Job summary
Applications
are invited from an enthusiastic and motivated individual for a full-time
permanent support worker post in the Mortuaries.
The
position will be a rotating post, involving working at the LGI & SJUH
mortuaries.
As
a Mortuary support worker you will be expected to assist with the care and
handling of deceased patients and to liaise with bereaved relatives, funeral
directors and other external agencies.
No
prior experience is required but an understanding of mortuary processes would
be an advantage. Full in-house training and supervision will be given.
The
post is suitable for someone who is highly motivated, driven and a good team
worker.
This
is a challenging, varied role in a busy and sometimes distressing
environment. You will be required to
demonstrate high levels of sensitivity and confidentiality, good verbal,
physical and written communication skills.
Expected Shortlisting
Date
03/03/2025
Planned Interview
Date
07/03/2025
Main duties of the job
Working
in the Mortuaries at LTHT the post holder will provide support to a team of
Anatomical Pathology Technologists, medical staff and some external
stakeholders.
Duties
include:
Assist
with admin tasks within the mortuary such as booking in and release records
of patients, daily work lists for bereavement, escalation lists.
Prepare
deceased patients for viewing and making arrangements with their relatives
and Coroner's officer if appropriate.
Assist
with receipt/release of deceased patients and maintain accurate
dispatch/receipt records.
Assist
in the monitoring, cleaning and maintenance of mortuary and equipment.
To
demonstrate relevant job related tasks to new or more junior staff.
To
adhere to all departmental SOPs, policies, H&S regulations and data
protection.
To
arrange for the safe collection and transportation of human tissue and
samples.
Subject
to consultation you may be required to undertake additional tasks in support
of the general management of the department.
About us
The
department provides the Mortuary and Postmortem services for the Trust and
H.M. Coroner for Leeds from the mortuaries at the LGI and SJUH as well as
providing Histopathology, Andrology, Immunohistochemistry, Muscle, Molecular,
Non Gynae Cytology services for Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust.
We
process circa 58,000 surgical, 2,000 autopsy and 6000 non-gynaecological
cytology cases per annum.
We
are a continually improving department, striving for high quality staff and
processes. As a training hospital we serve to expand the knowledge and skills
of all grades of staff. There are plenty of opportunities to become involved
in, and further development is encouraged.
We
endeavour to follow 'The Leeds Way' at all times, and our focus is to put the
patient first at all times.
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk'
members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts
are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove
adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the
shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this
process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any
questions.
Job description
Job responsibilities
PRINCIPAL
DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
To enter and retrieve patient
information using the laboratory computer system.
Assist with day to day
administrative tasks within the mortuary such as booking in and release
records of patients, daily work lists for bereavement, escalation lists
Prepare deceased patients for
viewing and making arrangements with their relatives and Coroner's officer if
appropriate.
Assist with receipt/release of
deceased patients and maintain accurate dispatch/receipt records
To assist in the day to day
monitoring, cleaning and maintenance of mortuary equipment.
Participate in mortuary cleaning
and maintenance schedules
To ensure accurate record keeping
of temperature monitoring charts, cleaning schedules, capacity and winter
pressure monitoring
To contribute to general
departmental management by assisting in the receipt and control of
consumables.
To demonstrate relevant job related
tasks to new or more junior staff
To participate in laboratory audit
processes to establish and maintain high standards of work in the office and
to ensure effective liaison between the Mortuary and all its stakeholders
To be aware of the requirements of
data protection and HTA guidelines
To adhere to all departmental
standard operating procedures, policies and health and safety regulations
To keep the workplace and work
areas clean and tidy
To control access to the Mortuary
within working hours.
To arrange for the safe collection
and transportation of human tissue and samples and to maintain accurate
records of dispatch and receipt
To ensure all training and
competency records are kept up to date
Transfer of samples around the
cellular pathology department
COMMUNICATION
& WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
As
the job holder you will communicate and work directly or indirectly with a
diverse range of other staff. Those shown below are examples:
Internal
- Colleagues, supervisors and
managers within the speciality
- Pathology staff working in other
specialities, eg Biomedical Scientists
- Members of clinical teams including
nurses, doctors and other practitioners
- Administrative and secretarial
staff
- Estates and facilities staff
- Bereavement staff
External
- Staff in primary care facilities
- Staff in other hospitals
- Staff in non NHS organizations (for
example suppliers of consumables)
- Police Officers
SPECIAL
WORKING CONDITIONS
As
the job holder you will be required to work in a mortuary environment. As
such you will work under controlled conditions where chemical and
biohazardous materials are handled. For your own protection you will be
required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment and for this you
will receive training. Frequent periods of light and occasional periods of
moderate physical activity related to stores management may be expected. The
service is delivered from a number of different sites and you may be required,
subject to consultation, to travel between sites.
PHYSICAL
EFFORT:
Regular
requirement to sit at PC and regular requirement for post holder to be mobile
for collection & delivery of samples, paperwork and stock.
This
job requires the holder to participate in stock control, including the
movement of goods from the point of delivery to the point of storage. This
will require frequent movement of light and moderate loads up to 15kg .
Subject
to suitable and sufficient manual handling training the job holder may
occasionally be asked to assist in the movement of equipment or consumables
that weigh in excess of 15kg.
There
will also be a requirement to move patients for which full moving and
handling training will be provided.
This
job requires the holder to prepare patients for viewing and making
arrangements with their relatives and Coroner's officer if appropriate.
MENTAL
EFFORT:
The
day to day repertoire of this job is diverse and the job holder can expect to
be asked by supervisory staff to change tasks at short notice. In order to
minimize errors concentration is required on a daily basis when processing
specimens. Occasionally this may require prolonged concentration and is
subject to workload.
There
is no requirement for the job holder to drive a vehicle
EMOTIONAL
EFFORT:
As
this is a mortuary based role dealing with deceased patients, exposure to
emotional circumstances is frequent.
WORKING
CONDITIONS:
The
job holder will be required to work with chemical and biological material on
every shift. The working environment in a mortuary is strictly controlled and
under normal circumstances these hazards are contained. There will be
occasional exposure to uncontrolled chemical and biological hazard after
spillage or leakage.
Exposure
to physical aggressive behaviour is rare. Occasional exposure to verbal
aggression occurs during telephone communication with service users.
This
list is not exhaustive and the changing needs of the service from time to
time may require the development of other appropriate tasks and skills. These
will be fully discussed with the post holder in advance of their
implementation.
Job description
Job responsibilities
PRINCIPAL
DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
To enter and retrieve patient
information using the laboratory computer system.
Assist with day to day
administrative tasks within the mortuary such as booking in and release
records of patients, daily work lists for bereavement, escalation lists
Prepare deceased patients for
viewing and making arrangements with their relatives and Coroner's officer if
appropriate.
Assist with receipt/release of
deceased patients and maintain accurate dispatch/receipt records
To assist in the day to day
monitoring, cleaning and maintenance of mortuary equipment.
Participate in mortuary cleaning
and maintenance schedules
To ensure accurate record keeping
of temperature monitoring charts, cleaning schedules, capacity and winter
pressure monitoring
To contribute to general
departmental management by assisting in the receipt and control of
consumables.
To demonstrate relevant job related
tasks to new or more junior staff
To participate in laboratory audit
processes to establish and maintain high standards of work in the office and
to ensure effective liaison between the Mortuary and all its stakeholders
To be aware of the requirements of
data protection and HTA guidelines
To adhere to all departmental
standard operating procedures, policies and health and safety regulations
To keep the workplace and work
areas clean and tidy
To control access to the Mortuary
within working hours.
To arrange for the safe collection
and transportation of human tissue and samples and to maintain accurate
records of dispatch and receipt
To ensure all training and
competency records are kept up to date
Transfer of samples around the
cellular pathology department
COMMUNICATION
& WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
As
the job holder you will communicate and work directly or indirectly with a
diverse range of other staff. Those shown below are examples:
Internal
- Colleagues, supervisors and
managers within the speciality
- Pathology staff working in other
specialities, eg Biomedical Scientists
- Members of clinical teams including
nurses, doctors and other practitioners
- Administrative and secretarial
staff
- Estates and facilities staff
- Bereavement staff
External
- Staff in primary care facilities
- Staff in other hospitals
- Staff in non NHS organizations (for
example suppliers of consumables)
- Police Officers
SPECIAL
WORKING CONDITIONS
As
the job holder you will be required to work in a mortuary environment. As
such you will work under controlled conditions where chemical and
biohazardous materials are handled. For your own protection you will be
required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment and for this you
will receive training. Frequent periods of light and occasional periods of
moderate physical activity related to stores management may be expected. The
service is delivered from a number of different sites and you may be required,
subject to consultation, to travel between sites.
PHYSICAL
EFFORT:
Regular
requirement to sit at PC and regular requirement for post holder to be mobile
for collection & delivery of samples, paperwork and stock.
This
job requires the holder to participate in stock control, including the
movement of goods from the point of delivery to the point of storage. This
will require frequent movement of light and moderate loads up to 15kg .
Subject
to suitable and sufficient manual handling training the job holder may
occasionally be asked to assist in the movement of equipment or consumables
that weigh in excess of 15kg.
There
will also be a requirement to move patients for which full moving and
handling training will be provided.
This
job requires the holder to prepare patients for viewing and making
arrangements with their relatives and Coroner's officer if appropriate.
MENTAL
EFFORT:
The
day to day repertoire of this job is diverse and the job holder can expect to
be asked by supervisory staff to change tasks at short notice. In order to
minimize errors concentration is required on a daily basis when processing
specimens. Occasionally this may require prolonged concentration and is
subject to workload.
There
is no requirement for the job holder to drive a vehicle
EMOTIONAL
EFFORT:
As
this is a mortuary based role dealing with deceased patients, exposure to
emotional circumstances is frequent.
WORKING
CONDITIONS:
The
job holder will be required to work with chemical and biological material on
every shift. The working environment in a mortuary is strictly controlled and
under normal circumstances these hazards are contained. There will be
occasional exposure to uncontrolled chemical and biological hazard after
spillage or leakage.
Exposure
to physical aggressive behaviour is rare. Occasional exposure to verbal
aggression occurs during telephone communication with service users.
This
list is not exhaustive and the changing needs of the service from time to
time may require the development of other appropriate tasks and skills. These
will be fully discussed with the post holder in advance of their
implementation.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Maths GCSE standard or equivalent qualification
- English GCSE standard or equivalent qualification
Desirable
- Evidence of a willingness to undertake further in-house or formal training
Experience
Essential
- An understanding of health and safety in the workplace
- An understanding of patient confidentiality
Desirable
- Experience of working in a mortuary/laboratory
Other Criteria
Essential
- Physically able to move between hospital sites
Skills and Behaviours
Essential
- Basic computer skills
- Able to work as part of a team
- Flexible approach to work
- Good communicator
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Maths GCSE standard or equivalent qualification
- English GCSE standard or equivalent qualification
Desirable
- Evidence of a willingness to undertake further in-house or formal training
Experience
Essential
- An understanding of health and safety in the workplace
- An understanding of patient confidentiality
Desirable
- Experience of working in a mortuary/laboratory
Other Criteria
Essential
- Physically able to move between hospital sites
Skills and Behaviours
Essential
- Basic computer skills
- Able to work as part of a team
- Flexible approach to work
- Good communicator
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.
