Job summary
- Main area
- 317 Mortuary Staff - Corporate
- Grade
- Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 317-2025-21-059
- Employer
- The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Trustwide
- Town
- 317 Trustwide
- Salary
- £29,970 - £36,483 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 20/07/2025 23:59
- Interview date
- 30/07/2025
Employer heading
Anatomical Pathology Technician/Trainee
Band 5
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest and largest NHS foundation trusts in the country, with around 15,000 staff and an annual budget of £1.6 billion.
We have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.
We’re in the top five providers of specialised health services in the country, supporting people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.
Our staff oversee around 6,500 patient contacts each day, delivering high standards of healthcare.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people’s race, disability, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.
Newcastle Hospitals are proud to be one of the exemplar organisations across the NHS on sustainability, with a long history of delivering Sustainable Healthcare in Newcastle (Shine) and the first healthcare organisation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Our strategy includes commitments to being Net Zero by 2030, for our direct carbon footprint, and Net Zero by 2040 for our footprint plus. Delivering these ambitions will not be possible without the help, support and action of every single member of our team.
Job overview
The Cellular Pathology Department provides Histology, Neuropathology, Diagnostic Cytology, Research and Mortuary Services. We have an exciting opportunity in support of our autopsy service expansion for which a full-time qualified Anatomical Pathology Technician (APT) are required to support our service expansion.
We provide a regional centralised autopsy service including CT scanning alongside end of life and post mortem care. As a specialist centre we conduct forensic, perinatal and neuropathology post mortem, and receive multiple coroner jurisdiction referrals. We work closely with the chaplaincy and bereavement teams in supporting families and facilitate viewings.
NUTH occupies two mortuary sites at Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospitals. Applicants will be working alongside the APT team, and should meet the essential criteria of the role.
We have out of hours for CT scanning and on-call rotas to support the growing service delivery. Previous NHS Mortuary experience is essential, and we will consider trainee applicants, and have a good experience of training and developing our staff.
- Interview Date Wednesday 30 July 2025
- 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Main duties of the job
Knowledge of how a mortuary operates and previous experience is desirable for trainee applicants, although full training will be provided the successful applicant will train in practical skills and complete the required diploma.
Any trainee post will be at Band 5 Annex 21, 1st year 70% Top of Band 5/ 2nd year 75% Top of Band 5, leading to Band 5 qualified position, with expected completion within two years of appointment.
- Apply their in depth technical knowledge of pathological dissection techniques including advanced autopsy reconstruction and infection control measures.
- To have knowledge and experience of advanced autopsy, forensic and infection control procedures.
- To have previous experience of working in a mortuary and autopsy theatre.
- To have experience of dealing with bereaved relatives.
- To have ability to communicate at all levels and apply empathy/counselling skills appropriately.
- To contribute to some unsociable hours and on call rota as required.
- If not already qualified, apply as Annex 21 trainee to complete the diploma qualification as per job description.
Working for our organisation
Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
• Freeman Hospital
• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
• Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
• Newcastle Dental Hospital
• Newcastle Fertility Centre
• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
• Northern Genetics Service
• Cramlington Manor Walks
These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under ‘Documents to download’ or ‘Supporting documents’.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To participate as part of a team in providing a mortuary and autopsy service to the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (NuTH), North regional NHS Hospitals, Medical Staff, Police, and HM Coroners together with Funeral Directors and other legitimate users of the service.
- To assist the Senior APTs in co-ordinating and supervising the mortuary staff in providing a quality service.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Person specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential criteria
- • Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology from the Royal Institute of Public Health (RIPH)
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- • Previous experience of working in a mortuary and autopsy theatre
- • In depth technical knowledge of pathological dissection techniques including advanced autopsy reconstruction and infection control measures
- • Knowledge and experience of advanced autopsy, forensic and infection control procedures
- • Experience of dealing with bereaved relatives
- • Management, supervision and training of staff
- • Experience of dealing with bereaved relatives
- • Evidence of professional development
Desirable criteria
- • Experience of paediatric and perinatal autopsy
- • Experience of Neuropathology autopsy
Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
- • Ability to communicate at all levels and apply empathy/counselling skills appropriately
- • Possess proven skills, e.g. leadership and communication skills and organisation ability
- • Able to prioritise and meet deadlines
Desirable criteria
- • Keyboard skills
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
- Gary Miller
- Job title
- Mortuary Operations Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0191 2821590
- Additional information
Enquiries are welcomed.
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