Mortuary Assistant - Pathology

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 (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 NHSGG&C, 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 or a 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.

• 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

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, we would love to hear from you.

For An Informal Discussion, Please Contact

Jennifer Young, Performance Manager, on 0141 354 9349 or email [e-mail]

This vacancy may close early due to a high volume of applications. We recommend applying as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

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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.

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