Job summary
- Main area
- Cellular Pathology
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 234-24-CS0716
- Employer
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
- Town
- Norwich
- Salary
- £22,816 - £24,336 per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 28/07/2024 23:59
Employer heading
Mortuary Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 3
At NNUH it is our privilege to provide healthcare to over one million people across Norfolk and surrounding areas. Our vision is to ‘provide the best care for every patient’, and if this inspires you and you share our values, we really want you to join our team.
NNUH is currently the busiest Trauma Unit in the East of England caring for almost 850 trauma patients annually many with complex care needs. We are enhancing our urgent and emergency care specialist services for patients with significant injuries as a result of trauma and have an ambition to become a Major Trauma Centre.
Our values support our vision and guide the behaviour of everything we do, these are:
People-focused
We look after the needs of our patients, carers and colleagues, to provide a safe and caring experience for all.
Respect
We act with care, compassion and kindness and value others’ diverse needs.
Integrity
We take an honest, open and ethical approach to everything we do.
Dedication
We work as one team and support each other to maintain the highest professional standards.
Excellence
We continuously learn and improve to achieve the best outcomes for our patients and our hospital.
Wish you were here? So do we.
We want all our staff to achieve a balance between work and personal life and understand how important flexible working can be. We welcome applications on a full or part time basis, various shift patterns and hybrid working, where roles allow.
At the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NNUH), we know the benefits diversity can bring to our organisation such as creativity, innovation and compassion. All of which have a direct impact towards our staff and patient experience. We are committed to being a Hospital for All – being equitable and inclusive, and a place where all feel a sense of belonging. We therefore particularly encourage and welcome applications from candidates who are underrepresented in NNUH’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, people with diverse abilities and people within the LGBT+ community.
Job overview
The Mortuary department forms part of the Cellular Pathology service, which also includes the Histopathology and Cytopathology laboratories in Norfolk. This is a busy and diverse service, which acts as both a Hospital and Public Mortuary. There are approximately 4000+ deceased patients per annum under the care of the Mortuary (including hospital/consented, HM Coroner’s referrals, neonatal, perinatal, paediatric and some forensic cases). Approximately 1,300 post-mortems are carried out each year. The service also carries out around 300 viewings and police identifications annually. The mortuary is a modern, well equipped service with fully trained APT staff operating a full spectrum of post mortem and bereavement services to the NNUH and the wider community patients requiring post mortem. We are currently working towards an expansion of the mortuary and potentially introduce CT autopsy processes in the future.
Main duties of the job
- Play a key role in developing the staff and service.
- Play a key role in the day-to-day management of the service.
- Personal development opportunity to develop technical and managerial skills. Further formal training opportunities are also available.
Working for our organisation
Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!
The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.
We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity
We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:
- Flexible working hours
- Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
- Multi Faith prayer room
- Discounted gym memberships
- Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
- Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
- Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH site
- Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
- On-site Nursery
- On-site cafes offering staff discounts
- Support in career development
- Flexible staff bank
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- Weigh the organs as required by the attending Histopathologist. Maintain concentration with good dexterity and hand-eye coordination for manipulation of fine tools and equipment. Following training, undertake full reconstructive measures after adult and perinatal Post Mortem examinations, including, examinations of stillbirths, neonates and foetuses.
- With guidance from Senior APT personnel, take and identify post mortem specimens as required and if necessary ensure their return to the body in accordance with departmental Organ Retention policies and the Human Tissue Authority (2004) guidelines. Accurate record keeping is mandatory and is essential for this task.
- Post holder must be aware of protocol for dealing with the removal of radioactive implants, cardiac pacemakers and other implantable devices.
- Execute Hand and Footprint images of stillbirths, neonates and foetuses along with arranging medical photography as necessary. Dress and prepare the deceased for photography and viewings.
- Ensure the security and storage of controlled and prescribed drugs and forensic materials is maintained. Ensure relevant record keeping is maintained and updated accordingly.
- Maintain the Mortuary & Post Mortem room in line with guidelines set as in the HSE document ‘The Safe Working and Prevention of Infection in the Mortuary and Post Mortem Room 2003’. Be aware of procedures and protocols regarding COSHH, Infection Control, Trust Risk Assessment and Standard Operating Procedures.
- Execute any necessary preparatory work required for the presentation of deceased patients in the Viewing Room. This should take into account differing religious beliefs. Arrange appointments with families and friends of deceased patients, conduct viewings and formal identifications as required. This must be in line with Coroners ruling and guidelines on viewing practices.
- Liaise and be communicative with: Histopathologists; Coroner’s officers; Radiology; Medical Illustration; Obstetrics and Gynaecology departments; 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.
- Ensure all procedures, regulations and documentation relating to any deceased patients are adhered to and maintained effectively.
- Be jointly responsible for day-to-day record keeping as required. Both manual and electronic record keeping is essential.
Please refer to the Job Description for the full specification of responsibilities and requirements for this post.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Good general education to (minimum) GCSE level or equivalent
Experience
Essential criteria
- Interest in anatomy
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in a biological or care environment
- Understanding or experience of Mortuary work
Skills
Essential criteria
- Good written and verbal skills with ability to be sensitive, tactful and diplomatic
- Good organisational skills
- Ability to work alone or as a team member
Attitude, aptitude
Essential criteria
- Effective role model, demonstrating NNUH’s PRIDE values of People focussed, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence
- Demonstrates understanding and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Lee Gibbs
- Job title
- Chief Anatomical Pathology Technologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01603 286192
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