Job summary
An opportunity has arisen for a specialist anatomical pathology technologist at the John Radcliffe Hospital with experience in both adult and paediatric post mortems.
The mortuary service at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust includes the main mortuary at the John Radcliffe Hospital and smaller units at the Churchill Hospital, Oxford and the Horton Hospital, Banbury. There are approximately 850 adult and 300 paediatric post mortems per annum.
You will undertake both adult and paediatric post mortems and assist the manager with the day to day delivery of the service.
To be considered for the specialist post you must hold the equivalent of a level 4 diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology. Candidates with a biological degree and the level 3 diploma will be considered for a band 5 post and be be expected to undertake the level 4 diploma. Following attainment of the level 4 diploma and demonstration of team leading skills the individual will move to band 6 using annex T.
Main duties of the job
MAIN PURPOSE OF THE POST:
- The post holder will be required to assist in the efficient organisation of the mortuary and post-mortem service. Services are provided to hospital clinicians and HM Coroner.
- The post holder will be required to perform both adult and paediatric post-mortem procedures of varying complexity some of which require a high degree of skill and experience.
- The post holder will exercise autonomy within professional and managerial boundaries.
- The post holder will deputise for the Mortuary Manager in their absence.
- The post holder will be required to work at any of the mortuary sites within the Trust as and when required.
- The work includes some weekend, bank holiday and evening or night duties, which requires a flexible approach to the hours of employment.
About us
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. Find out more here www.ouh.nhs.uk
The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call thisDelivering Compassionate Excellenceand its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via theOUH YouTube channel.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Scientific and Clinical Responsibilities
- Participate in both the paediatric and adult post-mortem service.
- Receive and record the receipt of cadavers from wards and other sources
- Undress cadavers as required and place in refrigerator, using mechanical hoist when possible.
- Safeguard any property and valuables accompanying the cadaver in line with Trust and Coroners procedures.
- Take blood samples from high-risk cases for testing for hepatitis, HIV, etc, to assess whether a full post-mortem examination can be performed
- Prepare cadavers for post-mortem examination, including the use of the Faxitron, assisting the pathologist as required during the examination, always having due regard for the dignity of the deceased and any constraints imposed by the relatives consent to post-mortem
- Remove cardiac implants when necessary and clean them prior to safe disposal.
- Remove tissues or organs for use in diagnosis, medical education, or research, or for medico-legal investigations, preserving samples in formaldehyde if required.
- Perform complex anatomical dissections e.g., Removal of spinal cord
- Participate in high risk and forensic post-mortem examinations, including those on UK military personnel dying overseas
- Replace organs and restore the external structure of the cadaver by suturing
- Employ specialist micro dissection and reconstruction techniques necessary with perinatal bodies
- In the absence of the Medical Illustrator carry out macrophotography of the organs
- Ensure efficient use and maintenance of resources, is aware of stock levels and rotation, storage conditions, batch numbers and expiry dates where applicable.
- Exercise own initiative and work in co-operation with other staff members to ensure that the workload is processed in a timely and efficient manner.
- Is fully conversant with departmental policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), ensuring that personal performance complies with both the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) and United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and other professional standards.
- Ensure appropriate records are kept for maintenance of equipment and liaise with senior staff and service engineers where appropriate.
- Liaise with undertakers and record the release and removal of cadavers (and property) from hospital premises, ensuring compliance with all necessary paperwork (local release consent forms; Coroners Burial Certificate, Certificate E, Interim Death Certificate, or Out of England Certificate; Registrars Form 9; Cremation Certificates; Free from Infection Certificate)
- Perform routine decontamination and cleaning of the post-mortem rooms, refrigerators, and their environs.
- Help to monitor the adequacy of resources and equipment, reporting any deficiencies to the mortuary manager
Role Responsibilities
- Practice in accordance with the professional, ethical and legal codes for HTA and the Trusts protocols and guidelines. Is accountable for own practice.
- Develop own skills, taking responsibility for Continuing Professional Development and performance, contribute to the development of junior staff.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the assessment, planning and prioritisation of tasks.
- Communicate with other members of the team, demonstrating good work relations with all members of staff to promote effective team working.
- Communicate effectively with other staff groups, both internal and external. To include healthcare professionals, external agencies e.g. designated officers of HM coroner and visiting police personnel, commercial suppliers, service engineers and visitors to the mortuary.
- Provide and receive complex scientific and clinical information to and from colleagues and service users. Is aware of barriers to understanding and can present information accordingly.
- Provide and receive sensitive information to and from relatives and their representatives where empathic and re-assurance skills are required. May include notification of adverse events.
- Participate actively in the recruitment, induction, training, and supervision of other mortuary staff, and ensure that professional standards are always upheld.
- In the absence of the mortuary manager or at their direction maintain records of mortuary technicians annual leave, sickness, overtime and on-call for monthly salary returns
- Provide training support and assistance to newly appointed APTs, Trainee APTs and bereavement staff. Role includes the demonstration of procedures to less experienced staff.
- Communicate with other members of the mortuary team and CSU
- Liaise with hospital officers and porter staff to facilitate viewing of cadavers by relatives and others, ensuring that the Viewing Rooms provide a sensitive and dignified setting for the purpose
- Liaise with nursing staff in the Womens Centre and other hospitals to facilitate receipt and return of foetuses and babies sent for post-mortem examination, facilitating viewings by relatives and others as required
- Liaise with designated officers of HM Coroner, visiting police and Home Office personnel, ensuring that the Coronial and forensic service meets all legal requirements
- Prepare, implement, and update Standard Operating Procedures in accordance with the departmental quality management system
- In the absence of the mortuary manager participate in CSU senior staff / governance meetings, ensure compliance with quality management systems and UKAS standards
- Participate as required in all forms of audit as required by the Trust, HTA and UKAS
- Ensure compliance within the Mortuary with health and safety regulations, the Data Protection Act, the Human Tissue Act, and Standard Operating Procedures.
- Understand and comply with the of the requirements of Clinical Governance, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and local Health and Safety Policies, reporting problems, errors or breaches via the appropriate mechanisms.
- In conjunction with the mortuary manager and cellular pathology senior staff, review of current practice to continually improve and develop departmental quality, and participate in the change management process,
- Demonstrate continuing ability to work individually and unsupervised to a level required in the provision of the out of hours service for lone working on shift or on call.
- Treat everyone associated with the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with courtesy and respect, maintaining good work relations with all members of Cellular Pathology staff and to promote effective team working taking action when own or others behaviour undermines equality and diversity.
Teaching, Training and Research Responsibilities
- Participate in the supervision and training of anatomical pathology technologists
- Assist the mortuary manager with the design and implementation of training programmes
Information Technology Role
- Display and maintain an appropriate level of IT skills, in order to input patient and post-mortem data, maintain and amend patient records and interrogate the post-mortem databases.
- Be conversant with use of Microsoft Word and Excel to perform a range of administrative tasks in the mortuary as required. This includes retrieval and disposal of specimens and data, maintenance of associated records and the collection of data for audits.
Professional development and Education
- Attend mandatory training sessions required by the Trust.
- Attend any areas of further development as suggested in their Personal Development Plan (PDP)
- Participate in annual appraisal in accordance with Trust Policy
- Demonstrate continual competency to comply with professional and regulatory standards using the mortuary continual competency training records
Job description
Job responsibilities
Scientific and Clinical Responsibilities
- Participate in both the paediatric and adult post-mortem service.
- Receive and record the receipt of cadavers from wards and other sources
- Undress cadavers as required and place in refrigerator, using mechanical hoist when possible.
- Safeguard any property and valuables accompanying the cadaver in line with Trust and Coroners procedures.
- Take blood samples from high-risk cases for testing for hepatitis, HIV, etc, to assess whether a full post-mortem examination can be performed
- Prepare cadavers for post-mortem examination, including the use of the Faxitron, assisting the pathologist as required during the examination, always having due regard for the dignity of the deceased and any constraints imposed by the relatives consent to post-mortem
- Remove cardiac implants when necessary and clean them prior to safe disposal.
- Remove tissues or organs for use in diagnosis, medical education, or research, or for medico-legal investigations, preserving samples in formaldehyde if required.
- Perform complex anatomical dissections e.g., Removal of spinal cord
- Participate in high risk and forensic post-mortem examinations, including those on UK military personnel dying overseas
- Replace organs and restore the external structure of the cadaver by suturing
- Employ specialist micro dissection and reconstruction techniques necessary with perinatal bodies
- In the absence of the Medical Illustrator carry out macrophotography of the organs
- Ensure efficient use and maintenance of resources, is aware of stock levels and rotation, storage conditions, batch numbers and expiry dates where applicable.
- Exercise own initiative and work in co-operation with other staff members to ensure that the workload is processed in a timely and efficient manner.
- Is fully conversant with departmental policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), ensuring that personal performance complies with both the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) and United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and other professional standards.
- Ensure appropriate records are kept for maintenance of equipment and liaise with senior staff and service engineers where appropriate.
- Liaise with undertakers and record the release and removal of cadavers (and property) from hospital premises, ensuring compliance with all necessary paperwork (local release consent forms; Coroners Burial Certificate, Certificate E, Interim Death Certificate, or Out of England Certificate; Registrars Form 9; Cremation Certificates; Free from Infection Certificate)
- Perform routine decontamination and cleaning of the post-mortem rooms, refrigerators, and their environs.
- Help to monitor the adequacy of resources and equipment, reporting any deficiencies to the mortuary manager
Role Responsibilities
- Practice in accordance with the professional, ethical and legal codes for HTA and the Trusts protocols and guidelines. Is accountable for own practice.
- Develop own skills, taking responsibility for Continuing Professional Development and performance, contribute to the development of junior staff.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the assessment, planning and prioritisation of tasks.
- Communicate with other members of the team, demonstrating good work relations with all members of staff to promote effective team working.
- Communicate effectively with other staff groups, both internal and external. To include healthcare professionals, external agencies e.g. designated officers of HM coroner and visiting police personnel, commercial suppliers, service engineers and visitors to the mortuary.
- Provide and receive complex scientific and clinical information to and from colleagues and service users. Is aware of barriers to understanding and can present information accordingly.
- Provide and receive sensitive information to and from relatives and their representatives where empathic and re-assurance skills are required. May include notification of adverse events.
- Participate actively in the recruitment, induction, training, and supervision of other mortuary staff, and ensure that professional standards are always upheld.
- In the absence of the mortuary manager or at their direction maintain records of mortuary technicians annual leave, sickness, overtime and on-call for monthly salary returns
- Provide training support and assistance to newly appointed APTs, Trainee APTs and bereavement staff. Role includes the demonstration of procedures to less experienced staff.
- Communicate with other members of the mortuary team and CSU
- Liaise with hospital officers and porter staff to facilitate viewing of cadavers by relatives and others, ensuring that the Viewing Rooms provide a sensitive and dignified setting for the purpose
- Liaise with nursing staff in the Womens Centre and other hospitals to facilitate receipt and return of foetuses and babies sent for post-mortem examination, facilitating viewings by relatives and others as required
- Liaise with designated officers of HM Coroner, visiting police and Home Office personnel, ensuring that the Coronial and forensic service meets all legal requirements
- Prepare, implement, and update Standard Operating Procedures in accordance with the departmental quality management system
- In the absence of the mortuary manager participate in CSU senior staff / governance meetings, ensure compliance with quality management systems and UKAS standards
- Participate as required in all forms of audit as required by the Trust, HTA and UKAS
- Ensure compliance within the Mortuary with health and safety regulations, the Data Protection Act, the Human Tissue Act, and Standard Operating Procedures.
- Understand and comply with the of the requirements of Clinical Governance, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and local Health and Safety Policies, reporting problems, errors or breaches via the appropriate mechanisms.
- In conjunction with the mortuary manager and cellular pathology senior staff, review of current practice to continually improve and develop departmental quality, and participate in the change management process,
- Demonstrate continuing ability to work individually and unsupervised to a level required in the provision of the out of hours service for lone working on shift or on call.
- Treat everyone associated with the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with courtesy and respect, maintaining good work relations with all members of Cellular Pathology staff and to promote effective team working taking action when own or others behaviour undermines equality and diversity.
Teaching, Training and Research Responsibilities
- Participate in the supervision and training of anatomical pathology technologists
- Assist the mortuary manager with the design and implementation of training programmes
Information Technology Role
- Display and maintain an appropriate level of IT skills, in order to input patient and post-mortem data, maintain and amend patient records and interrogate the post-mortem databases.
- Be conversant with use of Microsoft Word and Excel to perform a range of administrative tasks in the mortuary as required. This includes retrieval and disposal of specimens and data, maintenance of associated records and the collection of data for audits.
Professional development and Education
- Attend mandatory training sessions required by the Trust.
- Attend any areas of further development as suggested in their Personal Development Plan (PDP)
- Participate in annual appraisal in accordance with Trust Policy
- Demonstrate continual competency to comply with professional and regulatory standards using the mortuary continual competency training records
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- BSc in a biological science
- RSPH Level 4 Diploma Anatomical Pathology Technology
- Participation in CPD
Desirable
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of adult hospital post mortems
- Demonstrable experience of adult coroners post mortems
- Demonstrable experience of adult forensic post mortems
- Demonstrable experience of paediatric hospital post mortems
- Demonstrable experience of paediatric coroner post mortems
- Demonstrable experience of paediatric forensic post mortems
Desirable
- Previous on call experience
- Demonstrable team management
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Keyboard skills
- Knowledge of IT for running equipment and mortuary information systems
- Good communication presentation skills
Desirable
- Previous experience in an NHS mortuary
Other criteria
Essential
- Reside within a reasonable travelling distance of the main mortuary site
Desirable
- Ability to drive
- Car owner
- Clean driving licence
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- BSc in a biological science
- RSPH Level 4 Diploma Anatomical Pathology Technology
- Participation in CPD
Desirable
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Demonstrable experience of adult hospital post mortems
- Demonstrable experience of adult coroners post mortems
- Demonstrable experience of adult forensic post mortems
- Demonstrable experience of paediatric hospital post mortems
- Demonstrable experience of paediatric coroner post mortems
- Demonstrable experience of paediatric forensic post mortems
Desirable
- Previous on call experience
- Demonstrable team management
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Keyboard skills
- Knowledge of IT for running equipment and mortuary information systems
- Good communication presentation skills
Desirable
- Previous experience in an NHS mortuary
Other criteria
Essential
- Reside within a reasonable travelling distance of the main mortuary site
Desirable
- Ability to drive
- Car owner
- Clean 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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
