Job Advert
NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.
We will fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long-term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.
The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital and St John’s Hospitals
Department of Pathology - Mortuary Services Manager (Band 6)
Salary: - £37,831 to £46,100
Full Time 37 hours per week
Applications are invited from suitably experienced and motivated individuals to fill the role of Mortuary Services Manager, leading an exemplary APT and HCSW team in a busy multi-site Mortuary Service. Applicants must have attained and demonstrate the RSPH Level 4 Diploma in Healthcare Science (Anatomical Pathology Technology) and also demonstrate extensive mortuary experience and knowledge at a senior APT level.
NHS Lothian mortuary services are delivered across 3 acute sites (RIE, WGH and SJH, Livingston). Autopsies are only performed at the RIE site only although there is a Mortuary at the WGH used for tissue retrieval purposes and managed by the SNBTS. Adult NHS post-mortems are infrequent however, perinatal post-mortems are performed almost daily as NHS Lothian provides a regional service including NHS Lothian, Borders, Fife and Tayside, led by 2 Paediatric and Perinatal Pathologists. In addition NHS Lothian Pathology provides the East Region Neuropathology service, supports UK National MS and Parkinson’s tissue banks as well as the Edinburgh University CJD unit meaning that adult neuropathology post-mortems, including high risk post-mortems, are frequently performed.
As mortuary staff may be exposed to Biological Hazard Group 3 organisms this means that effective safe management of the mortuary is critical. The successful candidate will be responsible for Health and Safety (H&S) documentation including COSHH and Risk assessments, supports LEV maintenance record as well as maintain AHU records. In addition the Mortuary Services Manager will support H&S compliance (documentation and audits), training and competence of all staff who use the mortuary. In the mortuary extensive manual handling is required, including manual handling associated with bariatric deceased patients, therefore the candidate must be versed in utilisation of appropriate equipment and RA to support the service.
The Mortuary Services Manager will also support general quality associated compliance requirements to support UKAS ISO 15189 accreditation. The mortuary manager post has considerable paperwork and SOP responsibilities and this must be considered by applicants as this is a significant change in working i.e. to a highly computer based role from a hands on practical skilled role. Applicants must therefore demonstrate good IT skills as Excel databases, quality management software (Q-pulse), LIMS databases etc will be used each day.
As a band 6 Mortuary Services Manager the successful candidate will be involved in the day to day running of a busy multi-site mortuary service. Therefore, this post is suited to an individual confident in their decision-making, organisation, excellent and sensitive communication, management and leadership skills, and evidence of this at band 5 is acceptable with an expectation that these attributes will develop further.
Experience in supporting training and professional education is essential as the team regularly has trainee APTs, evidence of an understanding of current portfolio requirements must be demonstrated. In addition, the mortuary team supports training of portering staff, nurses and other clinicians where necessary. CPD and training activity is encouraged and Mortuary APTs have won many AAPT awards for poster submissions.
The mortuary manager will be expected to take part in post-mortems, although at a reduced frequency to other team APT colleagues. If applicants do not have the post-mortem experience performed within NHS Lothian e.g., in perinatal or neuropathology post-mortems, then training will be provided to ensure that the mortuary manager can support these post-mortems for e.g. leave purposes.
As a large board there are extensive Early pregnancy loss duties, current experience and understanding of associated processes as well as significant sensitivity to support patients is essential.
Applicants must have a flexible approach to work, as they will be required to participate in all aspects of the Autopsy service including any future changes within the service.
This is a Pan Lothian post with rotation to all sites within NHS Lothian. Hours of work are Mon-Fri 0800-1630.
For further information please contact Sinatra Kirk on 0131 242 7158 or 0131 242 7082 or email Sinatra.kirk@nhs.scot or contact Nichola Wilson on 0131 242 7082 or email to Nichola.wilson@nhs.scot