Job summary
1. Responsible and Assisting Mortuary Manager with the smooth day-to day running of the mortuary service and will work under their own initiative as required.
2. Deputise for the mortuary manager
3. To undertake multi-site working as necessary and to be responsible for the running of the Mortuary and supervision of junior staff in the managers absence
4. Responsible for the training and development of the junior mortuary staff member
5. Provide an on call service for the Hospital, Organ donation teams, A-E paediatrics and Forensic services (including out of hours) and be available whenever possible for any hospital enquiries.
6. To provide transport for Coroners cases to multi NHS and public mortuary sites and paediatric cases to St Georges for Post Mortem.
7. Attend A-E paediatrics to help with transport and bereaved families
8. Person Designated (PD) for HTA (The role of the PD as supplementary to that of the DI in the governance framework, although the DI remains responsible for supervising the activities to be authorised by the licence. The PD could act at a local level to support the DI. This could be, for example, to advise other persons to whom the licence applies about the procedures and systems agreed by the DI that ensure compliance with the HT Act)
9. Responsible and assist with keeping the mortuary up to date with new HTA regulations and policies
10. Quality Management and Mortuary Audits/Risk assessments
Main duties of the job
11. Responsible and Assisting Mortuary Manager with the smooth day-to day running of the mortuary service and will work under their own initiative as required.
12. Deputise for the mortuary manager
13. To undertake multi-site working as necessary and to be responsible for the running of the Mortuary and supervision of junior staff in the managers absence
14. Responsible for the training and development of the junior mortuary staff member
15. Provide an on call service for the Hospital, Organ donation teams, A-E paediatrics and Forensic services (including out of hours) and be available whenever possible for any hospital enquiries.
16. To provide transport for Coroners cases to multi NHS and public mortuary sites and paediatric cases to St Georges for Post Mortem.
17. Attend A-E paediatrics to help with transport and bereaved families
18. Person Designated (PD) for HTA (The role of the PD as supplementary to that of the DI in the governance framework, although the DI remains responsible for supervising the activities to be authorised by the licence. The PD could act at a local level to support the DI. This could be, for example, to advise other persons to whom the licence applies about the procedures and systems agreed by the DI that ensure compliance with the HT Act)
19. Responsible and assist with keeping the mortuary up to date with new HTA regulations and policies
20. Quality Management and Mortuary Audits/Risk assessments
About us
Croydon Health Services provides integrated NHS services to care for people at home, in schools, and health clinics across the borough as well as at Croydon University Hospital and Purley War Memorial Hospital.
CUH provides more than 100 specialist services and is home to the borough's only Emergency Department and 24/7 maternity services, including a labour ward, midwifery-led birth centre and the Crocus home birthing team.
Purley War Memorial Hospital (PWMH) in the south of the borough offers outpatient care, including diagnostic services, physiotherapy and ophthalmology services run by Moorfields Eye Hospital, alongside an onsite GP surgery.
Our experienced district nursing teams, Allied Health Professionals and community matrons look after for people of all ages across Croydon and our Children's Hospital at Home cares for children with long-term conditions without them having to come to hospital.
We are a very close-knit and friendly organisation where everyone of our 3600 members of staff is valued. We strongly believe that our employees are our greatest asset.
Job description
Job responsibilities
21. Responsible for the supervision of junior mortuary staff member on a day-to-day basis in all mortuary work
22. Undertake a full managerial role in the absence of Mortuary Manager including all duties
23. Adherence to manual handling and equipment handling policies and procedures
24. Ensure admission procedures are followed for the Mortuary including all documentation relating to the controlled storage of the deceased, records of belongings, giving information to bereaved relatives and other services etc. Control of external agencies such as funeral directors with regard to collection times and ensuring safe collection procedures are followed according to Trust and departmental policy and Health and Safety Law
25. Execute all post mortem evisceration and dissection techniques and all other duties associated with the preparation of the deceased for post mortem examination. Implement other professional post mortem evisceration and dissection techniques, brain and spinal cord removal, heart valve and pacemaker, ICD removal etc as required.
26. Responsible for the training and supervision of junior mortuary staff in procedures such as High Risk Post Mortems, Brain and Spinal Cord removal, Heart Valve and Pacemaker, ICD removal and reconstruction of deceased as required
27. Responsible for the training and supervision of junior mortuary staff in record keeping such as Mortuary Database, Cerner and mortuary documents on a day to day basis
28. Have a full understanding of all disinfectants and their appropriate uses and correct concentrations. Ensure hygienic measures are implemented after post mortem examinations.
29. Eviscerate, and weigh the organs as required by the attending Histopathologists, bringing any findings of pathological relevance to the attention of the attending Histopathologists. A full knowledge of anatomy and physiology and skills in observation are required to assist the Histopathologists.
30. Undertake full and advanced reconstruction procedures after Post Mortem examination. Provide assistance in training and supervision of junior personnel to a high standard
31. Take and identify post mortem specimens as required and if necessary and ensure their return to the body in accordance with departmental Organ Retention policies and in line with Human Tissue Act (2004) guidelines. Accurate record keeping is mandatory and is essential for this task
32. Ensure that personnel observe the correct precautionary procedures and that appropriate equipment is in place and maintained when handling potentially infectious or hazardous cases.
33. Responsible for dealing with the removal of radioactive cardiac implants and pacemakers or any other implantable devices
34. Responsible for the disinfection and care of instruments and equipment
35. Responsible for ordering of supplies with Mortuary Manager
36. Dress and prepare the deceased for photography and viewings. Responsible for training and supervision of junior mortuary staff in all aspects of this procedure
37. Assist the Forensic Histopathologist on forensic post mortems and execute post mortem techniques under their instruction as required. This will include full reconstruction after any examination. Liaison with Crime Scene Investigators, Senior Police and Forensic Histopathologist will be required. Responsible for training and supervision of Junior Mortuary staff personnel in all aspects of this procedure
38. Ensure the security and storage of forensic materials are maintained. Ensure relevant record keeping is produced, maintained and updated accordingly
39. Maintaining the Mortuary and Post Mortem room in line with guidelines and policies. Responsible in writing and assisting Mortuary Manager and regular review of procedures and protocols regarding COSHH, Infection Control, Risk Assessment and Standard Operating Procedures and ensure that personnel are aware of the documents
40. Execute any preparation work required for the presentation of deceased patients in the Viewing Room. Ensure differing religious and cultural beliefs are taken into account. Arrange appointments with families and friends of deceased patients and conduct viewings and formal police identifications as required. This must be in line with Coroners ruling and guidelines on viewing practices
41. Liaise and be communicative with: Histopathologists, Coroners Officers; Funeral Directors; Bereavement Office personnel; Chaplaincy and other ministers of religion; Police; Crime Scene Investigators; Tissue Team personnel; Organ Donation institutions; Trust personnel; bereaved relatives and visitors to the mortuary as necessary.
42. Observe and obey the Health and Safety Code of Practice of the department. The post holder must be health and safety trained and aware of updates in the law and policy and ensure all staff and users of the department comply with procedure and protocol
43. Responsible and assist with carrying out Health and Safety inspections of the Mortuary environment and equipment. Complete relevant risk assessments in line with Trust policy
44. Ensure all procedures, regulations and documentation relating to any deceased patients are adhered to and maintained effectively
45. Responsible for ensuring that day-to-day records are kept and the provision of accurate data as required. Both manual and electronic record keeping is essential
46. Ensure the secure storage of personal effects, valuables etc. that are removed from the deceased and that relevant record keeping is produced and maintained correctly
47. Liaise with Tissue/Eye Bank Services to allow access into the Mortuary out of hours to conduct specialist retrieval techniques on organ/tissue donors
48. Participate in the on-call service for emergency and out-of-hours duties, including supporting and shadowing the junior mortuary staff when deemed necessary. These duties may include viewings incurred by deaths in hospital, Coroners viewings, police IDs, and Forensic post mortem examinations and any other appropriate duties
49. Provide training provision of Post Mortem examination procedure for personnel within the Mortuary environment
50. Informative lectures/tours for internal/external visiting groups including nursing staff, midwives and Police cadets on various topics specific to the group regarding Mortuary procedures and services
51. Attend training days for Health Care Assistants and Midwifes to train in mortuary procedures and documents
52. Undertake appraisal/PDR training and be responsible for the annual appraisal of subordinate personnel as delegated by the Mortuary Manager
53. Represent the Mortuary at meetings as required
54. Responsible for ensuring that the handling of all deceased persons, organs, tissues and specimens in the department follows the strict guidelines within the Human Tissue Act 2004 and that appropriate and accurate record-keeping is maintained
55. Responsible for reporting incidents and take action as necessary according to Trust policy and HTA
56. Responsible for keeping stock replenished on a daily basis and ordering new stock and supplies if needed or instructed by Mortuary Manager
57. Responsible for monthly Mortuary Audits and Quality Management
58. Responsible for Risk Assistants
59. As necessary to attend and participate in Clinical Governance scheme
60. Active role in income generation for the Mortuary
61. Monitor Fridge capacity on trust sites
62. To enable Police to access the Mortuary and assist in finger printing, undressing and movement, of deceased
63. Prepare babies to Leave the trust when transported to another hospital for post mortem
64. Check all consent forms regarding Adult and Baby Post Mortems, Pacemaker removal are filled out correctly, if not follow up with clinicians
65. Responsible for checking tissue donation consent forms are correct before procedure is performed
66. Train hospital site practitioners in mortuary procedures out of hours
67. Take Hospital Post Mortem consent with Doctors and family members
68. Attend annual trust updates and mandatory training
69. Attend courses booked as part of personal development
70. To perform specialist techniques Brain and Spinal cord removal, tissue retrieval as required
71. Work together with Mortuary Manager monitoring and ordering of new equipment and general stock
72. Work together with Mortuary Manager with researching new consumables/equipment
73. Order items from procurement as required/advised
74. Work together with Mortuary Manager in reviewing and changing policies/SOPS writing new ones if needed
Out Of Hours
75. To participate in the On-Call out of Hours service for the Coroner/Hospital. To be available to the Coroner/Hospital should there be a Forensic Post Mortem.
76. To be available whenever possible to answer hospital enquiries and outside family or Police enquires
77. To attend the hospital for Major Incident
78. To attend the mortuary out of normal working hours as required.
79. Special circumstances only to facilitate official police identifications as required.
80. To attend Mortuary to assist in tissue donation services
Person Specification
Shortlisting
Essential
81. Certificate and Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology issued by The Royal Institute for Public Health
82. High Knowledge of current Mortuary practice.
Desirable
83. High Knowledge of current Mortuary practice.
Shortlisting
Essential
84. Certificate and Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology issued by The Royal Institute for Public Health
85. High Knowledge of current Mortuary practice.
86. High Knowledge and experience of routine Hospital Post Mortems, High Risk Post Mortems, Coroner's Post Mortems, Forensic Post Mortems
87. High Knowledge of documentation required after death.
88. Knowledge of legislation associated with death and organ retention.
89. Knowledge and understanding of the HTA codes of practice.
90. Knowledge of Best Practice set out by the AAPT.
91. Knowledge of tissue and organ retrieval
92. HTA License up keeping
93. Minimum of 3 year's experience as an APT
94. Experience of training junior APTs
95. Experience of training support staff, bereavement, midwifes, HCA
96. Experience of dealing with the bereaved.
97. Experience of forensic work.
98. Experience of police procedures relating to death.
99. Experience in Managing the day to day running of Mortuary and Junior Staff Members
100. Extensive and advanced knowledge all aspects of mortuary service provision
101. Full driving licence
102. To cope well with responsibility.
103. Computer literate
104. Ability to liase effectively with others and surpervise individuals
105. Good verbal communication skills with ability to be sensitive, tactful and diplomatic
Desirable
106. Membership of the Association of Anatomical Pathology Technicians.
107. Knowledge of Cerner or other pathology data bases.