The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Mortuary Technical Assistant

The closing date is 10 August 2025

Job summary

The Cellular Pathology Department provides Histology, Neuropathology, Diagnostic Cytology, Research and Mortuary Services. We have an exciting opportunity in support of our autopsy service expansion for which we have vacancies for two Mortuary Technical Assistants.

We provide a regional centralised autopsy service including CT scanning alongside end of life and post mortem care. As a specialist centre we conduct forensic, perinatal and neuropathology post mortem, and receive multiple coroner jurisdiction referrals. We work closely with the chaplaincy and bereavement teams in supporting families and facilitate viewings. The postholders will be points of contact for visitors to the Mortuaries and support the team within the department.

Interview Date Wednesday 27 August 2025
37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE

Main duties of the job

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals occupies two mortuary sites at Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospitals. Applicants will be working alongside the Anatomical Pathology Technician team, and other assistants and should meet the essential criteria of the role. We have out of hour shift cover for PMCT scanning, which successful applicants will rotate onto, offering a combination of daytime, night and weekend shifts for the PMCT scanning to support the growing service delivery. Previous NHS or end of life care experience such as with funeral directors is advantageous, full training will be provided.

About us

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:

Freeman Hospital
Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
Newcastle Dental Hospital
Newcastle Fertility Centre
Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
Northern Genetics Service
Cramlington Manor Walks

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle HospitalsandNewcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Date posted

06 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 2

Salary

£24,465 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

317-2025-21-060

Job locations

Trustwide

317 Trustwide

NE1 4LP

Job description

Job responsibilities

To participate as part of a team in providing a mortuary and autopsy service to the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Medical Staff, Police and HM Coroner together with Funeral Directors and other legitimate users of the service.
To assist the Anatomical Pathology Technicians (APT) by handling front of house duties such as receiving and releasing bodies, answering telephone calls, helping undertakers with bodies etc.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To participate as part of a team in providing a mortuary and autopsy service to the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Medical Staff, Police and HM Coroner together with Funeral Directors and other legitimate users of the service.
To assist the Anatomical Pathology Technicians (APT) by handling front of house duties such as receiving and releasing bodies, answering telephone calls, helping undertakers with bodies etc.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential

Good general level of education (literacy and numeracy) or equivalent experience
Driving Licence

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

Experience of dealing with bereaved relatives
Good communication
Dextrous - good hand-eye co-ordination
Requirement to move bodies of up to 256kg with the aid of mechanical equipment

Desirable

Experience of working in the NHS
Understanding of Health & Safety
Experience of operating mechanical equipment

Skills & Abilities

Essential

Self-organisation and the ability to prioritise
Able to concentrate for long periods
Keyboard Skills
Able to lift weights of 10kg or more

Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential

Good general level of education (literacy and numeracy) or equivalent experience
Driving Licence

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

Experience of dealing with bereaved relatives
Good communication
Dextrous - good hand-eye co-ordination
Requirement to move bodies of up to 256kg with the aid of mechanical equipment

Desirable

Experience of working in the NHS
Understanding of Health & Safety
Experience of operating mechanical equipment

Skills & Abilities

Essential

Self-organisation and the ability to prioritise
Able to concentrate for long periods
Keyboard Skills
Able to lift weights of 10kg or more

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.