Lead Anatomical Pathology Technician & Deputy Mortuary Manager

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; Reading; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Lead Anatomical Pathology Technologist & Deputy Mortuary Manager. This Band 6 post is a fixed-term/secondment opportunity for up to 10 months to cover maternity leave.

The role combines advanced post-mortem practice with leadership, staff development and day-to-day mortuary management, working with pathologists, the Coroner, police and bereaved families to uphold dignity, safety and legal compliance.

Qualifications

• Diploma/Certificate in Anatomical Pathology Technology or equivalent.
• Knowledge of Human Tissue Act, codes of practice and mortuary administration.
• Experience leading a mortuary team and delivering training.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist technical support for post-mortem examinations, including high-risk cases.
• Lead on mortuary operations, staff training and competency development.
• Ensure compliance with HTA standards, Coroner requirements and safety legislation.

Skills

Leadership

Staff training

Communication

Time management

Attention to detail

Dignity and respect

Education

RSPH Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology (level 4)

RSPH Certificate in Anatomical Pathology Technology

Knowledge post-Diploma level / degree level

Tools

Access databases

Patient-management systems

ECDL / European Computer Driving Licence

Job description

Lead Anatomical Pathology Technician & Deputy Mortuary Manager

Band 6 Lead Anatomical Pathology Technician and Deputy Mortuary Manager **This is a fixed-term/secondment opportunity for up to 10 months (to cover maternity leave).** PLEASE NOTE: Sponsorship is not normally available for this vacancy - applicants must have the right-to-work in the UK for this role by their proposed start date. An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Anatomical Pathology Technologist to join our team as Lead APT and Deputy Mortuary Manager. This varied Band 6 role combines advanced and specialist post-mortem practice with leadership, staff development and the day-to-day management of the mortuary service. You will work closely with pathologists, HM Coroner, police, funeral directors, healthcare professionals and bereaved families, while helping to maintain the highest standards of dignity, safety, quality and legal compliance.

Main duties of the job

As Lead Anatomical Pathology Technologist and Deputy Mortuary Manager, you will provide specialist technical support for routine, complex and forensic post-mortem examinations, including high-risk cases. You will undertake advanced anatomical pathology procedures, tissue retrieval for transplantation, reconstruction and preparation of deceased patients, ensuring the highest standards of dignity, safety and legal compliance. The role includes responsibility for the admission, identification, storage and release of deceased patients, management of mortuary records and samples, and supporting compliance with Human Tissue Authority, Coroner and Health & Safety requirements. You will also provide expert advice and training to healthcare professionals and mortuary staff, while supporting the delivery of a high-quality mortuary and post-mortem service.

About us

Reading sits on the river Thames and is served by great road and rail links to London, Oxford and Southampton. With excellent leisure and shopping facilities, and a thriving cultural scene, Reading is a wonderful place to live, work and play and provides excellent facilities for families, including some of the best state and private schools in the UK.

The CQC rated the care provided by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good.

Our Trust "CARE" values:Compassionate,Aspirational,Resourceful,Excellent, reflect the type of Trust we aspire to be and you can join our dedicated and talented staff to make this happen.

Job responsibilities

As Lead Anatomical Pathology Technologist and Deputy Mortuary Manager, you will play a key role in the delivery of specialist mortuary and post-mortem services. You will perform advanced anatomical pathology procedures, support forensic and high-risk post-mortem examinations, undertake tissue retrieval activities and provide expert technical advice to pathologists and partner agencies. Working within a highly regulated environment, you will ensure compliance with Human Tissue Authority standards, Coroner requirements and relevant legislation. You will also support the operational management of the mortuary, lead on staff training and competency development, contribute to quality improvement and deputise for the Mortuary Manager when required. Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details of the job role.

Person Specification

Education, Training and Qualifications

• Royal Society of Public Health Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology (equivalent level 4).
• Royal Society of Public Health Certificate in Anatomical Pathology Technology.
• Knowledge and experience at post-Diploma level, equivalent to degree level or higher.
• Knowledge of current national guidelines for mortuary practice.
• Extensive knowledge of the law relating to deceased patients, relevant legal authorities and legal documentation.
• Extensive knowledge of the Human Tissue Act and Codes of Practice.
• Knowledge of mortuary service administration.
• Knowledge of supervisory and management policies and procedures.
• Evidence of training in retrieval of tissues for transplant, for example an eye-retrieval course.
• Extensive knowledge of cultural and religious practices relating to deceased patients and how to accommodate these while meeting legal requirements.
• Memberof the Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology

Experience

• Experience of working within and leading a mortuary team.
• Experience of teaching and training staff to Diploma level and beyond, academically and practically.
• Experience of Major Incident Plan implementation.
• Experience of contingency planning and implementation.
• Experience of capacity management.
• Experience of transplant tissue recovery.
• Experience of forensic post mortems.
• Experience of working in and for an ethnically diverse community and responding to differing cultural and religious requirements relating to deceased patients.
• Experience of performing audit and interpreting findings.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Keenness to undertake further study in Anatomical Pathology Technology.
• Excellent time-management and organisational skills.
• High level of computer literacy, including Access databases and patient-management systems.
• Ability to exercise initiative and judgement.
• High level of personal integrity and respect for patient property.
• Ability to train and support staff, including specialist registrars, in departmental techniques, practices and operating procedures.
• Ability to produce clear procedural documentation.
• Understanding of clinical governance.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to treat deceased patients and their representatives with dignity and respect.
• Tact and diplomacy in sensitive and emotive situations.
• Ability to manage aggressive or abusive representatives calmly and professionally.
• Ability to respect ethnic diversity and differing cultural and religious requirements and behave sensitively.
• European Computer Driving Licence or equivalent.

Other

• Ability to work well under pressure with attention to detail.
• Good understanding of departmental health and safety requirements.
• Awareness of data-protection and confidentiality requirements.
• Understanding of risk management.
• Experience of implementing changes in policy or practice.
• Ability to maintain accurate data-entry and retrieval systems in line with current legislation.
• Willingness to act as a Person Designate under the Human Tissue Act.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.