Job summary
The post-holder is responsible for assisting with the provision of the Mortuary services on four sites across the Trust. Work in this area requires frequent exposure to highly distressing and emotive situations in addition to periods of intense physical activity with the need to maintain concentration for long periods.
The post-holder will ensure that resources are used optimally, and that documentation and records are created accurately and kept appropriately and will carry out duties to support the efficient running of the mortuaries. To ensure that the deceased and their relatives are always treated with dignity and respect and perform a broad range of technical work activities ensuring provision of an efficient service that is in accordance with Trust, Coroner's, Human Tissue Authority and Department of Health regulations and requirements. The post is for a qualified APT. Applicants that are soon to be qualified may be considered.
Main duties of the job
Ensuring appropriate, safe, and dignified storage of deceased patients.
Prepare deceased patients for viewing. Be courteous and aware of relatives' feelings of distress, treating all those involved with sensitivity and dignity.
Undertake Post-Mortems of the deceased including invasive technical work such as brain donations.
Reconstruct the deceased following an invasive Port-Mortem to ensure patients remain dignified.
Reception and release of specimens and deceased patients ensuring accurate checking and recording of identification, accompanying information, and release documentation.
Document incidents, anomalies, or unusual requests and bring to the attention of the Operational Mortuary Manager or Head Biomedical Scientist at the earliest opportunity.
Accurately maintain all mortuary documentation including, but not exclusively, the mortuary register, dignified relocation folder, foetal dignified disposal records, diary, cremation book, and computerised information systems.
Assist in preparing, completing, and updating documentation as required for inspection visits (UKAS, HTA).
About us
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*
Job description
Job responsibilities
*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- *Educated to GCSE level or equivalent in English
- *Level 3 Certificate in Anatomical Pathology Technology or equivalent knowledge acquired through experience in afterlife patient care.
- *Plus knowledge of advanced autopsy, forensic, and infection procedures acquired through diploma-level training in anatomical pathology technology or equivalent knowledge plus experience
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- *Previous experience of dealing with deceased patients
- *Working in a mortuary performing technical and administrative duties
- *Working in a healthcare environment
Desirable
- *Experience of managing a complex workload autonomously
- *Experience of handling contained and uncontained hazardous materials such as blood and body fluids
- *Dealing compassionately with bereaved relatives in distressing situations
Additional Criteria
Essential
- *Knowledge of infection control, health & safety and confidentiality issues
- *Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
- *Ability to use own initiative where applicable
- *Good hand-eye co-ordination for procedures such as suturing
- *IT and keyboard skills
- *Ability to demonstrate accuracy and attention to detail
- *Ability to work well under pressure
- *Knowledge of mortuary procedures/documentation
- *Knowledge of Coroner's system
- *Ability to work on own initiative and as a member of a team
- *Treats others with courtesy and respect at all times
- *Excellent timekeeping and attendance record
- *Flexible and able to work as part of a cross-site team and support with out of hours 'on call' working
- *Good manipulative skills and manual dexterity
- *Accuracy in working and close attention to detail
- *Prepared to handle deceased adults, children, babies, body fluids and tissue
- *To support all UHB mortuary sites when required - for example during periods of annual leave or sickness.
- *To take part in the paid on-call rota once trained and competent to do so.
Desirable
- *Full and valid UK driving licence and access to own vehicle which must be insured for use at work
- *Experience of handling high risk post mortem cases
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- *Educated to GCSE level or equivalent in English
- *Level 3 Certificate in Anatomical Pathology Technology or equivalent knowledge acquired through experience in afterlife patient care.
- *Plus knowledge of advanced autopsy, forensic, and infection procedures acquired through diploma-level training in anatomical pathology technology or equivalent knowledge plus experience
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- *Previous experience of dealing with deceased patients
- *Working in a mortuary performing technical and administrative duties
- *Working in a healthcare environment
Desirable
- *Experience of managing a complex workload autonomously
- *Experience of handling contained and uncontained hazardous materials such as blood and body fluids
- *Dealing compassionately with bereaved relatives in distressing situations
Additional Criteria
Essential
- *Knowledge of infection control, health & safety and confidentiality issues
- *Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
- *Ability to use own initiative where applicable
- *Good hand-eye co-ordination for procedures such as suturing
- *IT and keyboard skills
- *Ability to demonstrate accuracy and attention to detail
- *Ability to work well under pressure
- *Knowledge of mortuary procedures/documentation
- *Knowledge of Coroner's system
- *Ability to work on own initiative and as a member of a team
- *Treats others with courtesy and respect at all times
- *Excellent timekeeping and attendance record
- *Flexible and able to work as part of a cross-site team and support with out of hours 'on call' working
- *Good manipulative skills and manual dexterity
- *Accuracy in working and close attention to detail
- *Prepared to handle deceased adults, children, babies, body fluids and tissue
- *To support all UHB mortuary sites when required - for example during periods of annual leave or sickness.
- *To take part in the paid on-call rota once trained and competent to do so.
Desirable
- *Full and valid UK driving licence and access to own vehicle which must be insured for use at work
- *Experience of handling high risk post mortem cases
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.
