Mortuary Assistant - Pathology

NHS Scotland; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension Scheme

Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Learning and development opportunities

Bursary schemes and courses

NHS discounts

Job summary

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is seeking a Mortuary Assistant to support the Mortuary team across NHSGGC sites, including QEUH and satellite mortuaries. You will help run a safe, secure, and comprehensive service for NHSGGC, Procurator Fiscal, and the community.

The role requires handling sensitive materials, meticulous documentation, and compassionate engagement with relatives, while working a rotational pattern across sites.

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 liaison with bereaved relatives.
• Good time management and organisational skills.
• Good physical skills due to manual handling requirements.

Responsibilities

• Receive and release deceased into the mortuary, ensuring ID protocols are followed.
• Maintain accurate mortuary records and valuables/property registers.
• Record jewellery and property removed from the deceased before release.
• Check statutory documentation and follow up on mistakes.
• Prepare deceased for viewing/identification by relatives or police.
• Assist Anatomical Pathology Technicians and Crime Scene Officers as needed.
• Ensure confidentiality and compliance with Data Protection policies.
• Support distressed relatives with compassionate information.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Public interaction

Health & Safety

Confidentiality & DP

Time management

Organisation skills

Manual handling

Driving licence (desirable)

Education

HNC/SVQ level 3

3 Highers (Grade C+)

Good literacy & numeracy

Job description

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.

The role:

The Mortuary is located within the laboratory building at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) site and is one of the largest in the UK, providing adult, paediatric and forensic services. In addition, there are satellite mortuaries located at a number of hospitals throughout the NHS GG&C area as follows: Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Gartnavel General, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Vale of Leven Hospital and Inverclyde Royal.
The Mortuary service is aligned with the Pathology service for NHSGG&C.

The entire Pathology service for NHSGG&C is delivered from a purpose-built laboratory on the QEUH campus. Essential Service Laboratories (ESLs) are located at the Stobhill and Victoria Infirmary ambulatory care hospitals and at the acute sites of Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Inverclyde Royal Hospital. The Mortuary service is provided by various professional groups including medical staff, Anatomical Pathology Technologists, Mortuary Assistants and Clerical Officers. The department is the busiest Mortuary within the UK, undertaking approximately 3000 post mortem examinations per annum.

The post holder will assist the Mortuary team in the running of a safe, secure, effective and comprehensive mortuary service for the needs of NHSGGC, Procurator Fiscal and the wider community. The post-holder will act as a Mortuary Assistant at the main Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Mortuary, and the various satellite mortuaries operated by NHSGG&C. They will be expected to work at a range of sites.

This role does not meet the eligibility criteria for a Skilled Worker visa or a Health and Care Worker visa. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is unable to provide candidates or employees with a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS).

Duration, Location, and Working Pattern:

• Location based at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital; you will be expected to work at a range of sites.
• Permanent Contract
• Full-time position (36 hours per week)
• The shift pattern is a rotational shift pattern:

08:30-16:00 Monday - Friday
12:00-20:00 Monday - Friday (currently 1:3)
Weekend
Saturday 09:00-13:00 (1:6)

Key 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.

Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job:

Essential

• 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

Desirable

• Experience of working with the deceased
• Good computer skills
• A driving licence is also desirable due to the requirement to travel between sites

What we offer:

We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.

As an NHS Scotland employee, you will be entitled to:

• A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
• Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
• Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
• Enhanced pay for working public holidays
• NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
• Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) recognises the importance of work-life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full-time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as "various", we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.