Mortuary Manager

NTH Solutions llp; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Tees is seeking a highly experienced Mortuary Manager to lead the Mortuary Services across North Tees and Hartlepool NHSFT and South Tees Hospitals NHSFT. You will ensure professional, dignified after-death care, lead a multi-site team and oversee compliance with HTA and UKAS standards.

The role requires significant post-L4 diploma experience in a hospital mortuary service, including forensic post mortems, and a Level 7 postgraduate qualification or equivalent.

Qualifications

• Significant experience at Senior Specialist level.
• Postgraduate Level 7 qualification or equivalent competence.
• Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology or L4 Diploma.
• Certificate in eye enucleation from a recognised eye bank.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional lead for Mortuary Services across multiple sites and Trusts.
• Oversee day-to-day operational management of mortuary and Bereavement Services.
• Ensure dignified after death care and compliance with HTA/UKAS standards.

Skills

Leadership

Postmortem knowledge

HTA standards

UKAS standards

Bereavement services

Communication

Forensic post mortems

Education

Masters Level 7

L4 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology

Certificate in eye enucleation

Job description

Find out about the current vacancies available at the Trust and take the next step in your career with us.

Site North Tees Hospital Town Stockton on Tees Salary £49,387 - £56,515 £49,387 - £56,515 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 27/08/2026 23:59

Job overview

Please note: This vacancy may close early once sufficient applications have been received

We are seeking a highly skilled, knowledgeable and experienced APT for the leadership role of Mortuary Manager. As the professional lead for the service, you will be responsible for day-to-day operational management, ensuring the highest standards of care, professionalism and compliance and promote dignified care of the deceased at all times.

You will have strong leadership skills, a passion for delivering high quality, compassionate services and significant post L4 diploma experience working in a hospital mortuary service, which includes forensic post mortems. A post graduate level qualification equivalent to Level 7/MSC or evidenced equivalent competence and experience are required.

Although not expected to routinely participate in the out of hour’s roster, the post holder is expected to be available for on call advice and emergency cover if needed.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will:

• Be the professional lead for the Mortuary Services across North Tees and Hartlepool NHSFT and South Tees Hospitals NHSFT liaising with all members of the multi-disciplinary team involved in care of the deceased. Duties will be undertaken across multiple sites associated with both hospitals.
• Be responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the Mortuary Services across North Tees and Hartlepool NHSFT and South Tees Hospitals NHSFT and Bereavement Services at North Tees and Hartlepool NHSFT.
• Be responsible for all aspects of after death care and ensure that services promote dignified care of the deceased at all times.
• Undertake the role of Persons Designate, across all mortuary sites, assisting the DI(s) in ensuring compliance with HTA standards
• Maintain standards according to relevant legislation, HTA and UKAS standards keeping up to date with changes and implementing these accordingly.
• Provide specialised training for relevant staff in after death care and post-mortem assistance.
• Encourage close team working and foster cross-site working links to ensure consistency in procedures, practice, and develop a robust contingency and business continuity plans.

Working for our organisation

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust have come together to form University Hospitals Tees. As a result, post holders may be required to work across sites within both organisations.

Across University Hospitals Tees, our ambition is to be the best place to work, ensuring we have the right staff in the right roles at the right time to deliver outstanding patient care and experience.

We are committed to supporting our staff through an inclusive and supportive working environment, offering health and wellbeing initiatives, staff benefits, and opportunities for personal and professional development.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive recruitment process and welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates, including those who first language is not English.

We support the 'Making Every Contact Count' approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Person specification

Qualifications

• Recognised professional qualification or evidenced equivalent experience: Masters Level 7
• Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology or L4 Diploma.
• Certificate in eye enucleation from a recognised eye bank

Knowledge and Skills

• In-depth knowledge of both theoretical and practical aspects of postmortem examination, evisceration and tissue and body reconstruction
• A working knowledge of bereavement services and the role of Medical Examiner
• Knowledge and understanding of the HTA codes of practice.
• Knowledge of UKAS, CQC, RCPath guidelines
• Knowledge of mass fatalities planning
• A thorough understanding of funeral customs and practices associated with different religious, non-religious and cultural traditions.
• Knowledge of the L3 Diploma APT and expectations of candidates

Experience

• Significant experience in a Senior Specialist role
• Experience of external visits e.g. UKAS/HTA.
• Experience in recruitment and selection of staff
• Experience of training/mentoring APT’s and support staff.
• Experience of conducting audits, formulating risk assessments/SOPs and investigating incidents.
• Experience of managing a multi-site service.
• Experience of leading a mortuary through the change process
• Experience of duty of candour

Personal Attributes

• Ability to work collaboratively and engage others in service development
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative.
• Able to communicate effectively with a wide range of professionals including the Coroner, medical and nursing staff, police officers, funeral directors etc.
• Able to communicate effectively with members of the public via telephone or face to face
• Demonstrates an empathetic approach to the role and an ability to be caring and compassionate, dealing with the recently bereaved and the care after death.
• Act as a role model of professionalism leading by example, displaying high levels of leadership and professionalism and inspire others to learn and develop.
• Flexible attitude to work to meet the needs of the role.

Important Once sufficient applications have been received this vacancy may close early.

Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS)

It is the policy of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost for their DBS certificate. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay on commencement with the Trust. The DBs check will be undertaken during the pre-employment check screening.

Qualifications

Please note the essential qualifications required for the post are outlined within the Person Specification. You are required to provide original evidence of the necessary qualifications for the post at interview should you be shortlisted. You will also be required to provide original copies as part of the pre-employment check screening.

New Starters – Probationary Period

For any new employees commencing employment with North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, you will be subject to satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period. Please note that internal applications and individuals that are appointed to fixed term appointments of less than 6 months duration are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or a bank member of staff).

Employment References

As part of our pre-employment screening process, all applicants are required to provide references covering their last three years employment history including any gaps. Applicants are requested to ensure e-mail addresses for all referees are included on their application form. Personal references are not acceptable.

Working Hours

If the hours advertised for the post are up to full time (37.5 hours per week), applications are still welcomed from individuals who may be seeking to work less than full-time hours and all requests will be considered in line with the post being appointed to for the successful applicant.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Everything we do is shaped by our values: Respect, Support, and Collaborate.

At University Hospitals Tees we want our workspaces to be places where everyone feels welcome, valued and safe. We treat people with respect, and we celebrate the differences that make each of us unique.

We welcome applications from everyone, no matter your age, background, race, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family circumstances or beliefs.

We are here to support you throughout your application and at every stage of your career with us. We believe we work best when we collaborate, learn from each other and build teams that reflect the communities we serve.

Disability

We are a Disability Confident Lead employer. This means we give fair and full consideration to applicants and will offer reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. If you need help with your application, or need the information in a different format, please contact our recruitment team and we will support you.

Right to Work in the UK

The Trust welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the criteria for the role. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless they have permission to work via another route. Non UK/RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship here: Work in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk )

Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.

Please note that not everyone needs a ‘Skilled Worker’ visa. If you are applying for health or social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.

As a supporter of the Armed Forces and an employer of Reservists, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust are proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a promise by the nation to ensure that those who serve or who have served in the UK Armed Forces (and their families) are treated fairly.

We recognise that reservists and veterans bring a variety of transferable skills and qualities to our workplace, developed through their military careers. Our commitment to supporting the Armed Forces Community has been recognised through the Armed Forces Covenant as a Silver Employer.

Further Important Information

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.