The role is an assistant role to ensure the smooth running of the mortuaries at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

This is to ensure the mortuary team can continue to give a first class service that is focused on caring for the bereaved across our sites and to be able to provide reassurance to families that we will take good care of their loved ones in preparation for their final journey.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for the smooth day-to-day running of the mortuary they are covering that day, to ensure the development and delivery of a sensitive, responsive and high quality mortuary service, which requires knowledge of a range of bereavement issues, a high level of empathic communication skills and an understanding of different cultural requirements relating to death and bereavement.

The post holder will work with patients, their families and carers, clinical staff and external professional agencies, you will accept deceased persons into the mortuary, correctly documenting their arrival and to release deceased persons into the care of the appointed funeral director, ensuring that all documentation involved in the process is accurately completed. The dignity of the deceased must be maintained at all times.

About us

We are absolutely committed to ensuring that our patients have the best possible experience within our hospitals. We are looking for people who are committed to delivering excellent patient care, whatever their role, and who take pride in what they do. We place a high value on treating all patients, customers and colleagues with respect and dignity, and seek people who strive for excellence and innovation in all that they do.

We value all of our staff and aim to provide rewarding careers and benefits, fulfilling work environments and exciting opportunities.

Job description

Job responsibilities

OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT

• To establish and maintain good working relationships with staff within the Trust, the Coroner's Office, funeral directors, Police and members of the public
• Demonstrate knowledge of the Trusts Policies, Procedures and Guidelines actively contributing to their development and revision
• Demonstrate efficient use and utilisation of resources
• Ensure Trust values are embedded within every aspect of the service
• Ensure that the deceased and their families are treated with compassion
• To maintain the safe and dignified reception, storage and release of all deceased patients and their property and valuables, ensuring all documentation is accurate and complete, enabling funeral arrangements to be made without delay
• Prepare deceased for viewing
• Book the deceased into mortuary checking I.D., measure and recording coffin sizes for funeral directors and recording of any property
• To ensure all documentation relating to the release of the deceased is accurately completed.
• Clean and disinfect any spillages of blood and body fluids in a safe manner in accordance with infection control and cross contamination policies
• Ensure fouled linen is placed in an appropriate linen bags and change linen bags as necessary
• Liaise with Patient Affairs to enable relatives to view bodies
• Hygienically prepare and lay out bodies for viewing, cleaning any leaking body fluids and changing shrouds, sheets and body bags where required
• Release bodies to funeral directors, ensuring three points of identification are checked including the correct release form
• Any personal property/jewellery must be recorded and signed for
• Ensure high standards of safety is maintained throughout the department
• Work with the pacing department to ensure the process for identification and deactivation of implantable cardioverter defibrillators is followed clearly in the Trust Mortuary Guidance to prevent an electric shock to the embalmer
• Upload information onto Datix and relevant databases and other paper and electronic records contained with the department to ensure information is securely stored and compliant with Information Governance and GDPR Regulations in line with Trust policy
• Demonstrate a proactive role towards the management of risk taking appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards
• Work with other key stakeholders across the organisation to respond correctly to the religious and cultural needs, and other equality matters, of patients and their families around care after death, liaising with the Chaplaincy and other relevant groups
• Contribute to the needs of the service and bereaved relatives and carers at appropriate groups/committees and external to the organisation
• Working with the Trust Mortuary Manager, react to the changing needs of the hospital site and health changes to ensure the mortuary capacity meets demand, supporting future planning of departmental refurbishments
• Liaise with Police and or Coroners Officers concerning Coroners and forensic cases ensuring deceased patients are cared for according to Trust Mortuary Guidelines and if necessary, take part in formal identification on unidentified bodies

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

• Check stock levels and report to Mortuary manager
• Ensure that cremation fees received from Funeral Directors are managed and processed appropriately, adhering to Financial Control Procedures

COMMUNICATION

• Develop effective communication systems and work with all staff groups and service users to develop best practice within bereavement care
• Ensure all communication, which may be complex, contentious or sensitive, is undertaken in a responsive and inclusive manner, focusing on improvement and ways to move forward
• Ensure all communication is presented appropriately to the different recipients, according to levels of understanding, type of communication being imparted and possible barriers such as language, culture, understanding or physical or mental health conditions
• Communicate and support bereaved relatives using a variety of different communication methods for example in person, when undertaking viewings or via the telephone when clarifying arrangements for sensitive disposal of foetal tissue etc.
• Telephone bereaved patients to relay sensitive information in an empathic manner
• Answer any problems or queries relating to the Mortuary from members of the public, staff or outside organisations escalating to senior mortuary staff where appropriate

TEACHING AND TRAINING

• Maintain training to complete competencies to be able to work on any Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust site

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE or equivalent in English and Maths

Desirable

• Diploma level 3 in Anatomical Pathology or equivalent experience or, willingness to complete through on the job training

Experience

Essential

• Previous administrative experience
• Able to perform all relevant manual handling tasks in the department

Desirable

• Experience in working within the mortuary
• Experience in dealing compassionately with bereaved relatives and friends in sometimes distressing situations

Skills/Knowledge

Essential

• Requirement for frequent intense physical effort for short periods, such as moving the deceased patient
• Able to demonstrate computer literacy
• Written writing is legible
• Ability to liaise with others and carry out all general duties

Desirable

• Able to demonstrate Infection control knowledge
• Knowledge of health and safety

Employer details

Employer name

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Charing Cross Hospital

London

W6 8RF

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

C9290-23-1005