Mortuary & Bereavement Services Manager

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

·         Establish and build agreements within the team to ensure the delivery of the services provided.

·         Ensure area has a quality management framework that complements the Trust use of key performance indicators across a number of metrics, using service line reporting/management to ensure timely and accurate capture of information from which metrics reported.

·         Work closely with the Service Managers, Histopathologists  and Designated Individual to ensure effective support services are in place for all clinical areas.

·         Ensure facilities and other resources are available to meet service needs, including analysing and managing space requirements.

·         Ensure all policies and procedures are adhered to as required by the Trust.

·         Responsible for achievement of national and local service targets in conjunction with Directors and General Manager; monitor performance against targets, identify areas of concern and take remedial and preventative action as appropriate putting in place plans to improve performance where required.

·         Respond to any service target breaches in line with Trust standards and put in place remedial plans to ensure such events do not occur again

·         As a member of the management team, contribute to the annual Business Plan, ensuring staff involvement, in line with Trust objectives.

·         Manage the analysis of data so that the Management team has access to timely and accurate information on all key performance indicators.

·         Lead on the development of reporting processes from relevant information systems and integrating them into the performance management function.

·         Provide information across the Trust on performance within Directorate, including reporting performance to the Board.

·         Promote a positive image of the department both externally and internally.

·         Participate in and contribute to Trust wide initiatives and projects as appropriate.

·         Build effective networks with other departments, working in collaboration to support efficient patient flow.

• Advise and liaise with non-departmental staff (i.e. clinicians, ward staff, staff in other Trusts, bereavement teams) re all aspects of care of the deceased.
• Advise and liaise with external agencies (i.e. Coroner, funeral directors, social services, police officers, GM Mass fatalities team) re clinical aspects of care of the deceased.

Management and Leadership

·         To provide professional leadership and management of the mortuary and bereavement services across GSTT. To ensure an effective service, in line with local and national policy.

·         To provide technical advice in the area of specialised anatomical pathology technology and care of the deceased patients to the organisation.

·         To be an active member of the Trust’s End of Life Care Committees, providing guidance and assurance on mortuary activities.

·         Support workforce plans which anticipate service changes and developments and which address recruitment, retention and workforce supply issues to minimise the impact of these on service delivery.

·         Work with Lead Clinicians, Matrons and Head of Nursing, multi-disciplinary team to identify requirements for posts and sources of funding and to make decisions regarding funding for changes to roles.

·         Lead and support organisational change and wider organisation to ensure efficient service delivery and productivity and compliance with Trust and NHS targets; this could include consultation with staff and promoting new ways of working, implementing new policies and procedures.

·         Full line management responsibilities including recruitment, induction, appraisal, development and retention of staff as well as managing sickness and absence, disciplinary and performance issues that may arise.

·         Responsible for developing and motivating staff through effective personal leadership, ensuring views and decisions are communicated both up and down the management structure.

·         Chair disciplinary, grievance and other formal panels, as and when required.

Quality, Risk and Governance

·         Lead on resolving complaints and concerns from patients, staff, suppliers, other internal and external service providers and partner organisations; as part of the engagement with patients strategy ensure mechanisms are in place for capturing and sharing compliments.

·         Lead on investigating and responding to complaints in line with Trust Policy.

·         Ensure adherence to control processes and risk management arrangements including developing specific polices/procedures as appropriate.

·         Develop systems for the monitoring of compliance with internal and external governance and best practice requirements.

·         To ensure the mortuaries are compliant with HTA codes of practice, and all appropriate CQC standards.

·         To ensure that mortuary is ready for inspections, including Care Quality Commission and Human Tissue Authority .

·         Responsible for ensuring the audit schedule is implemented across the mortuary sites

·         Responsible for reporting and investigating non-conformances in the mortuary service, including completing and reviewing error logs and subsequent actions.

·         To keep up-to-date with current Mortuary and Bereavement practices and guidance from the Health and Safety Executive and any other professional bodies e.g. Human Tissue Authority and DoH.

·         To ensure lessons are learned from post-event analysis, proactive risk assessments and timely dissemination.

·         Financial Management

·         Manage delegated budget responsibilities for area, ensuring income capture, adherence to agreed budget plans, identifying savings and implementing plans to reduce costs as appropriate.

·         Work with the Finance Manager to ensure budgets are up to date and accurate, identify changes to budgets as required.

·         Identify costs pressures, service development and cost improvement plans, develop business cases to meet requirements and present to local Performance Review Meetings, Clinical Operations Group and Trust Management Executive as required.

·         Ensure compliance with Trust standing financial instructions.

Strategy, Change and Service Improvement

·         Identify opportunities for service redesign, focusing on a patient centred approach to delivery; work to develop and lead plans to improve and develop services.

·         Participate in Trust and area wide programmes that contribute to the modernisation of patient services.

·         Investigate processes and define root cause problems in order to make service improvements in line with Trust strategy and modernisation initiatives.

·         Support the General Manager with the creation of an environment that is responsive to the changing needs and strategy of the Trust including AHSC developments, changing patterns of healthcare and healthcare commissioning.

·         Act as management lead for the implementation of NSF’s and other initiatives

·         Responsible for the delivery of agreed change and service improvement projects and initiatives.

·         Work with colleagues to assist in the development and implementation of R&D, teaching and training programmes as required.

·         Responsible for regular audit/surveys to support and inform service development.