Mortuary Administration Assistant

at  Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

This post is based within the mortuary department at Princess Royal University Hospital Orpington. The Mortuary is part of the Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Family. The Department provides Mortuary services to the local borough councils (Bromley & Bexley) as well as the Trust. The Mortuary provides a body storage facility, a full post mortem service for HM Coroners and the Trust, a facility for relatives to visit, police identification facility and a 24 hour on call service

• Responsible for the day to day smooth running of the office
• Clerical and administrative tasks
• Admission and releasing deceased patients
• Prepare deceased and conduct viewings whilst dealing with bereaved relatives
• Accurately maintain mortuary databases and registers
• Post-Mortem Scheduling
• General disinfection and cleaning of non-clinical mortuary areas
• Liaise with various grades of staff including pathologists, clinicians, funeral directors and other healthcare professionals both internal and external to the Trust
• Understand and work to the guidelines of Human Tissue Authority, Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology, Royal College of Pathologist, Trust Standard Procedures and Local Procedures.

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
1. To participate in the daily workload of the mortuary, including office duties, body management and viewing areas, whilst adhering to departmental protocols.
2. To ensure all patient demographic details are quality checked and any amendments/ corrections are carried out in an accurate and timely fashion, whilst adhering to departmental protocols.
3. To ensure the smooth running of the mortuary office on a daily basis.
4. To organise daily office routines, such as keeping databases and relevant paperwork up to date.
5. To support the Mortuary Manager (ASM) and Anatomical Pathology Technicians (APT’s) with administrative needs including managing the mortuary diary.
6. To ensure that all records are maintained accurately and securely within the CPA (UK) Ltd standards.
7. To engage and participate as required in the departmental Quality Management System, including document control, audits and continuous improvement of the Mortuary department
8. To liaise with the Bereavement Team, APTs and relatives to arrange body viewings as required
9. Manage and resolve potentially stressful, upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner.
10. Assist senior staff with teaching sessions; support with induction of new staff
11. Assist senior staff in the production of operational policies, guidance booklets, and other written material for the department. To assist with writing and reviewing of SOPs to ensure that all procedures undertaken, within the department, are covered and updated.
12. Participate in the utilisation of appropriate document management system.
13. Participate in required audits for the department
14. To assist senior staff regarding health and safety to ensure safe, and appropriate, working practices within the department.
15. Attend appropriate training courses as agreed with senior staff. Compile a personal portfolio.
16. To present the department in a positive light, by maintaining a courteous, friendly and helpful manner at all times
17. Participate in regular departmental meetings and assist in the production of documented minutes
18. Together with the senior staff regularly review the service provided and promote initiatives designed to improve the service. Participate in the future development of mortuary services.
19. Assist with investigations and responding to complaints in line with Trust Policy.
20. To ensure that relatives are supported, offered advice if requested, and treated with courtesy and consideration at all times.
21. To deal with stock take and linen
22. To ensure that any relatives complaints and concerns are dealt with or passed on to the appropriate person in a timely manner.
23. To maintain mortuary equipment on a day to day basis in accordance with policies/procedures and in accordance with manufacturer’s guidelines.
Administrative Duties
To ensure that records are kept up to date and stored safely to ensure compliance with good working practices for the standards of Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK).
To ensure that all relevant documentation regarding the release and receipt of bodies is completed and stored in accordance with local guidelines and legislation.
To book viewings and when necessary to accompany relatives into the Viewing suite.
To appropriately administer correspondence relating to daily coronial post mortem workload
To work closely with the Chaplaincy/Bereavement to ensure that religious and cultural differences are observed as far as is reasonably practicable.
To ensure that patient confidentiality is maintained at all times.
To keep accurate records of Jewellery/Valuables/Clothing that may accompany the deceased.
To facilitate official identification of the deceased
To receive and store ordered consumables and to report any deficiencies to the Mortuary Manager.
To monitor stock levels of consumables and inform the Mortuary Manager so that supplies can be ordered on a timely and efficient basis.
To take telephone calls and enquiries related to mortuary business.
To ensure that all relevant documents, including patient notes, are efficiently administered before and after post mortem.
Ensure that all legal documentation relating to the Mortuary is completed correctly and on time.
Teaching, Training and Development
1. To keep up to date with current mortuary practice and guidance from the Health and Safety Executive and any other professional bodies relating to mortuaries, post mortem rooms and tissue/organs.
2. To attend all mandatory training sessions, e.g. manual handling and health and safety, as set out by the Trust.
3. To work in a timely, logical manner to ensure maximum use of professional time, good time management skills and skill mix.
4. To participate in the departmental appraisal process.
5. To be responsible for own professional development and competencies under the supervision of the line manager
6. To ensure that all relevant SOP’s are read, understood and acknowledged before carrying out any procedures

Please refer the Job description for details