Job overview
We are recruiting for a Mortuary and Bereavement Assistant who shares our vision to be trusted to provide consistently outstanding care and exemplary service to our patients.
The Mortuary and Bereavement Assistant is a vital member of the service, ensuring that deceased patients are cared for with dignity and respect while providing sensitive support to their families.
The role involves the safe admission, preparation, and release of patients, supporting Anatomical Pathology Technologists during post-mortem examinations, and maintaining a clean and compliant environment in line with Human Tissue Authority (HTA) standards.
In addition, the post provides essential administrative support, including accurate record-keeping, completion of documentation, and liaison with the Coroner’s Office, funeral directors, police, and other healthcare professionals.
The role requires a high level of attention to detail, compassion, and professionalism, balancing the technical aspects of mortuary work with direct contact with bereaved families.
At the heart of everything we do are our core values: Include, Respect, and Improve. We encourage you to embrace these values throughout the recruitment process and in your role with us.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will support the admission, identification, care, and release of deceased patients, ensuring dignity and compliance with HTA regulations at all times.
You will assist Anatomical Pathology Technologists (APTs) during post-mortem examinations, including safe movement of patients and preparation of specimens.
You will need to prepare deceased patients for viewings, police identification, and release to funeral directors, providing guidance and support to bereaved families with sensitivity and respect.
The post holder will carry out cleaning, disinfection, and routine checks of the mortuary to maintain a safe, hygienic environment in line with departmental SOPs.
You will also maintain accurate records relating to admissions, discharges, property, and post-mortem documentation, using both electronic systems and paper records.
Working for our organisation
At East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust, we are proud of the range of general and specialist services we provide and our 6,000 or so dedicated staff ensure our patients get the best care. Our ability to be flexible and innovative in the way in which we work and deliver our services to our catchment has never been more important than it is now.
We run the following hospitals:
* The Lister Hospital, Stevenage
* New Queen Elizabeth II (New QEII), Welwyn Garden City
* Hertford County, Hertford
* Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC), Northwood
We have ambitious plans to become an outstanding, patient-led Trust where dedicated staff provide high-quality, compassionate care to our patients. We continue to undergo significant transformation, and our staff and patients are at the heart of delivering this ambitious agenda.
We are committed to a positive work life balance for our employees. This means that any employee is entitled to seek to work flexible working patterns and we are committed to listen and consider all requests. Such requests, of course, have to be made and considered formally, and will need to be balanced against service needs, but our starting point will always be to find ways to support making them happen.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification applicant pack for further detailed information regarding this role.
Person specification
Qualifications / Training
Essential criteria
* Relevant NVQ level 3 or equivalent experience.
* Bereavement Training or relevant experience
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
* Accurate record keeping
* General Office administration experience.
* Experience of working within a team.
* Experience of working within a customer based environment
Desirable criteria
* Frontline NHS experience in mortuary services
* Experience of working with and the requirements of HM Coroner
* Experience in writing and amending processes and procedures in accordance with internal and external regulations.
* Practical Bereavement Office experience.
Skills
Essential criteria
* Excellent communication skills both verbal & written.
* Excellent interpersonal skills.
* Ability to motivate others
* Attention to detail
* Practical and creative approach to problem solving
* Ability to make decisions on a day-to-day basis
* Excellent organisational, time management and prioritisation skills
* Ability to work on own initiative
* Good computer skills
* Dealing appropriately with sensitive and confidential information
Desirable criteria
* Ability to resolve conflicts
Knowledge
Essential criteria
* Knowledge Proficient in Microsoft Office, Internet, Email and use of databases
* Experience with using databases and spreadsheets
Desirable criteria
* Knowledge of NHS Trust Policies
* Working knowledge of Human Tissue Authority regulations
* Working knowledge of Medical Examiner system and processes
* Comprehensive understanding of death certification procedures and the relevant legal framework and the roles of other agencies
* Experience of databases such as Eden
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
* Understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion
* Role model our Trust values every day
* Understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion
* Ability to empathise with the bereaved and deal with sensitive issues
* Flexibility with hours of work and approach