Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Trainee Anatomical Pathology Technologist to join the Cambridge University Hospital Mortuary team. Under supervision, you will contribute to the day-to-day operation of all areas within the mortuary, ensuring the delivery of a safe, efficient and compassionate service for patients and their families. You will also undertake and commit to the required training leading to the completion of the RSPH Level 3 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology.
The role requires you to:
Receipt and release all patients from CUH mortuary, ensuring dignity is maintained throughout their length of stay.
Prepare patients for post-mortem examination by ensuring all legal documentation is complete, and support Pathologists by undertaking evisceration and sample collection in line with required integrity and traceability standards, followed by the reconstruction of all patients to a high professional standard
Arrange and support Woodland Suite appointments by preparing the deceased in line with cultural and individual wishes and sensitively accompanying and assisting bereaved relatives throughout their visit.
Following completion of the required training and confirmation of competence, you will participate in the mortuary's out-of-hours on-call rota
Main duties of the job
- Receive patients, including paediatric, from the Hospital, community and other Hospitals, ensuring wristband identification and all legal documents are accurately completed. Measure and list all patients, recording any valuables or personal effects and ensuring they are stored securely.
- Record all patient storage and post mortem data on Epic, actioning requests from Funeral Directors and liaise with Bereavement Care, Medical Examiners Team, Chaplaincy, HM Coroner, Brain Banks as required.
- Be constantly aware of allpatients within the mortuary;contacting PQR, Bereavement Care,Medical Examiner,Funeral Directors and Coroner's Officersto ensuretimelyrelease/collections of all patients.
- Suitably prepare and place deceased adults, children, infants or foetuses for viewing in the Woodland Suite, with special attention given to individual and cultural religious beliefs and accompany bereaved relatives and friends into the Woodland Suite. Sensitively support, answering queries or concerns. Obtaining appropriate contact details if required.
- Adhere to and work within the HTA PM standards to ensure the departmental licence is maintained
Cont. below
About us
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Cont.
- Train and supervise junior staff in the mortuary team as per departmental policies and RSPH syllabus. Participate in the teaching of junior Pathologists, demonstrating different PM incisions and techniques, H&S requirements and Infection Control
- Support Pathologists during hospital, Coronial and Forensic post mortems, including the evisceration of internal organs, weighing organs, sample taking and performing special techniques when required
-
Take, package and label samples, tissue and organs in line with Pathologists instructions and postmortem consent, ensuring accurate EPIC documentation and appropriate notifications, and transfer or dispatch all samples to the relevant departments or external organisations with full traceability recorded on EPIC
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment.
This vacancy will close at midnight on 16th March 2026
Interviews are due to be held on 9th April 2026
Why choose Cambridge University Hospitals?
Our values and reputation for outstanding care Opportunities to experience a range of specialities Career and development opportunities Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support team Research experience and opportunities Lovely location and quality of life Excellent schools/colleges and transport links (road, rail and air)
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Cont.
- Train and supervise junior staff in the mortuary team as per departmental policies and RSPH syllabus. Participate in the teaching of junior Pathologists, demonstrating different PM incisions and techniques, H&S requirements and Infection Control
- Support Pathologists during hospital, Coronial and Forensic post mortems, including the evisceration of internal organs, weighing organs, sample taking and performing special techniques when required
-
Take, package and label samples, tissue and organs in line with Pathologists instructions and postmortem consent, ensuring accurate EPIC documentation and appropriate notifications, and transfer or dispatch all samples to the relevant departments or external organisations with full traceability recorded on EPIC
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment.
This vacancy will close at midnight on 16th March 2026
Interviews are due to be held on 9th April 2026
Why choose Cambridge University Hospitals?
Our values and reputation for outstanding care Opportunities to experience a range of specialities Career and development opportunities Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support team Research experience and opportunities Lovely location and quality of life Excellent schools/colleges and transport links (road, rail and air)
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE Maths and English or equivalent
Desirable
- Level 3 diploma Anatomical Pathology Technology
Experience
Essential
- Health care experience with patient contact
Desirable
- Previous mortuary experience
- Experience in evisceration.
- Previous experience with bereavement and / or counselling
- NHS Experience
Knowledge
Essential
- Clear understanding of the practical aspects of the job.
- Clear understanding of Health and Safety Procedures
Desirable
- Understanding of the Coronial System
- Understanding of consent procedures
- Understanding of HTA requirements
Skills
Essential
- High level of manual dexterity
- High level of accuracy with good attention to detail
- Effective verbal and written communication
- Ability to follow complex instructions
- Good interpersonal skills
Additional Requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE Maths and English or equivalent
Desirable
- Level 3 diploma Anatomical Pathology Technology
Experience
Essential
- Health care experience with patient contact
Desirable
- Previous mortuary experience
- Experience in evisceration.
- Previous experience with bereavement and / or counselling
- NHS Experience
Knowledge
Essential
- Clear understanding of the practical aspects of the job.
- Clear understanding of Health and Safety Procedures
Desirable
- Understanding of the Coronial System
- Understanding of consent procedures
- Understanding of HTA requirements
Skills
Essential
- High level of manual dexterity
- High level of accuracy with good attention to detail
- Effective verbal and written communication
- Ability to follow complex instructions
- Good interpersonal skills
Additional Requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).