Anatomical Pathology Technician

at  Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

An opportunity has arisen at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals for a qualified Anatomical Pathology Technologist (APT).
The Mortuary services managed by Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals spans 3 sites at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals and perform in excess of 750 post mortem examinations per year at the instruction of HM Coroner. The department is fully HTA accredited.
Participation in an on call rota is mandatory, overtime will be paid for this.
Interview Date - To Be Confirmed
The successful candidate will have a Level 3 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology and demonstrable experience of working in a mortuary setting. They will be able to demonstrate good technical knowledge of mortuary policy, procedure, and human anatomy, as well as a good understanding of health and safety legislation and working in
compliance with HTA guidelines. Continuous professional development is actively encouraged amongst all members of the team and the department has a good track record of developing its staff to realise their full potential.
The role will involve performing a number of tasks including receipt and appropriate storage of the deceased, preparation for Post Mortem examination and release of the deceased in line with departmental policy, best practice and the Human Tissue Act, and in support of the Coroner, Pathologists and Police.
The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.
From 1 st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.
The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSABILITIES

To ensure that records are kept up to date and stored safely for compliance with the standard of Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK), UKAS and the HTA.
To comply with good mortuary practice required for the standards of Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK), UKAS, HTA and Health & Safety guidelines.
Assist in the collation of statistics for finance on the total number of bodies within the department with special reference to each Coroner.
Take an active role in departmental annual appraisal, keeping records and amending job roles where necessary.
Assist in audit within the department and when necessary, collate the statistics from the mortuary database.
Assist in the maintenance of all equipment and instruments, recording on the maintenance logs details of maintenance visits.
Ensure that adequate stocks of consumables and instruments are available and appropriately always stored.
Deputise for the Mortuary Lead in their absence.

KEY DUTIES

Ensure all duties are carried out in compliance with the Human tissue authority (HTA) codes of practice.
Carry out procedures with regards to receipt, storage and release of the deceased completing associated documentation in compliance with current policies.
Ensure all unidentified deceased are appropriately identifiable once identity has been established.
Liaise with the Trust Bereavement Officers, assisting them in the functions of the service dealing with bereaved families.
Assist, the Coroners Officers and carry out their instructions with regards to all deceased bodies in their remit.
To assist with hospital post-mortems on the instruction of the Consultant Histopathologists or other medical staff.
To assist with post-mortems carried out at the instruction of H M Coroner under the arrangements made with Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospital.
To perform, under supervision of the Consultant Pathologist, relevant post-mortem procedures on patients which are in an advanced state of mechanical disruption or decomposition/infestation.
To prepare the deceased for viewing in a sensitive and respectful manner demonstrating awareness of religious requirements subject to individual risk assessment
Carry out surgical evisceration, and patient reconstruction processes in the post-mortem suite in accordance with mortuary policies to enable identification for Police, viewings for relatives and dignified collection from funeral directors.
Ensure effective reconstruction and cosmetic presentation of bodies following extreme trauma e.g. Road traffic accident, suicide and persons hit by trains etc.
Perform invisceration of organs and suturing of bodies at the request of the Consultant Histopathologist or other medical staff on hospital and Coroners post-mortems.
Ensure that all tissues taken during postmortem for histological diagnosis are taken according to consent information provided by the coroner.
Remove cardiac implants when required by the hospital and clean them prior to disposal.
Liaise with the tissue bank teams and assist in the harvest of tissues in line with current Trust agreements, protocols, and consent.
Liaise with the Bereavement Office and funeral directors in respect of sensitive disposal of fetal remains in line with departmental and Trust policies.
To assist in the system for the receipt, handling, and disposal of Products of Conception from the Gynae and Midwifery Services at ODGH
Ensure that high standards of cleanliness and tidiness are always maintained in the department in accordance with departmental SOPs and HSE guidelines.
To maintain equipment on a day-to-day basis in accordance with policies/procedures and in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines
Report equipment fault or incidents to the Mortuary manager or in his/her absence the Cellular Pathology manager
Maintain and control adequate supplies of instruments, stores, linen, and consumables.
To ensure that suitable personal protective clothing and equipment is available for staff and visitors.
Keep up to date with relevant scientific information, trends, and developments to assist in the maintenance and development of mortuary procedures.
Maintain an ongoing Professional Portfolio and an up-to-date Professional Development Plan.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Maintain and foster the highest possible standards of technical work complying with Clinical Pathology Accreditation / UKAS, HTA and Health & Safety standards and regulations.
Keep up to date with relevant scientific information, trends, and developments to assist in the maintenance and development of mortuary procedures.
Maintain an on-going Professional Portfolio and an up-to-date Professional Development Plan.