NHSJobs.com

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Responsible for the supervision of junior mortuary staff member on a day-to-day basis in all mortuary work  

 

• Undertake a full managerial role in the absence of Mortuary Manager including all duties

 

• Adherence to manual handling and equipment handling policies and procedures

 

• Ensure admission procedures are followed for the Mortuary including all documentation relating to the controlled storage of the deceased, records of belongings, giving information to bereaved relatives and other services etc. Control of external agencies such as funeral directors with regard to collection times and ensuring safe collection procedures are followed according to Trust and departmental policy and Health and Safety Law

 

• Execute all post mortem evisceration and dissection techniques and all other duties associated with the preparation of the deceased for post mortem examination. Implement other professional post mortem evisceration and dissection techniques, e.g. brain and spinal cord removal, heart valve and pacemaker, ICD removal etc as required.

 

• Responsible for the training and supervision of junior mortuary staff in procedures such as High Risk Post Mortems, Brain and Spinal Cord removal, Heart Valve and Pacemaker, ICD removal and reconstruction of deceased as required

 

• Responsible for the training and supervision of junior mortuary staff in record keeping such as Mortuary Database, Cerner and mortuary documents on a day to day basis

 

• Have a full understanding of all disinfectants and their appropriate uses and correct concentrations. Ensure hygienic measures are implemented after post mortem examinations.

 

• Eviscerate, and weigh the organs as required by the attending Histopathologists, bringing any findings of pathological relevance to the attention of the attending Histopathologists. A full knowledge of anatomy and physiology and skills in observation are required to assist the Histopathologists.

 

• Undertake full and advanced reconstruction procedures after Post Mortem examination. Provide assistance in training and supervision of junior personnel to a high standard

 

• Take and identify post mortem specimens as required and if necessary and ensure their return to the body in accordance with departmental Organ Retention policies and in line with Human Tissue Act (2004) guidelines. Accurate record keeping is mandatory and is essential for this task

 

• Ensure that personnel observe the correct precautionary procedures and that appropriate equipment is in place and maintained when handling potentially infectious or hazardous cases.

 

• Responsible for dealing with the removal of radioactive cardiac implants and pacemakers or any other implantable devices

 

• Responsible for the disinfection and care of instruments and equipment

 

• Responsible for ordering of supplies with Mortuary Manager

 

• Dress and prepare the deceased for photography and viewings. Responsible for training and supervision of junior mortuary staff in all aspects of this procedure

 

• Assist the Forensic Histopathologist on forensic post mortems and execute post mortem techniques under their instruction as required. This will include full reconstruction after any examination. Liaison with Crime Scene Investigators, Senior Police and Forensic Histopathologist will be required. Responsible for training and supervision of Junior Mortuary staff personnel in all aspects of this procedure

 

• Ensure the security and storage of forensic materials are maintained. Ensure relevant record keeping is produced, maintained and updated accordingly

 

• Maintaining the Mortuary and Post Mortem room in line with guidelines and policies. Responsible in writing and assisting Mortuary Manager and regular review of procedures and protocols regarding COSHH, Infection Control, Risk Assessment and Standard Operating Procedures and ensure that personnel are aware of the documents

 

• Execute any preparation work required for the presentation of deceased patients in the Viewing Room. Ensure differing religious and cultural beliefs are taken into account. Arrange appointments with families and friends of deceased patients and conduct viewings and formal police identifications as required. This must be in line with Coroner’s ruling and guidelines on viewing practices

 

• Liaise and be communicative with: Histopathologists, Coroner’s Officers; 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.

 

 

• Observe and obey the Health and Safety Code of Practice of the department. The post holder must be health and safety trained and aware of updates in the law and policy and ensure all staff and users of the department comply with procedure and protocol

 

• Responsible and assist with carrying out Health and Safety inspections of the Mortuary environment and equipment. Complete relevant risk assessments in line with Trust policy

 

• Ensure all procedures, regulations and documentation relating to any deceased patients are adhered to and maintained effectively

 

• Responsible for ensuring that day-to-day records are kept and the provision of accurate data as required. Both manual and electronic record keeping is essential

 

• Ensure the secure storage of personal effects, valuables etc. that are removed from the deceased and that relevant record keeping is produced and maintained correctly

 

• Liaise with Tissue/Eye Bank Services to allow access into the Mortuary out of hours to conduct specialist retrieval techniques on organ/tissue donors

 

• Participate in the on-call service for emergency and out-of-hours duties, including supporting and shadowing the junior mortuary staff when deemed necessary. These duties may include viewings incurred by deaths in hospital, Coroner’s viewings, police ID’s, and Forensic post mortem examinations and any other appropriate duties

 

• Provide training provision of Post Mortem examination procedure for personnel within the Mortuary environment

 

• Informative lectures/tours for internal/external visiting groups including nursing staff, midwives and Police cadets on various topics specific to the group regarding Mortuary procedures and services

 

• Attend training days for Health Care Assistants and Midwifes to train in mortuary procedures and documents  

 

• Undertake appraisal/PDR training and be responsible for the annual appraisal of subordinate personnel as delegated by the Mortuary Manager

 

• Represent the Mortuary at meetings as required

 

 

• Responsible for ensuring that the handling of all deceased persons, organs, tissues and specimens in the department follows the strict guidelines within the Human Tissue Act 2004 and that appropriate and accurate record-keeping is maintained

 

• Responsible for reporting incidents and take action as necessary according to Trust policy and HTA

 

• Responsible for keeping stock replenished on a daily basis and ordering new stock and supplies if needed or instructed by Mortuary Manager

 

• Responsible for monthly Mortuary Audits and Quality Management

 

• Responsible for Risk Assistants

 

• As necessary to attend and participate in Clinical Governance scheme

 

• Active role in income generation for the Mortuary

 

• Monitor Fridge capacity on trust sites

 

• To enable Police to access the Mortuary and assist in finger printing, undressing and movement, I.D of deceased

 

• Prepare babies to Leave the trust when transported to another hospital for post mortem

 

• Check all consent forms regarding Adult and Baby Post Mortems, Pacemaker removal are filled out correctly, if not follow up with clinicians

 

• Responsible for checking tissue donation consent forms are correct before procedure is performed

 

• Train hospital site practitioners in mortuary procedures out of hours

 

• Take Hospital Post Mortem consent with Doctors and family members

 

• Attend annual trust updates and mandatory training

 

• Attend courses booked as part of personal development

 

• To perform specialist techniques Brain and Spinal cord removal, tissue retrieval as required

 

• Work together with Mortuary Manager monitoring and ordering of new equipment and general stock

 

• Work together with Mortuary Manager with researching new consumables/equipment

 

• Order items from procurement as required/advised

 

• Work together with Mortuary Manager in reviewing and changing policies/SOP’S writing new ones if needed

 

Out Of Hours

 

 

• To participate in the On-Call out of Hours service for the Coroner/Hospital. To be available to the Coroner/Hospital should there be a Forensic Post Mortem.
•  To be available whenever possible to answer hospital enquiries and outside family or Police enquires
• To attend the hospital for Major Incident
• To attend the mortuary out of normal working hours as required.

• Special circumstances only to facilitate official police identifications as required.

 

• To attend Mortuary to assist in tissue donation services