Overview
Mortuary Anatomical Pathology Technology Assistant – Division: Cancer and Core Clinical Services; Care Group: Diagnostics and Therapies; Band 3; Salary: £24,625 - £25,674 per annum/pro rata
We are recruiting for a Mortuary Anatomical Pathology Technology Assistant who shares our ambition and vision to deliver the Best of Care by the Best People and has the drive to take us forward, by ensuring that the Trust continues to be the first choice for patients and our staff.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide assistance in the efficient day to day running of the mortuary department, appropriate management of deceased patients, maintaining excellent standards of cleanliness of mortuary facilities as required; providing administrative departmental support and ensuring adherence to safe practices and documented Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
This is a physically demanding role, which includes significant periods of standing and assistance with manual handling; the post holder will be required to be physically fit to undertake the requirements of the role.
Our values are Bold, Every Person Counts, Sharing and Open and Together. It is important that you understand and refer to our values when completing your application and always reflect our values throughout your employment with the Trust.
We are committed to endorsing diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion; our policies / procedures ensure that all applicants are treated fairly at every stage of the recruitment process.
To contribute to our exciting future and become part of our team, apply today.
About us
Do you have the ambition and vision to deliver our mission of the Best of Care by the Best of People providing excellent care, every time?
Here at Medway, we pride ourselves on working together as one to ensure that our shared vision is achieved for our patients.
As a key partner in the healthcare of our local population, we are keen to deliver this as an outcome of our Trust-wide strategy - Patient First. Using an Operational Excellence approach, we are just over a year and a half into our Patient First deployment. We are looking for creative, skilled people to join our Transformation Team and further support us on this journey.
Our culture and values define us here at Medway NHS Foundation Trust and are the heartbeat of who we are as an organisation. Our BEST values underpin Patient First and are at the core of the care we give to our patients, the support we offer to our staff and our overall leadership approach:
B - Bold
E - Every person counts
S - Sharing and open
T - Together
Our Trust is a great choice for people who want to develop their career in an ambitious and dynamic environment; our employees are able to choose the coverage and supplemental benefits that best fit their needs and those of their families. This includes the promotion of flexible working opportunities across the Trust.
Details
Date posted: 05 September 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 3
Salary: £24,625 to £25,674 a year per annum/pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 275-2507MAPTA-2
Job locations: Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Windmill Road, Gillingham, ME7 5NY
Job responsibilities
Please be aware this is not a Trainee Anatomical Pathology position.
Receive and store deceased patients in a safe, dignified, secure and clean environment, ensuring correct patient identification on entry to the department.
To accept deceased which are delivered from the community including those which may be in poor physical condition i.e. decomposed, badly burnt or disfigured, road traffic collisions and suicides; involving frequent exposure to bodily fluids and distressing circumstances.
To be responsible for keeping accurate records of the deceased and their property on the Mortuary Electronic Management System.
Assisting during receipt and release of deceased from the body store, including bariatric cases and managing this process under the direction of the Anatomical Pathology Technologists by liaising with Funeral Directors and other hospital staff according to mortuary protocols and using appropriate equipment. Deceased patients can weigh in excess of 50 stone but the average weight moved on a daily basis is between 8 and 15 stone.
To release deceased into the care of the designated Funeral Director (including from overflow stores), ensuring all patient identification checks have been met and all lawful and record keeping requirements of this process have been completed.
Maintain department cleanliness
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Essential: A level 3 qualification in healthcare science (or equivalent e.g NVQ level 3, GCE AS and A level)
Desirable
* Full UK driving licence
Knowledge
* Essential: Proficient in use of Microsoft Office - Word/Excel/Power Point/Outlook. Familiar with Microsoft Teams, including adept keyboard skills
Desirable
* Working knowledge of the requirements of the Human Tissue Act (desirable)
Experience
* Essential: Working in customer facing service environment such as the NHS
* Working with the general public
Desirable
* Experience of anatomical pathology work, understanding of the role requirements and experience of the often distressing circumstances in which work is undertaken (desirable)
* Experience of handling and working with deceased be it in the funeral, care home or embalming industry (desirable)
Skills
* Essential: General office duties such as filing, scanning, answering telephone/ email enquiries
* Excellent communication skills - verbal, telephone & email with an ability to relate and communicate with patients and staff at all levels and from different professions and ethnic backgrounds
* Excellent organisational skills
Other Attributes
* Essential: Calm and log (likely meant to be 'cool and calm') under pressure able to cope with frequent interruptions and changing priorities
Values Based Question
* Essential: How do you demonstrate respect and dignity?
Disclosures
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship: 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 see the UK Visas and Immigration website.
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 in the Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.
Employer details
Medway NHS Foundation Trust
Windmill Road
Gillingham
ME7 5NY
Website: Medway NHS Foundation Trust
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