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Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
About
It is an exciting time to join the newly formed Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.
You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required.
We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care.
The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Senior APT & Bereavement Support Officer
Closed for applications on: 22-Apr-2024 00:04
Vacancy status: Closed
Closed for applications on: 22-Apr-2024 00:04
Key details
Location
- Site
- Bedford
- Town
- Bedford
- Postcode
- MK42 9DJ
- Major / Minor Region
- Bedfordshire
Contract type & working pattern
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Salary
- Salary
- £28,407 - £34,581 Per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Grade
- (NHS AfC: Band 5)
Specialty
- Main area
- Mortuary
Job overview
A senior Anatomical Pathology Technician post has arisen within the Mortuaries at the Bedford Hospital NHS Trust.
This is a cross-site post; working at both Bedford Hospital & the Luton & Dunstable Hospital.
There are over 2,500 admissions per annum, with approximately 550 post mortem examinations. Bedford site deals with all Forensic cases and is in piloting a PM CT service for the county of Bedfordshire.
We are a small dedicated team of ten staff delivering the Mortuary & Bereavement Service to the hospitals and our community, promoting the Trusts’ THRIVE values.
As well as having the level 3 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology you will need extensive experience of working in a busy mortuary environment; including post mortem examination skills.
The successful applicant will have a sympathetic and respectable mature attitude and be vigilant of strict confidentiality required for this role. You will need an understanding of and respect for the requirements of the diverse population of Bedfordshire.
Advert
To assist the mortuary & bereavement team with providing a professional Mortuary service for Bedfordshire Hospitals, liaising with all members of the multi-disciplinary team involved in the care of the deceased & with service users.
To assist the mortuary management team with the maintenance of the quality management system documentation for the provision of the mortuary service to UKAS & HTA standards.
To carry out post mortem procedures, both routine & advanced.
Prepare deceased patients for & assisting with viewings.
The post holder will ensure dignified, sympathetic & empathetic mortuary service in line with the laws & codes of practice relating to the mortuary.
Duties will be undertaken across both hospital sites; mortuaries at the Luton & Dunstable& Bedford Hospital sites.
The post holder will assist in providing training for new members of the mortuary team , promoting excellence throughout practice.
The post holder will assist the Bereavement Support Office Team in co-ordinating the day-to-day functions of the Bereavement Support Service.
Providing correct, informative, support & advice to bereaved relatives.
To advise staff about the administrative procedures following death including medical and nursing teams.
Contribute to maintaining a high quality service through evaluation & monitoring.
Assist the Bereavement Support Officer team in developing the service in response to Trust requirements & national initiatives.
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.
You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.
We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.
All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.
Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Responsible for organising own workload, work is managed rather than supervised.
Liaise with Consultant, mortuary and BMS staff regarding investigations to be performed.
Liaise with hospital staff, the Bereavement Officer, Police and Coroner’s Officers, funeral companies. Communicate with bereaved families.
Supervises junior Anatomical Pathology Technicians.
Maintains computer and written records relating to the deceased’s admission and discharge, property, valuables, post-mortem consent forms and cremation forms.
Assist in the completion of Cremation forms.
Implements policies and procedures within Mortuary, comments on existing and proposed policies and procedures which affect other departments and areas.
Responsible for maintaining supplies in Mortuary.
Responsible for the safe use of equipment within the Mortuary.
Attends departmental meetings as/when applicable or required.
Daily receipt and release of bodies ensuring that they meet quality standards of identification and documentation as defined in Standard Operating Procedures.
Assisting the Pathologists at Post-mortem, including the preliminary dissection of bodies, the correct labelling, weighing and treatment of specimens taken for laboratory examination, tissue sampling collection and data collection.
Frequent physical and cosmetic reconstruction of bodies after post-mortem for subsequent viewing by relatives, including bodies suffering trauma after accidents.
Maintain high standards of hygiene, safety and best practice within the post mortem suite and associated areas.
Undertake daily computer data entry and ensure that accurate records of patient information are maintained at all times.
Take part in any mortuary on-call service.
Participates in internal quality control and external quality assurance.
Maintains Mortuary equipment, benches and storage space in a clean and tidy state.
Occasionally participates in equipment testing and new techniques.
Report any instance or event which may cause a service delivery failure
Applicant requirements
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Extensive experience of routine post mortem, High risk postmortems. Experience working in a busy mortuary environment.
Desirable criteria
- Training of junior APT staff Forensic Postmortem experience Experienced cross site working
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Level 3 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology
Desirable criteria
- Level 4 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology Membership of the Association of Anatomical Pathology Technologists
Communication Skills
Essential criteria
- Written and verbal communication skills Good telephone manner Able to write clearly and accurately. Precise record keeping Professional and friendly manner both face to face and by telephone
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of anatomy and physiology Knowledge of routine mortuary procedures
Desirable criteria
- Understanding of formal processes after death. Processes involved in organising hospital funerals
Skills
Essential criteria
- Dissection and reconstruction skills Advanced IT skills with demonstrable knowledge of Word, Excel and Outlook Create database, spreadsheets, reports and power point presentation. Identify gaps, review develop inter-departmental policies Ability to travel between sites when required
Desirable criteria
- Empathetic nature
Physical/Mental effort
Essential criteria
- Combination of sitting, standing and walking Ability to work with interruptions Frequent short episodes of concentration Ability to deal with distressed people on a daily basis Exposure to traumatic injuries and decomposed bodies There is an on-going requirement throughout the shift, for moderate physical effort when manoeuvring the mortuary trolley and intense physical effort when there is a body on the trolley
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Tony Simpson
- Job title
- Cross-site Mortuary & Bereavement Service Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01582 718862
No longer accepting applications
Sorry, this vacancy is no longer accepting applications.
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