Trainee Anatomical Pathology Technologist

Transformation Unit; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Job summary

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Swindon is offering a Trainee Anatomical Pathology Technician training programme within the Mortuary and Bereavement Service. You will work under supervision to develop skills toward APT qualification and support a dignified mortuary service.

The role focuses on assistance with body admission, identification, storage, and release, as well as processing death certificates and liaising with families, clinicians, and external agencies.

Qualifications

• GCSE English/Maths and science
• Willing to work towards RSPH level 3
• Educated to NVQ 3 level
• Biology, or Forensic Qualification

Responsibilities

• Support the Mortuary and Bereavement Service in delivering a professional and compassionate service to bereaved families, hospital staff and external agencies.
• Assist with admission, identification, dignity and respect, storage and release of deceased patients under supervision.
• Facilitate the legal documentation, infection status declarations, and other statutory paperwork associated with death certification.
• Provide support and guidance to bereaved families regarding procedures following a death in hospital or the community.

Skills

Communication

Discretion

Teamwork

Manual handling

Education

GCSE English/Maths and science

NVQ 3 level

RSPH level 3

Biology or Forensic Qualification

Job description

Employer Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Great Western Hospital Town Swindon Salary £25,760 - £31,157 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 23/10/2026 23:59

Trainee Anatomical Pathology Technologist

Band 3 - Band 4 Progression

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital.

Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.

We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Great Western Hospital Mortuary and Bereavement Service for Trainee Anatomical Pathology Technician (APT).

The successful candidates will join a small, multi-skilled team and undertake a structured training programme to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies required to become a qualified APT. Working under the supervision of trained and experienced APT staff, the post holder will support the delivery of a safe, secure, effective and compassionate mortuary and bereavement service.

The post holder will assist in ensuring that deceased patients and their families are treated with dignity, respect and sensitivity at all times, in accordance with Human Tissue Authority (HTA) standards, Trust policies and relevant legislation.

Main duties of the job

Support the Mortuary and Bereavement Service in delivering a professional and compassionate service to bereaved families, hospital staff and external agencies. Assist with the admission, identification, dignity and respect, storage and release of deceased patients under supervision. Facilitate the legal documentation, infection status declarations, and other statutory paperwork associated with death certification. Provide support and guidance to bereaved families regarding procedures following a death in hospital or the community. Liaise with clinical teams, the Medical Examiner Service, Coroner's Officers and Funeral Directors as required.

Arrange, prepare, and assist with viewings and formal identifications, ensuring that privacy, dignity, and respect are maintained at all times.

Assist trained APTs with post-mortem examinations and other mortuary procedures as part of the training programme. Maintain accurate records and documentation in line with Trust and HTA requirements. Participate in training, competency assessments and continuing professional development to achieve APT qualification.

Working for our organisation

We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group – a formal partnership between Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.

We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will work under the supervision of qualified Anatomical Pathology Technicians (APTs) to support the delivery of a safe, effective, dignified and compassionate Mortuary and Bereavement Service, in accordance with Human Tissue Authority (HTA) standards, Trust policies and relevant legislation.

Please see attached job description for full details.

Person specification

Qualifications

• GCSE English /Math’s and science
• Willing to work towards RSPH level 3
• Educated to NVQ 3 level
• Biology, or Forensic Qualification

Experience

• Working with confidential and sensitive information, always maintaining professionalism and discretion. .
• Experience of following policies, procedures, and standard operating procedures
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team and communicate effectively with colleagues and external agencies
• Experience of using IT systems for record keeping and administrative duties
• Demonstrate an understanding of customer care when liaising with the public on the telephone, electronic and / or face to face
• Ability to communicate effectively and sensitively
• Ability to lift and manoeuvre deceased patients
• Dealing with bereaved and confrontational persons, either in person or over the telephone
• Bereavement training
• Experience within a mortuary, pathology, laboratory, funeral service, healthcare support, or bereavement setting
• Experience of maintaining accurate records and audit documentation
• Awareness of Health and Safety, Infection Prevention and Control, and Manual Handling procedures

Thank you for expressing interest in this role. For further employer guidance, please review the attached supplementary applicant information.

Certificate of Sponsorship - Sponsorship can only be offered where the role meets the relevant eligibility criteria, including minimum salary requirements. Please note that not all roles within the organisation are eligible for sponsorship. Eligibility for this role includes:

• Current right to work in the UK, subject to verification

Meeting the Skilled Worker visa criteria, where applicable

From 4 April 2024, UK immigration policy changes increased the minimum salary levels required for Skilled Worker visas. Further information is available on the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Current employees should be aware that this position is advertised as a Great Western Hospitals position and appointment ends any TUPE protection.

Candidates are responsible for covering the cost of their own DBS check if required: £21.50 for a Standard DBS check, recoverable from the first pay, or £49.50 for an Enhanced DBS check, divided and recoverable over the initial two pay periods. Payment for DBS checks for bank posts must be settled prior to commencement. Apprentices are exempt from DBS payment.

• We are committed to supporting our staff in achieving a healthy work-life balance through flexible work arrangements. Upon joining the Trust, you have the right to request flexible working, with an unlimited number of requests allowed.

Upon acceptance of a job offer, your information will be transferred to the national NHS Electronic Staff Records System. All communication regarding your application will be conducted via email; please ensure to check your junk/spam folders as emails may occasionally be filtered there.

The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer; all applicants who have a disability can opt to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme, which means that, providing they meet the minimum essential criteria for the post, they will be offered an interview. We are also proudly accredited as a Veteran Aware organisation and have signed The Armed Forces Covenant.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.