Compassionate Mortuary Assistant

NHS Scotland; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

23 days annual leave

NHS Pension Scheme

Flexible working discussions

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is seeking a Mortuary Assistant to support the Mortuary service across NHSGGC sites, including the main QEUH Mortuary and satellite mortuaries. The role requires handling duties, documentation, and compassionate liaison with bereaved families.

You will work within a busy pathology framework, supporting Anatomical Pathology Technicians and staff and rotating across sites to cover a full-time, 36-hour week with varied shifts.

Qualifications

• Educated to HNC/SVQ level 3 or a minimum of 3 Highers at grade C or above (or equivalent qualification)
• Good literacy and numeracy skills
• Experience of working with the public
• Knowledge of Health & Safety policies and procedures
• Knowledge of confidentiality and Data Protection policies
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including good verbal communication skills due to the requirement to liaise with bereaved relatives in a respectful and courteous manner
• Good time management and organisational skills
• Good physical skills due to the requirement for manual handling

Responsibilities

• Receive and release deceased brought into the mortuary from the wards or community, ensuring all identification protocols are followed and strictly adhered to.
• Ensuring all relevant documentation is completed correctly, and all mortuary records are kept up to date, including an accurate record being maintained regarding valuables and property accompanying the deceased to the mortuary.
• Ensuring any jewellery or property, removed from the deceased whilst in the mortuary before release to the funeral director, police, identified relative is recorded in the ‘Patient‘s Property, Clothing, Cash and Valuables’ register.
• Check that all statutory documentation e.g. consent forms, cremation forms, release forms have been completed correctly, and follow up any mistakes. Ensure all documents pertaining to foetal death are completed correctly.
• Prepare deceased for viewing/identification by relatives, police etc. Prepare and present bodies for Clinical Staff completing cremation forms.
• Provide assistance to Anatomical Pathology Technicians and Crime Scene Officers in examining, photographing and fingerprinting the deceased as instructed.
• Ensure patient confidentiality and compliance with organisational Data Protection and security policies.
• Help distressed and emotional relatives and staff by providing support and advice in a compassionate way when receiving and giving highly sensitive information.

Skills

Literacy and numeracy

Public-facing experience

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Time management

Organisational skills

Manual handling

Confidentiality policies

Education

HNC/SVQ level 3 or 3 Highers

Job description

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is seeking a Mortuary Assistant to support the Mortuary service across NHSGGC sites, including the main QEUH Mortuary and satellite mortuaries. The role requires handling duties, documentation, and compassionate liaison with bereaved families.

You will work within a busy pathology framework, supporting Anatomical Pathology Technicians and staff and rotating across sites to cover a full-time, 36-hour week with varied shifts.