Anatomical Pathology Technologist

at  Croydon Health Services NHS Trust

Looking for x 2 Trainee/Qualified Anatomical Pathology Technologists
Assisting Mortuary Manager and Deputy with the smooth day-to day running of the mortuary service and will work under their own initiative as required.
Deputise in the absence of the Deputy Mortuary Manager
To undertake multi-site working as necessary and to be responsible for the running of the Mortuary and supervision of junior staff
Responsible for the training and development of the junior mortuary staff member
Provide an on call service for the Hospital, Organ donation teams, A-E paediatrics and Forensic services (including out of hours) and be available whenever possible for any hospital enquiries.
To provide transport with the Mortuary Vehicle for Hospital and Coroners cases across multi-sites and public mortuary sites, also paediatric cases to St Georges for Post Mortem.
Attend A-E paediatrics to help with transport and bereaved families
Responsible and assist with keeping the mortuary up to date with new HTA regulations and policies
You will be working in a well equipped department carrying out a wide range of administrative and technical tasks including the receipt and release of deceased patients within our care, assisting Pathologists in all aspects of post-mortem work for adult and high risk cases, following technical post-mortem procedures, safe manual handling and moving of deceased patients, arranging viewings for relatives and Police services, training and supervising junior members of staff and contributing to maintaining the facilities to the highest standards.
You will function as part of a small, dedicated team, providing high quality support to the Pathologists, Mortuary Manager, Deputy and other qualified and trainee APTs. You will have an additional area of responsibility such as quality, health and safety or training, it is essential for you to hold the level 3 and level 4 diplomas in Anatomical Pathology Technology or experience in a Mortuary or Funeral Directors . A minimum of three GCSE qualifications grades A-C (preferably Mathematics, English and a scientific subject).Knowledge of manual handling is required as the role does require frequent moving of deceased patients.
Croydon Health Services provides integrated NHS services to care for people at home, in schools, and health clinics across the borough as well as at Croydon University Hospital and Purley War Memorial Hospital.
Our values
Professional
Set ourselves very high standards and share best practice
Keep our uniforms smart, and be professional and consistent in our approach
Work in partnership to best support our community’s needs
Use resources wisely without compromising quality or safety
Compassionate
Treat everyone as we would want to be treated ourselves
Demonstrate kindness, dignity, empathy and compassion
Make time for the people we are caring for, to understand their needs and wants
Organise our services to give people the best possible experience of care
Respectful
Be courteous and welcoming, and introduce ourselves
Value the diversity and needs of everyone
Always involve people in decisions about their care, listening to and respecting their wishes
Appreciate the contribution that staff from all backgrounds bring to our services
Safe
Be open and honest in everything we do, sharing what we do well and admitting our mistakes, to constantly improve our care
Protect the confidentiality of those in our care and show sensitivity to people around us
Feel free to raise concerns so we are always learning• Make time for training and development and support research so people always receive the highest standards of care.
Responsible for the supervision of junior mortuary staff member on a day-to-day basis in all mortuary work
Undertake a full senior role in the absence of Mortuary Manager and Deputy, including all duties
Adherence to manual handling and equipment handling policies and procedures
Ensure admission procedures are followed for the Mortuary including all documentation relating to the controlled storage of the deceased, records of belongings, giving information to bereaved relatives and other services etc. Control of external agencies such as funeral directors with regard to collection times and ensuring safe collection procedures are followed according to Trust and departmental policy and Health and Safety Law
Execute all post mortem evisceration and dissection techniques and all other duties associated with the preparation of the deceased for post mortem examination. Implement other professional post mortem evisceration and dissection techniques, e.g. brain and spinal cord removal, heart valve and pacemaker, ICD removal etc as required.
Responsible for the training and supervision of junior mortuary staff in procedures such as High Risk Post Mortems, Brain and Spinal Cord removal, Heart Valve and Pacemaker, ICD removal and reconstruction of deceased as required
Responsible for the training and supervision of junior mortuary staff in record keeping such as Mortuary Database, Cerner and mortuary documents on a day to day basis
Have a full understanding of all disinfectants and their appropriate uses and correct concentrations. Ensure hygienic measures are implemented after post mortem examinations.
Eviscerate, and weigh the organs as required by the attending Histopathologists, bringing any findings of pathological relevance to the attention of the attending Histopathologists. A full knowledge of anatomy and physiology and skills in observation are required to assist the Histopathologists.
Undertake full and advanced reconstruction procedures after Post Mortem examination. Provide assistance in training and supervision of junior personnel to a high standard
Take and identify post mortem specimens as required and if necessary and ensure their return to the body in accordance with departmental Organ Retention policies and in line with Human Tissue Act (2004) guidelines. Accurate record keeping is mandatory and is essential for this task
Ensure that personnel observe the correct precautionary procedures and that appropriate equipment is in place and maintained when handling potentially infectious or hazardous cases.
Responsible for dealing with the removal of radioactive cardiac implants and pacemakers or any other implantable devices
Responsible for the disinfection and care of instruments and equipment
Dress and prepare the deceased for photography and viewings. Responsible for training and supervision of junior mortuary staff in all aspects of this procedure
Assist the Forensic Histopathologist on forensic post mortems and execute post mortem techniques under their instruction as required. This will include full reconstruction after any examination. Liaison with Crime Scene Investigators, Senior Police and Forensic
Histopathologist will be required. Responsible for training and supervision of Junior Mortuary staff personnel in all aspects of this procedure
Ensure the security and storage of forensic materials are maintained. Ensure relevant record keeping is produced, maintained and updated accordingly
Maintaining the Mortuary and Post Mortem room in line with guidelines and policies. Responsible in writing and assisting Mortuary Manager and regular review of procedures and protocols regarding COSHH, Infection Control, Risk Assessment and Standard Operating Procedures and ensure that personnel are aware of the documents
Execute any preparation work required for the presentation of deceased patients in the Viewing Room. Ensure differing religious and cultural beliefs are taken into account. Arrange appointments with families and friends of deceased patients and conduct viewings and formal police identifications as required. This must be in line with Coroner’s ruling and guidelines on viewing practices
Liaise and be communicative with: Histopathologists, Coroner’s Officers; Funeral Directors; Bereavement Office personnel; Chaplaincy and other ministers of religion; Police; Crime Scene Investigators; Tissue Team personnel; Organ Donation institutions; Trust personnel; bereaved relatives and visitors to the mortuary as necessary.
Observe and obey the Health and Safety Code of Practice of the department. The post holder must be health and safety trained and aware of updates in the law and policy and ensure all staff and users of the department comply with procedure and protocol Responsible and assist with carrying out Health and Safety inspections of the Mortuary environment and equipment. Complete relevant risk assessments in line with Trust policy
Ensure all procedures, regulations and documentation relating to any deceased patients are adhered to and maintained effectively
Responsible for ensuring that day-to-day records are kept and the provision of accurate data as required. Both manual and electronic record keeping is essential
Ensure the secure storage of personal effects, valuables etc. that are removed from the deceased and that relevant record keeping is produced and maintained correctly
Liaise with Tissue/Eye Bank Services to allow access into the Mortuary out of hours to conduct specialist retrieval techniques on organ/tissue donors
Participate in the on-call service for emergency and out-of-hours duties, including supporting and shadowing the junior mortuary staff when deemed necessary. These duties may include viewings incurred by deaths in hospital, Coroner’s viewings, police ID’s, and Forensic post mortem examinations and any other appropriate duties
Provide training provision of Post Mortem examination procedure for personnel within the Mortuary environment
Informative lectures/tours for internal/external visiting groups including nursing staff, midwives and Police cadets on various topics specific to the group regarding Mortuary procedures and services
Attend training days for Health Care Assistants and Midwifes to train in mortuary procedures and documents
Responsible for ensuring that the handling of all deceased persons, organs, tissues and specimens in the department follows the strict guidelines within the Human Tissue Act 2004 and that appropriate and accurate record-keeping is maintained
Responsible for reporting incidents and take action as necessary according to Trust policy and HTA
Responsible for keeping stock replenished on a daily basis
Active role in income generation for the Mortuary
Monitor Fridge capacity on trust sites
To enable Police to access the Mortuary and assist in finger printing, undressing and movement, I.D of deceased
Prepare babies to Leave the trust when transported to another hospital for post mortem
Check all consent forms regarding Adults and Baby Post Mortems, Pacemaker removal are filled out correctly, if not follow up with clinicians
Responsible for checking tissue donation consent forms are correct before procedure is performed
Train hospital site practitioners in mortuary procedures out of hours
Attend annual trust updates and mandatory training
Attend courses booked as part of personal development
To perform specialist techniques Brain and Spinal cord removal, tissue retrieval as required
Work together with Mortuary Manager and Deputy monitoring and ordering of new equipment and general stock
Work together with Mortuary Manager and Deputy with researching new consumables/equipment
Work together with Mortuary Manager, Deputy and Quality Manager in reviewing and changing policies/SOP’S writing new ones if needed
Out Of Hours
To participate in the On-Call out of Hours service for the Coroner/Hospital. To be available to the Coroner/Hospital should there be a Forensic Post Mortem.
To be available whenever possible to answer hospital enquiries and outside family or Police enquires
To attend the hospital for Major Incident
To attend the mortuary out of normal working hours as required.
Special circumstances only to facilitate official police identifications as required.
To attend Mortuary to assist in tissue donation services
Specific Additional Responsibilities
Training
To ensure that all Trust and Departmental Protocols are adhered to and updated and reviewed as necessary
To maintain and develop skills appropriate to the role by attending appropriate training courses supplied by the trust, HTA, Tissue Donation, AAPT
Use knowledge and experience to enhance post mortem procedures and techniques on all deceased to include high-risk infectious cases via Diploma standard training and other acquired knowledge
Participation in the annual PDP process
Training of junior personnel in the post mortem processes and all mortuary aspects
Health and Safety
Responsible in safety supervision and to ensure that safe working practices are followed
To ensure that staff conform to the Health & Safety Code of Practice
Health and Safety training and awareness of current policy and changes in Health and Safety La

Please refer the Job description for details