Anatomical Pathology Technician

To assist the Site Leads and other members of staff in the provision of a comprehensive Mortuary Service at Ashford and St Peters NHS Trust. The main base site for this post will best Peters Hospital, Chertsey. (Surrey) Cross site working for other sites in Berkshire and Surrey Pathology Service on occasion is a requirement

To provide assistant in the core mortuary services for Trust which include, but not limited to:

Admissions and release of patients

Viewing preparation and conducting

Variety of post-mortem examinations including routine, high-risk, and Home Office

Maintain equipment and cleanliness of department.

The appointee will be required to participate within the on-call rota for the Mortuary on a 1 in 3 basis. This on call will run from Monday 17:00 - Monday 08:00. The reaction time is 1 hour.

The appointee will be supported to work towards continued personal development both professionally and as part of supporting the department.

The appointee will understand the HTA requirements that underpin the foundations of modern mortuary practice

1. To perform office functions such as communicating with service users in person or by telephone and arranging times for postmortems with Coroners officers and pathologists. This will include bereaved and grieving relatives, Coroners officers, police, pathologists, nurses, hospital-based Clinicians, bereavement officers, porters and other Trust staff.

2. To liaise with tissue and organ recovery teams always complying with the Trust consent process

3. To liaise with other trusts and local midwives with respect to transporting deceased babies from Central Delivery Suite

Analytical and judgement skills

1. To assist with the procedures required to prepare a deceased for identification and to viewing. This includes potential contact with distressed grieving relatives and legislated authorities.

2. Provision of appropriate specimen containers during postmortem examinations; accurately receive, label, store and transport specimens (Blood, urine, swabs, organs, tissues) taken for analysis and laboratory examination in a safe manner.

3. To be responsible for taking, packaging and arranging the transportation of blood, urine and other body fluids required for further analysis under the direction of HM Coroner to outside laboratories (eg Forensic laboratories). To keep an accurate up to date log on the mortuary computer and relevant paper records

4. To obtain skills to such a level as to be able to assist APT staff in the supervised reconstruction of the deceased after postmortem to an acceptable standard including packing, padding and suturing.

Planning and organisation

1. To be responsible for keeping accurate records of the deceased and their property in the mortuary register

2. To be responsible for the safe disposal of all clinical waste from the mortuary and postmortem room as required by Trust waste disposal policy including the safe bagging of dirty/soiled linen as required by the Trusts policy on dirty/soiled linen.

3. To be responsible for ensuring the safekeeping of property and valuables of the deceased in accordance with Trust policies and procedures

4. To be responsible for acquiring clean theatre gowns, towels and disposable personal protective equipment for Pathologists and APT staff.

5. To partake in the stock checking of all the mortuary stock items. To assist with the cost-effective purchase and provision of stock in order to maintain the smooth running of the office and mortuary area.

6. Ensuring all documentation is kept up to date and correct as required for accrediting organisations, including current HTA standards and kept in accordance with departmental protocols, this includes correct disposal of relevant documents.

7. Enact re-ordering protocols if stock items fall below minimum levels, to place any order direct to Pathology Administration.

8. Use and maintain equipment within the department in compliance with departmental policy.

9. To identify and undertake any training courses that may be considered appropriate.

10. To partake in the compiling and forwarding of relevant statistics to the Mortuary Services Manager.

11. To participate in cross site cover when requested.

12. To participate in the on call rota on a regular basis.

Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest provider of acute hospital services to Surrey residents, serving a population of 410,00 people and employing approximately 4,800 staff.

Our vision is to provide an outstanding experience and best outcomes for patients and the team. We are committed to providing continuous professional development and flexibility to deliver our workforce plan.

We are part of a collaborative Group with the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust. As part of this partnership, colleagues may occasionally work across both organisations to support shared services, development opportunities and patient care.

St Peter's Hospital delivers complex medical and surgical care, maternity and emergency services. Day and orthopaedic surgery, ophthalmology and outpatient services are delivered at Ashford Hospital. Additional services are delivered at Woking Community Hospital.

Our Values provide us with the behaviours we respect and can commit to. By living our values through our everyday interactions, we can build a stronger, more resilient, and forward- thinking organisation, guiding us to achieve success and make a positive impact on how we deliver our services.

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits and discounts.

Please note that adverts may close early, so early application is encouraged.

For more information about careers at ASPH please visit:www.asph-careers.org

Qualifications

Essential: - Level 3 NVQ or equivalent

Desirable: - Level 4 NVQ or equivalent

Trust value

Essential: - able to demonstrate trust values

Desirable: - able to articulate trust values