Overview
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Job title
Anatomical Pathology Technician
Closing date: 22 October 2025
Summary
We are seeking to appoint a fully qualified mortuary anatomical pathology technician to join the Cellular Pathology team. The successful candidate will work closely with anatomical pathology technicians, mortuary assistants and Pathologists during the making of a post mortem and will spend time in all areas of the mortuary. Following training, you will work from Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital North Durham as needed. Part of the training will be provided from neighbouring NHS Trusts. You will also take part in the on-call rota. The ability to travel across sites is essential. Please refer to the Job Description and Personal Specification for full details.
The ideal candidate will be a team player with excellent communication skills, good organisation and manual dexterity, and a keen eye for detail. Manual handling is a core part of the role. You should be able to concentrate for long periods and have a keen interest in pathology. You should be able to demonstrate good keyboard skills and be computer literate. A trainee post could also be offered to a candidate with current NHS mortuary experience.
Main duties of the job
* Post mortem work, including forensic. This may be in a neighbouring NHS Trust.
* Receipt and registration of deceased patients.
* Release of deceased patients to funeral directors.
* Entering patient details onto the laboratory computer system and inputting the correct tests, maintaining all required logs.
* Answering reception and telephone queries and liaising with other Trust staff and the general public.
* Preparing bodies for the purpose of relative viewings and police identification.
* Organising referral work, packaging and sending of samples to other Trust sites and to other Trusts nationwide.
* Stock control including receiving and receipting deliveries, documenting and organising batches of reagents and performing verification tasks.
* Cleaning and decontaminating equipment and work areas.
* Demonstrating duties to other staff.
* Error logging and troubleshooting.
Please refer to the Job Description and Personal Specification for full details.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated as essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale, as well as over 80 other community-based settings and care in patients’ homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two years of NHS experience as an HCA for the Trust to consider sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and have a current visa expiring within 3 months).
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details.
This APT role involves working closely with Pathologists, Anatomical Pathology Technicians and Medical Laboratory Assistants. You will follow the laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and complete the relevant quality documentation as required.
Upon completion of training and gaining competency, you will rotate throughout the specialist areas of the mortuary. You will perform duties in accordance with local policy to a high standard whilst conforming to health and safety requirements. This includes working in the post mortem room, body store, and viewing room of the mortuary. You will use a variety of specialist laboratory equipment to perform tasks and are responsible for the maintenance of equipment and completing maintenance documentation, including temperature and formalin monitoring.
The role requires handling of body fluids and human tissue samples which can be of a sensitive nature. Work within the mortuary can often be upsetting. Manual handling is required daily.
Stock is managed by all staff. This includes monitoring stock levels of consumables, signing for deliveries, receipting goods delivered, unpacking, verifying if appropriate and ensuring paperwork is complete before placing in the appropriate storage area in an orderly, organised manner.
Provide supervision, training and leadership to junior staff.
In order to perform daily tasks effectively, the APT role requires the ability to focus for long periods of time, have great attention to detail and possess the ability to organise tasks in priority order. Requires computer literacy skills as they are expected to use spreadsheets, access LIMS, write SOPs and perform audits as needed.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Level 3 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology from the Royal Institute of Public Health (RIPH)
* Additional training acquired to fulfil the role
* Bereavement counselling skills
* Conflict management
* Eye / Corneal Retrieval Training
* First aid certificate
* Evidence of Continual Professional development
Experience
* Experience in a similar or larger establishment as an APT or mortuary attendant
* Experience of dealing with bereaved relatives
* Interaction of hospital services with external users i.e. funeral directors
Statutory Registration
* Membership of the Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology
Special Requirements
* Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post
* Participate in 24/7 on-call rota
* Hold a valid Drivers License
* Physically fit to lift, carry and manoeuvre
Special Skills and Knowledge
* Knowledge of Post Mortem dissection techniques including advanced reconstruction and infection control measures
* Able to prioritise and meet deadlines
* Automation in Mortuary settings
* Interpersonal
* Keyboard and mouse
* Numeracy-Statistical & mathematics interpretation
* Basic quality control & assurance awareness
* Medical / Scientific terminology
* Able to deal with emotionally distressing situations, in a sympathetic and professional manner
* Able to respond appropriately in emergency situations
* Aware of Health care system
* Understanding of Health & safety
* Experience of Training & Staff development
* Experience of Forensic external examination and home office post mortems
* Knowledge of HTA guidance and legislation
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.
Employer name
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
£31,049 to £37,796 a year, per annum, pro rata
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