Desirable

Completed e-learning MEO core training modules prior to starting in the post.

Experience

Essential

The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including the recently bereaved.

Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations.

General knowledge of clinical/medical terminology.

Desirable

Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity of issues around formalities following a death.

Experience of working in a healthcare setting with multi-disciplinary teams across organisational boundaries

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.

For help with your application, contact:

Emma Thornhill

[email protected]

01823343753