Mortuary Officer

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust; Hasland; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Development opportunities

Employee assistance programme

Discounted gym

Onsite fitness classes

Car schemes

Job summary

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a well-organised Mortuary Administrator to provide administrative, reception and operational support within the Mortuary Service. You will help ensure respectful admission, care and release of deceased persons, while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.

The role involves supporting Anatomical Pathology Technologists and liaising with bereaved families, the Coroner and other stakeholders in a sensitive,

Qualifications

• Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations.
• Experience of working in a healthcare setting with multi-disciplinary teams across organisational boundaries.
• A commitment to life-long learning and undertaking personal development opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative, reception and operational support within the Mortuary Service.
• Assist Anatomical Pathology Technologists and colleagues in delivering a safe, secure and efficient service.
• Maintain dignity of the deceased and support needs of bereaved families, HM Coroner and related teams.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Empathy

Organisational skills

Discretion

Keyboard skills

NHS IT systems

Education

GCSEs including science (4 x GCSE grade C or above)

Basic Computer / IT qualification

Tools

NHS IT software systems

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Derbyshire Pathology for a well‑organised and compassionate individual to join the Mortuary Team on a fixed‑term basis. The successful candidate will provide administrative, reception and operational support within the Mortuary Service, ensuring the respectful admission, care and release of deceased persons. Working as part of the Mortuary Team, the post holder will assist Anatomical Pathology Technologists and other colleagues in delivering a safe, secure and efficient service, maintaining the dignity of the deceased and supporting the needs of bereaved families, HM Coroner and Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The successful candidate will be expected to show a high degree of professionalism, have a compassionate, empathetic and mature attitude and be vigilant of the strict confidentiality policy required for the post.

Key Responsibilities

The successful applicant must be trustworthy, reliable and able to demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and professionalism with all stakeholders and be approachable and supportive to all levels of staff and bereaved families in a non‑judgemental and discreet manner (Stakeholders include, but are not limited to, the bereaved, ward staff, clinicians, funeral directors, coroner's office, police etc.).

Experience of working with people in sensitive and emotional situations.

Experience of working in a healthcare setting with multi-disciplinary teams across organisational boundaries.

A commitment to life‑long learning and undertaking personal development opportunities.

Desirable

Knowledge of the special requirements of various faith groups and respect for equality and diversity of issues around formalities following a death.

Strong interpersonal skills demonstrating the ability to communicate in difficult and emotional situations with empathy and professionalism with all stakeholders.

Ability to work as part of a team and organise fluctuating workload around competing priorities.

Keyboard skills.

Good communication and organisational skills.

Ability to work methodically.

Competent in the use of NHS IT software systems and handling sensitive personal identifiable data.

Ability to communicate with other professional groups in the Trust.

Education

• Good basic general education, including science (4 x GCSE grade C or above – including a science)
• Basic Computer / IT qualification (Microsoft applications)

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

• Adaptable/flexible
• Proactive and self‑motivated
• Approachable and supportive to all levels of staff and bereaved families in a non‑judgemental and discreet manner
• Ability to maintain a calm manner in a range of challenging and emotive circumstances
• Ability to communicate with other professional groups in the Trust

Benefits

• Development opportunities, both professional and leadership development
• On‑going support from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond
• Staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes

Key Facts

• We see on average 4810 OP appointments a day
• We are the 4th busiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England – an average of 2077 per week
• An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day – 3rd largest in the country
• Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily
• Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres
• We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres
• We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day
• UHDB is a research active University Hospital with a large and varied portfolio of clinical trials and research opportunities for all staff

Visa and Sponsorship

Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorship. Skilled worker: Health and Care Visa | NHS Employers. Important visa information: Due to UK Home Office immigration rule changes effective from 22 July 2025, applicants sponsored under Occupation Code 6131 (Nursing Auxiliaries and Assistants) may not be eligible to bring dependants under the Skilled Worker route if their Certificate of Sponsorship is issued on or after this date. Applicants are responsible for understanding how these rules apply to their individual circumstances. The Trust cannot provide immigration advice. Further information is available on the Skilled Worker visa: Your partner and children – GOV.UK.