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Job Overview
Want to try something different? We have an exciting opportunity to join our Mortuary team as a band 3 Mortuary Assistant. We are looking for someone with a compassionate approach to both the deceased and their bereaved loved ones. You will need an eye for detail, as well as a high standard of both written and verbal communication skills. You will be a team player who can quickly form good working relationships with key stakeholders both within and external to the NHS. The role will be based at Southmead Hospital. The role will work closely with the Anatomical Pathology Technologists, Patient Affairs team, Chaplaincy team and the Medical Examiner service team.
Main duties of the job
North Bristol NHS Trust provides a perinatal / paediatric post-mortem service for Southwest England and a body storage service for Southmead Hospital. As part of a small team of Mortuary staff, provide an effective and sensitive mortuary service to the North Bristol NHS Trust, completing work to a high standard and within expected time-frames in order to meet service demands. The service includes management and administration of hospital deaths, administration for post-mortems, preparing bodies for viewing and facilitating the provision of a limited number of medical procedures.
The post holder will be required to work in all areas of mortuary services at Southmead Hospital.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
Under the supervision of APT staff:
Clinical Duties
* Participate in the management of the body storage facilities within the mortuary service including release of deceased to funeral directors.
* Liaise with medical staff to ensure completion of all documentation relating to the disposal of the deceased, e.g. sensitive disposal paperwork.
* Assist with the removal and disposal of pacemakers and defibrillators.
* Facilitate and assist (if required) in the harvest of tissue for transplantation.
* Ensure that requests for hospital post-mortem are enacted in an appropriate and timely manner.
* Participate in processes relating to perinatal / paediatric deaths and bereavement, including funeral arrangements.
* Participate in the preparation of the deceased for viewing by relatives and other authorised personnel.
* Participate in the processes for the management and sensitive disposal of pregnancy remains.
* Provide support and advice to the bereaved.
* Participate in the cleaning and sterilisation of instruments, equipment and premises.
* Assist in the maintenance of supplies and equipment used within the mortuary.
* Work in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) developed for use in the department. Assist in the development and review of these as required.
* Ensure that the exchange of information is accurate at all times, through competent verbal and written skills.
* To carry out cleaning and dressing of the deceased as required.
* To ensure that all persons treat the deceased with dignity and respect at all times.
Administrative Duties
* Deal with telephone enquiries from hospital staff, bereaved relatives and friends, Funeral Directors, Coroner’s officers and other outside agencies.
* Participate in data entry and maintenance of all mortuary record systems.
* Record and secure valuables from deceased.
* To ensure that records are kept up to date and stored safely to ensure compliance with good working practices and the standards of Human Tissue Authority licencing.
* To book viewings and when necessary, accompany relatives for the viewing.
* To work closely with the chaplaincy to ensure that religious and cultural differences are observed as far as is reasonably practicable.
* To work closely with Patient Affairs / Bereavement team to ensure after death process runs in a smooth and timely manner.
* To ensure patient confidentiality is maintained at all times.
* To receive and store ordered consumables and to report any deficiencies to the Mortuary Manager.
* To monitor stock levels of consumables and inform the Mortuary Manager so that supplies can be ordered on a timely and efficient basis.
Training and Development
* Participate in staff appraisal according to Trust policies and procedures.
* Ensure that a high level of personal competence, confidence and professionalism is maintained through continual personal development.
* To attend all mandatory training sessions as set out by the trust ensuring online training is kept up to date.
Quality Management
* Ensure that all legal documentation relating to the mortuary is completed correctly and on time.
* Participate in Mortuary audit schedule and complete audits as required.
* The post holder will process the mortuary workload to the required high standard, whilst ensuring adherence to Trust and Departmental policies, protocols and procedures.
Health and Safety
* Work according to the regulations and codes of practice governing aspects of Health and Safety relevant to the department. Assist in ensuring that documentation remains relevant and accurate.
* To adhere to all departmental and mortuary health and safety regulations and policies.
* To ensure that all workplaces are clean and tidy.
* To ensure that all staff and visitors wear suitable personal protective clothing and equipment when visiting the mortuary.
* To provide funeral directors with advice regarding the infectious status of routine and high-risk cases, without breaching patient confidentiality.
* To advise the bereaved on health and safety when viewing high risk deceased.
* To report and remedy where possible any instance or event which may cause a service delivery failure.
* To report any risks, clinical or non-clinical incidents or near misses promptly and in accordance with Trust policies.
* To attend statutory or mandatory health and safety training.
Information Technology and Equipment
* Comply with local and national policies for the safe, secure and confidential processing and storage of patient and other laboratory information.
* To adhere to trust policy regarding the use of hospital information systems.
* To be competent in the use of specialist mortuary equipment and implement first line repairs and daily routine maintenance procedures.
* Assist in maintaining the integrity and accuracy of mortuary and laboratory databases.
Working Conditions / Effort
* Frequent and regular requirement for manual handling i.e.in the dressing, undressing moving and lifting of deceased.
* The transport (manual handling) of consumables and equipment from storage areas and waste to designated drop-off points will be required on a regular basis.
* Frequent exposure to blood and other body fluids / tissues including potentially infective material.
* Meet with relatives who may be very emotional and very occasionally aggressive.
* There is a requirement to wear personal protective equipment e.g., gloves, goggles etc. as supplied.
* The post holder may be required to work alone and / or out-of-hours on occasions.
* Occasionally required to concentrate for long periods at technically demanding procedures.
Person specification
Education/Training/Qualifications/Experience
Essential criteria
* Numerate and Literate (minimum 4 GCSE's including English, Maths and a Science subject)
* Experience working with deceased patients / after death care
* Experience of working sensitively with the bereaved
* Good IT skills including MS Office
Desirable criteria
* Knowledge of basic medical terminology
* Knowledge of Human Tissue Authority Regulations
If you apply for this vacancy and have not received a communication from North Bristol NHS Trust within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful.
Please note that North Bristol NHS Trust does not reimburse travel expenses relating to interview attendance.
If you feel you meet the requirements of the Disability Act / Two Ticks scheme and require further support/advice, please contact us on tel 0117 414 1151.
North Bristol NHS Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
The successful applicant(s) will normally commence at the minimum of the scale unless they have previous NHS service at the same band. Progression through the scale is by annual increments.
At North Bristol Trust (NBT), we know diverse and inclusive environments lead to happier and healthier teams and improved patient care and outcomes. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are currently underrepresented in NBT’s workforce at Band 8a and above. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people and LGBTQIA+ people.
Please note that stringent pre-employment checks are undertaken on all successful applicants prior to commencement in post. #J-18808-Ljbffr