Job responsibilities
JOB
PURPOSE
To
carry out routine and advanced post mortem procedures on both adult and
paediatric patients.
To
prepare and facilitate visits for deceased patients and communicate with
bereaved relatives.
To
train and supervise other AP Technicians (APT's) and Mortuary support workers
(MSWs)
To
communicate with colleagues, clinicians, funeral directors, HM Coroner, and
HM Coroners Officers, Police and other external hospital and mortuary staff.
To
assist in the general management requirements of the department, the
compliance of the audit schedule, cleaning and maintenance etc.
KNOWLEDGE,
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
In
order to carry out the job sufficiently and effectively you need to have
successfully studied for a Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology
(RIPHH).
In
addition, you will need to have a wide experience within the speciality,
including a thorough understanding of the range of working practices relating
to advanced autopsy, forensic and infection procedures. You will need to have
developed a range of competencies and specialist knowledge within the
discipline through wide practical experience, in house training and
structured study and will continue to develop your skills and knowledge.
You
may be required to assist in the general management of the department.
In
addition, basic computer skills are essential to carry out your work.
CORE
BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS
In
order to work effectively in the role you as the jobholder must be able to
demonstrate a number of attributes and abilities. These will include:
- to gain new knowledge through
experience, formal study and participation in relevant training schemes
- to be a leading member of a team
providing a clinical technical service
- to train others and demonstrate
relevant tasks to others as appropriate
- to work independently when and as
required by the service, for instance when working on-call.
- to communicate clearly and
effectively whether orally, graphically or electronically
- to plan, and prioritise, the
workload of the section in the absence of
the Mortuary Manager or Senior APT Site lead
- to work with precision and follow
accurately the documented standard operating procedures
- to operate highly complex mortuary
equipment safely and efficiently
- to perform routine, infectious and
advanced post mortem procedures
- to prepare patients for visits.
- to comply with the Health and
Safety requirements of the mortuary service
- to maintain accurate and
confidential records relating to patient information
- to input, manage, extract and
interpret patient data using the departmental computer system
- to contribute actively towards the
improvement of general service quality by participation in relevant
discussions with other team members and leaders of other sections within the
speciality
- to remain competent in established
procedures and to develop new skills subject to the requirements of the
service
- to undertake tasks that contribute
to the general management of the speciality
- to take account of changes in
service delivery by demonstrating a flexible approach to work
CORE
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
As
the jobholder you will acquire sufficient knowledge and understanding to:
- Coordinate the day-to-day
activities of the mortuary in the absence of the Senior APT Site Lead.
- Perform a wide range of routine and
advanced post mortem procedures on both adult and paediatric patients,
including advanced autopsy, forensic and infection procedures. These procedures will include the safe and
effective use of highly complex laboratory equipment. Your level of knowledge
and understanding of these procedures will be consistent with that to allow
you to recognise system failures and errors. You will understand the need to
report adverse events in the event of errors and failures.
- Teach and train other anatomical
pathology technicians, Mortuary support workers and assist with the teaching
of trainee pathologists. Demonstrate relevant tasks to others as appropriate.
- Communicate and liaise with staff
within the Department and with pathologists, clinical staff, bereavement
nurses, HM Coroner, HM Coroners Officers, police officers, funeral directors
and bereaved relatives.
- Handle property belonging to the
deceased in a secure manner. Maintain stock control and requisition items as
required.
- Have knowledge and understanding of
current national legislation and guidelines relevant to the speciality
- Have knowledge and understanding of
the Human Tissue Act and the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) and its impact on
the Mortuary Services
- Understand the Trusts HTA
Pathology Licence structure and your responsibilities
- Participate actively in
departmental quality assurance activities. Your level of knowledge and
understanding will allow you to recognise when expected levels of quality
have not been met together with the ability to recommend appropriate
improvements.
- Participate in performing audits
for UKAS and the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) Licensing requirements
- Participate in maintaining external
accreditation compliance, by UKAS and the Human Tissue Authority.
- Participate in the maintenance of a
safe working environment. This will include an awareness of the hazards
associated with your work. In addition you will be aware of any suitable
actions to take in the event of breaches in health and safety. Such hazards
include fire, manual handling, breaches of security, controlled and
uncontrolled exposure to chemical, biological and radioactive materials.
- Maintain patient confidentiality.
You will recognise the absolute requirement to protect sensitive information
that is related to patient care.
- Observe the requirements of
departmental policies relating to service provision, for example sample
labeling and adverse event reporting.
- Observe the requirements of Trust
policies relating to clinical and people governance.
PRINCIPAL
DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
- To perform a wide range of routine
and advanced post mortem procedures on both adult and paediatric patients,
including advanced autopsy, forensic and infection procedures. These are
highly developed physical skills where accuracy is important. E.g., dissection
and reconstruction of bodies (including facial reconstruction), suturing,
evisceration of organs.
- Assist in dealing with all aspects
of "Increased Risk" cases Hazard group 3 e.g., HIV, Hepatitis C, TB
and Covid.
- To perform tasks accurately and in
accordance with departmental standard operating procedures.
- To plan the day-to-day activities
within the mortuary in the absence of the Senior APT Site Lead , and to
provide cover on other sites as required.
- To give professional advice, and to
communicate accurately sensitive and / or complex information to users of the
service in a manner that is in accordance with departmental procedures.
(Examples of users are: pathologists, clinical staff, HM Coroner, HM
Coroners Officers, police officers, funeral directors, ward staff and
bereavement nurses).
- To give professional and
compassionate advice to bereaved relatives and funeral directors.
- To communicate with bereaved
relatives regarding sensitive situations, and where there may be barriers to
understanding.
- To enter, manage, retrieve and
interpret complex patient information using the laboratory computer system.
- To provide patient registration and
release using manual backup procedures when necessary, using the correct
paperwork
- To participate in equipment testing
and adaptation as a function of service development
- To provide training to support and
technical staff
- To ensure the security of the
mortuaries is maintained at all times
- To undertake training that may be
deemed appropriate for personal and professional development within the post
- To contribute to general
departmental management by performing, subject to consultation, such tasks as
delegated by the Mortuary Manager
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.
SPECIAL
WORKING CONDITIONS
The
jobholder will have frequent exposure to highly unpleasant working conditions
e.g., frequent exposure, in controlled conditions, to body fluids,
contaminated tissues and fluids (infection risks), and handling decomposed
and injured bodies.
The
nature of this work is highly distressing and highly emotional e.g., dealing
with child and infant deaths, disfigured bodies and communicating with
bereaved relatives.
This
job requires a high degree of dexterity and precision e.g., dissection
technique and reconstitution of bodies.
This
job may require the holder to participate in stock control, including
movement of goods, and the movement of deceased patients, some of which will
require the use of lifting equipment. This will require frequent movement of
light and moderate loads up to 15kg, and occasionally heavy loads.
As
a general requirement of this job, the holder will be expected to carry out a
number of specialist technical procedures, where concentration is required.
These periods of concentration will be daily and prolonged.
Occasional
exposure to physical aggressive behaviour e.g., when dealing with bereaved
relatives. Occasional exposure to
verbal aggression via the telephone can occur.
The
service is delivered from a two different sites and you will be required, to
work on either site on rotation and may be required, to travel between sites
at short notice.
You
will be required to participate in the On-Call Rota for provision of mortuary
services.
