Service Lead for Mortuary and Bereavement

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Orpington; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

High cost allowance

Job summary

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London seeks a Service Lead for Mortuary and Bereavement to provide a professional, proactive service to bereaved relatives while ensuring HTA compliance and statutory obligations. The role drives policy development in line with national guidance and supports staff across the Mortuary and Bereavement services.

The successful candidate will oversee day-to-day operations, liaise with external agencies and ensure robust records, audits and safe

Qualifications

• RSPH Diploma and Certificate in Anatomical Pathology Technology Level 4 Qualification is required.
• RSci/CSci Accredited or AHCS registered.
• Experience with HTA, health and safety and HTARIS reporting is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• To deputise for the Head of Service.
• Organise and participate in routine and specialised postmortem provision ensuring HTA compliance at all times.
• Organise and participate in all other aspects of mortuary and bereavement services ensuring the effective, professional, cost-effective service.
• Overseeing the day to day running of the mortuary and bereavement office.
• To manage the bereavement supervisor and ensure the smooth running of the service in accordance with guidelines.
• Liaison with external agencies including the coroner's office, Police, GPs, Treasury Solicitors, councils and financial institutions.
• Ensure efficient liaison with clinical, nursing and clerical staff and all other Trust staff.
• To ensure SOPs, risk assessments and audits are undertaken and updated as per HTA policies.
• To ensure robust disposal systems for POCs, in line with policy and guidelines.
• To ensure all organs, tissue, blood and other samples are labelled, recorded and tracked with disposal records maintained.
• Lead Health and Safety, ensuring safe working practices within the department.
• Undertake staff appraisals for all levels of APTs and bereavement supervisor.
• Ensure the department provides a sensitive viewing/identification service to the bereaved.
• Support the Head of Service in producing staff rotas covering post mortem provision and on-call arrangements.
• Maintain cleaning, disinfection and maintenance records for the department.
• Maintain HTA-compliant records within the mortuary register and equipment servicing logs.
• Participate in on-call service rota.
• Respect and comply with cultural and religious beliefs at all times.
• Contribute to future development plans of Mortuary and Bereavement services.

Skills

Postmortem tech

Anatomical knowledge

Forensic knowledge

HTA knowledge

Training skills

HTARIS reporting

Education

RSPH Diploma and Certificate in Anatomical Pathology Technology Level 4 Qualification

RSci/CSci Accredited or AHCS registered

Job description

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Service Lead for Mortuary and Bereavement

The closing date is 18 November 2026

To provide a professional, proactive and sensitive service to bereaved relatives, whilst ensuring the Trust's statutory obligations are fulfilled. To take responsibility in continuously review practice and develop policies which incorporate national guidance and Human Tissue Authority Legislation. To work closely with other key professionals both within and outside the Trust in order to meet individual needs. To promote an awareness of bereavement issue within a multi faith, multi-cultural environment.

Main duties of the job

• To deputise for the Head of Service
• Organise and participate in routine and specialise postmortem provision and always ensuring HTA compliance.
• Overseeing the day to day running of the mortuary and bereavement office
• To work with the Head of Service in ensuring that all SOPs, risk assessments and audits are undertaken and updated as in line with departmental, Trust and HTA policies.
• To ensure robust traceability of all samples and decease
• Maintain cleaning/disinfection/maintenance of the department, ensuring the creation and maintaining of cleaning and maintenance records.
• Participate in on call service rota.

About us

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. In June 2026, we launched our new strategy for 2026-31. Our vision is to transform healthcare, and we have agreed six strategic ambitions to help us improve care for patients, and the working lives of our staff.

Our six strategic ambitions are deliveringhigh-quality patient care; creating a great place to work; leading pioneering research, innovation and education; building strong and successful partnerships; providing timely and efficient care; and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.

We have also agreed four new organisational values - Caring, Collaborative, Inclusive, Innovative - and these underpin everything we do, and how our teams interact with the patients under our care.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Job responsibilities

• To deputise for the Head of Service
• Organise and participate in routine and specialised postmortem provision ensuring HTA compliance at all times.
• Organise and participate in all other aspects of mortuary and bereavement services ensuring the effective, professional, cost-effective service.
• Overseeing the day to day running of the mortuary and bereavement office.
• To manage the bereavement supervisor and ensure the smooth running of the service in accordance with KCH guidelines and recommendations.
• Liaison with external agencies including the coroners office, Police, GPs, Treasury Solicitors, councils and financial institutions.
• Ensure efficient and professional liaison with clinical, nursing and clerical staff and all other Trust staff
• To work with the Head of Service in ensuring that all SOPs, risk assessments and audits are undertaken and updated as in line with departmental, Trust and HTA policies.
• To ensure there is a robust system in place for the sensitive disposal of POCs, ensuring compliance with Trust policy and national guidelines.
• To ensure all organs, tissue, blood and other samples are appropriately labelled, recorded and tracked and disposal records maintained.
• To take a leading role in Health and Safety ensuring safe and appropriate working practises within the department.
• Undertake staff appraisals for all levels of APTs and bereavement supervisor.
• Ensure the department provides a sensitive and professional viewing and identification service to the bereaved.
• To support the Head of Service in the production of staff rotas covering post mortem provision, emergency on call, annual leave etc.
• Maintain cleaning/disinfection/maintenance of the department, ensuring the creation and maintaining of cleaning and maintenance records.
• Ensure the maintenance of appropriate records within the department mortuary register, Eden, equipment servicing, fridge/freezer temperatures, cleaning etc, ensuring compliance with HTA and codes of practice and standards.
• Participate in on call service rota.
• Ensure cultural and religious beliefs are respected and complied with at all times.
• Participate in the future development plans of Mortuary and Bereavement services

Person Specification

Qualifications

• RSPH Diploma and Certificate in Anatomical Pathology Technology Level 4 Qualification
• RSci/CSci Accredited or AHCS registered

Skills

• Substantial skills in routine and specialised post mortems
• Anatomical and Forensic Knowledge
• A strong sense of personal and team accountability coupled to a clear understanding of the boundaries around delegated authority
• Training and teaching skills
• Experience of reporting and managing HTARIS

Experience

• Excellent knowledge of clinical governance, HTA and Health and Safety legislation
• Experience of working with bereavement services
• Be able to deal with the physical and emotional aspects of work in the mortuary and bereavement services

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.

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

£55,524 to £62,652 a yearper annum, including high cost allowance