Trainee Anatomical Pathology Technician

Job description

Job responsibilities

Mortuary Services at the Whittington hospital incorporates a busy hospital mortuary as well as a public mortuary for the London Borough of Islington (Islington Public Mortuary). The mortuary is licensed by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) and currently holds full accreditation status. An autopsy service of the highest standard is provided both for the hospital and H.M Coroner, Inner North London District, based at St Pancras Coroners Court.

The mortuary staff also have an integral role in supporting the role of the Medical Examiner (ME) system within the hospital. This involves the administration of all the necessary documentation pertaining to patients that die within the hospital. This will be extended to community deaths within the near future and the candidate will also be expected to assist with processing of this paperwork.

The candidate will display good organisational skills, whilst carrying out varied and complex tasks.

The candidate will also be required to assist with the arrangement of Contract funerals which are arranged for patients that die with no next of kin or funds to pay for a dignified funeral.

Close liaison with a variety of other professions including Coroners officers, police, doctors, nursing staff and funeral directors is therefore an essential function, as is communication with the bereaved relatives of the deceased. Mortuary staff ensure that all paperwork is processed in an efficient and timely manner, primarily with a view to minimising any inconvenience and further distress to the bereaved.

The Whittington mortuary is open 8am 4pm Monday to Friday with a 24/7 on call service in operation.

MAIN DUTIES

The successful applicant will be expected to:

• Show due respect and dignity to deceased persons at all times
• Have provided evidence of knowledge gained within this field by way of researching the post or by way of related qualifications
• Have a good knowledge of anatomy and physiology
• Have an understanding of the various laboratory disciplines e.g. Histopathology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Infection Control
• Display knowledge of the purpose and function of the Coroners system
• Perform all day-day duties of an Anatomical Pathology Technician (APT) whilst working under the supervision of senior staff and carrying these duties out to the highest standard
• Strictly adhere to departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Health and Safety guidelines and other Trust and departmental policies.
• Obtain in due course the Level 3 and 4 Diploma qualifications arranged in conjunction with the Royal Society of Public Health
• Be familiar with the purpose of the Medical Examiner system and how the mortuary staff contribute to this process
• Assist in the duties surrounding the administration of documentation pertaining to a death within the hospital
• To liaise with Pathologists, hospital personnel, H.M.Coroner, funeral directors, police, members of the public etc.
• To ensure and maintain a high level of confidentiality and security.
• To have, or be able to develop, good communication and interpersonal skills.
• To have a sensitive and caring attitude towards bereaved family and friends.

Duties and responsibilities (during and after appropriate training)

To provide and maintain a technical service to a high standard.

• To ensure strict adherence to the departmental Standard Operating Procedures and Health and Safety policy in accordance with the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974.

• To have a detailed knowledge of the licensing requirements of the Human Tissue Authority (HTA)
• To have a detailed understanding of the Medical Examiner system

• To maintain a high level of security and confidentiality within the mortuary complex.
• To liaise with pathologists, hospital personnel, funeral directors, police, H.M. Coroner, bereaved families and friends etc.
• To assist and cover for the Mortuary Administrator in all aspects of death certification and the release of paperwork and patients property to relatives/next-of-kin. Specialist training will be provided in the provision of this service and the different pathways that can be followed to provide a dignified funeral to someone without the means or family to do so.
• To accurately record the property from deceased patients when applicable and issue accurate corresponding documentation to ensure safekeeping of same when received in, and upon release from the mortuary.

• To assist in the preparation of deceased persons for viewing by relatives and for formal identification purposes. This may involve specialist techniques of preparation in order to make the deceased person presentable to the family or friends
• To actively participate in departmental meetings.
• To attend both internal and external courses appropriate to training and development.
• To be familiar with the maintenance and monitoring of stock control within the department.
• To assist the pathologists in the methods and systems of work.
• During and after training to learn and perform technical duties within the post-mortem room:
• Identify and prepare bodies for post-mortem examination.
• Assist in the removal and display of organ systems under the instructions of the senior technical staff and pathologists. This may involve specialist procedures concerning removal of different organs and tissue.
• Carrying out special tests or examinations as and when required by the pathologist e.g. techniques surrounding the removal, packaging and processing of different body fluids such as blood, urine, vitreous, stomach contents and Cerebrospinal fluid CSF
• Specialist knowledge of the techniques surrounding the packaging and labelling of body tissues, organs and fluids for laboratory investigations as and when required
  • Assisting the pathologist in the demonstration of autopsy procedures and findings to student doctors and nurses, police etc. This will require good verbal communication together with a good knowledge of anatomy and how organ systems work in conjunction with each other.

• Ensuring that all organs are returned to the body immediately on completion of the examination.
• Carrying out careful reconstruction of the body after completion of the post-mortem examination.
• To be familiar with the mortuary computer system.
• To maintain and adhere strictly to health and safety guidelines whilst within the mortuary complex.
• To participate in the out-of-hours, on-call rota. The following should be noted with regard to the on-call system. This amounts to:

• • 9 sessions per week starting 4.00 pm on Friday evening and finishing at 7.30am the following Friday.
  • To cover for sickness and annual leave when necessary (annual leave should not be booked during an on-call week with the exception of emergencies).
  • Entitlement for a day off in lieu for every Bank Holiday worked.
  • Changing periods of on-call must be agreed by mortuary manager.
  • Being late for a call out or failing to turn up could result in disciplinary action.
  • On-call will involve answering queries from both hospital staff and H.M. Coroner
  • Attendance may be required at the hospital to arrange the issuing of death certificates particularly for certain faith deaths.
  • The consuming of alcohol while on-call is not permitted in accordance with the departmental and trust alcohol policy.

• To perform autopsies at other Trusts and local authority mortuaries as and when required.
• To undertake any further duties complying with grade, as determined by the Mortuary Manager.
• The postholder will be subject to an annual appraisal by a member of the senior technical staff whereby objectives and personal development plans can be highlighted.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

• 5 GCSEs (or equivalent)

Desirable

• Experience in dealing with the public
• Willingness and aptitude for learning
• Be able to work with others as part of a team.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work in a stressful environment
• Be able to cope with traumatic and distressing situations
• Able to liaise with many professional bodies e.g Coroners , police, funeral Directors
• Excellent telephone manner
• Able to keep accurate legible records as required
• Computer Literate

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Experience in dealing with the public
• Previous admin experience
• Experience of working in a demanding unpredictable environment

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Be able to communicate clearly and effectively
• Be able to work as part of a team
• Be able to work under pressure
• Willingness and aptitude for learning
• Able to accept instructions and manage own workload
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Good time management

Desirable

• Driving Licence

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Mortuary Services

Magdala Avenue

London

N19 5NF

Employer's website

https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)