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Working for the Medical Examiner Service for Wales

Working for the Medical Examiner Service for Wales

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 and training can be found here
 
Application 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.
 
The E Learning Module can be accessed here.
 
Further 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 and will operate a Medical Examiner Telephone Advice Service only on weekends and Bank Holidays between 9 am and 6 pm. This is 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 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. Medical Examiner remuneration will be in line with Consultant pay scales, but appointments will not be made according to the Consultant Contract Terms and Conditions. 
 
 
For any expression of interest, complete expression of interest form and submit to: medicalexaminerservice@wales.nhs.uk
 

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 knowledge of the statutory process around death certification legal frameworks and how the medical examiner system aligns with other related organisations and NHS initiatives.
  • You have the ability to work in a highly pressurised, unpredictable environment where bereavement care is central to the service delivery.
  • You have knowledge of various faith groups’ funeral wishes/practices to enable respectful compliance with tight and specific timescales and procedures.
  • 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.
The Medical Examiner Officer Job Description can be accessed here
 
Appointment to the role of Medical Examiner Officer is contingent on the completion of an E Learning Programme and attendance of a face to face training day run under the auspices of the Royal College of Pathologists.
 
Application for the role of Medical Examiner Officer can be made prior to completion of the face to face training component but any appointment then made is contingent on completion of  the face to face training within a reasonable time period (expected to be 3 months). Additional training once in post will be given to allow for the completion of the Medical Examiner Officer Training Portfolio. Further information on Medical Examiner officers and training can be found here
 
The E Learning Module can be accessed here.
 
The Medical Examiner Service will provide a full scrutiny of death service during the week from Monday to Friday and will operate a Medical Examiner Telephone Advice Service only on weekends and Bank Holidays between 9 am and 6 pm. This is 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 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:

Daisy Shale – Lead Medical Examiner Officer for Wales

Email: daisy.shale@wales.nhs.uk

Telephone: 07929188518