Job summary
- Main area
- Mortuary
- Grade
- Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (0800 - 1600 Mon - Fri)
- Job ref
- 229-CS-7228675
- Employer
- Wye Valley NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Hereford County Hospital
- Town
- Hereford
- Salary
- £26,530 - £29,114 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 13/06/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Anatomical Pathology Technologist
Band 4
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Job overview
We are seeking an Anatomical Pathology Technologist (APT) with an RSPH Level 3 Diploma (or currently working towards it) to join our Mortuary and Bereavement Services team at Wye Valley NHS Trust.
This role involves delivering high standards of care to the deceased and providing compassionate support to bereaved families.
The successful candidate will assist in post-mortem examinations, ensure full compliance with Human Tissue Authority (HTA) standards, and contribute to the smooth, respectful operation of mortuary and bereavement services.
Main duties of the job
- Assist the pathologist in adult post-mortems, including high-risk and complex cases.
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Take and label histology and toxicology samples, maintaining tissue traceability.
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Admit, store, and release deceased individuals in line with HTA guidance and Trust policy.
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Coordinate and support viewings and identifications for families and the police.
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Provide administrative support for bereavement processes.
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Maintain cleanliness and infection control standards in the mortuary.
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Participate in training, audits, and continuous professional development.
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Communicate sensitively with bereaved families and external partners.
- Maintenance, organisation and storage of accurate patient data and record keeping
Working for our organisation
About us
Wye Valley NHS Trust is a member of an NHS Foundation Group with South Warwickshire University NHS FT, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute NHS Hospitals Trust.
Located on the border with Wales in the shadow of the Black Mountains, we provide acute and community services across Herefordshire and into parts of Powys and run Hereford County Hospital and the community hospitals in Bromyard, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye.
We are a progressive and forward looking trust with ambitious plans to improve quality and integrate patient pathways through close collaborative working with our partners to deliver the quality of care wed want for our family and friends.
More than 3,000 people work for the Trust they tell us its a great place to work, blending the busyness of a DGH with the benefits of working in a beautiful rural and unspoilt county like Herefordshire.
We can offer a great work-life balance and have a fine tradition of working with staff to help them achieve their full potential.
Russell Hardy, Trust Chairman: “The strength of the Trust is its amazing staff; a great place to work, a great place to develop your career and a great place to reach your potential.”
Our values -Care, Accountability, Respect and Excellence - are at the heart of all we do. We believe in providing the right care in the right place at the right time.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
As a qualified APT, you will work under minimal supervision to deliver a high standard of care to the deceased and their families. You will assist in post-mortem examinations, prepare and manage samples in accordance with legal and HTA standards, and maintain accurate records. You will also support the bereavement team, acting as a key liaison with families and ensuring timely and correct documentation for cremations, burials, and hospital funerals.
The role involves direct communication with a range of professionals including pathologists, coroners, police officers, chaplains, and funeral directors. You will be expected to maintain professional conduct in distressing or emotional circumstances and demonstrate compassion, accountability, and respect in all aspects of your work.
You will also support audits, governance improvements, SOP reviews, and the development of best practices within the department. Regular participation in training and supporting junior staff or trainees is expected.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- RSPH Level 3 diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology
- Good standard of Education demonstrated by GCSE grades A-C in Maths, English and a Science subject
Desirable criteria
- Science Council registration
- AAPT professional Membership
Experiance
Essential criteria
- Dealing with the deceased
- Experience of working in a mortuary or funeral director
Desirable criteria
- Experience communicating and dealing with the bereaved
- Experience of working within a healthcare setting or other professional experience
Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
Essential criteria
- Awareness of Health and Safety matters
- Have knowledge and awareness of the HTA.
- To have intermediate and accurate IT skills
- Good telephone manner and written communication skills
Personal Atributes
Essential criteria
- Adaptability and flexibility of changing work environment
- High level of interpersonal and communication skills
- Effective organisational skills
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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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
- John O'Hara
- Job title
- Mortuary and Bereavement Services Manager
- Email address
- john.ohara@wvt.nhs.uk
- Telephone number
- 01432 364166
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