About this role
Job summary
We are seeking a highly motivated individual with strong governance and leadership qualities for the role of Deputy Mortuary Service Manager, working cross-site at Stockport and Tameside general hospitals.
In conjunction with the Mortuary Service Manager, you will lead Mortuary and Bereavement Services and in ensuring that quality standards and regulatory compliance are met, including UKAS ISO 15189:2022 and HTA requirements. You will support autopsies and act as a role model in the dignified care of the deceased.
Working closely with the operational team ensure the effective delivery of services to patients in accordance with agreed objectives, targets, quality standards, controls and resource constraints. You will support the Mortuary Service Manager and Designated Individual in the delivery of Trust objectives and dignified care of the deceased.
Support of the development and delivery of strategic vision, helping ensure service changes meet internal and external expectations and standards. You will need to understand business requirements and support plans for service improvement using modernisation techniques.
The successful candidate will hold a Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology, have proven supervisory experience and the ability to work flexibly across both sites. If you are committed to excellence in end-of-life care, we would welcome your application.
Main duties of the job
Working in tandem with the service manager provide a specialist, safe, secure, effective and comprehensive mortuary, bereavement and post-mortem service for the needs of the Trust across the Stockport and Tameside sites.
The post holder will be required to manage the day-to-day support and supervision of both the Anatomical Pathology Technologist (APT) and Bereavement staff.
The post holder will ideally hold both the Certificate and Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology and ideally show evidence of further development such as attaining a Foundation Degree in Mortuary Science. They will need to be able to work unsupervised and perform a broad range of duties, including performing autopsies. The post holder will provide an expert level of theoretical and practical knowledge and experience and hold responsibility for supporting all aspects of after-death care and will ensure that services promote dignified care of the deceased at all times, working flexibly across both sites to maintain continuity and resilience of service.
About us
We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and we are one of its largest employers.
We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.
We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from you.
If you require support with your application please contact a member of the recruitment team, who can discuss alternative application methods.
We recognise that flexible working is important. We take requests for flexible working seriously, consider any request we receive and try to work with you, so we can explore if your request may fit with the needs of the service.
Benefits we offer to you:
Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays NHS pension scheme membership Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further NHS Staff discounts Cycle to work scheme Salary finance - for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt Stockport Credit Union- for local financial advice
Job description Job responsibilities
Work in unison with the Mortuary Service Manager, and deputising as required, take full responsibility for the day-to-day management and leadership of Mortuary and Bereavement Services across Stockport and Tameside hospitals.
Perform, supervise and teach evisceration, reconstruction and post-mortem examinations (autopsies) in the same capacity as the lead, providing practical assistance to the Pathologist and ensuring safe practices and SOPs are followed throughout.
Lead the day-to-day management, supervision and development of APT and Bereavement staff, including appraisals, recruitment, attendance, conflict resolution and workforce planning.
Act as Named Individual under HTA regulations and ensure compliance with UKAS ISO 15189:2022 and HTA standards, including SOPs, risk and COSHH assessments, quality control, audit and investigation of non-conformances.
Plan and co-ordinate the mortuary workload, rostering and on-call rota, escalating capacity issues and undertaking capacity and demand analysis to support service delivery.
Communicate sensitively with bereaved relatives, undertakers, the Coroner's Office and Trust Bereavement Team, and conduct viewings with dignity and compassion.
Monitor stock and consumables, management of pay and non-pay budgets, and contribute to business cases and service level agreements.
Support service improvement, teaching and training, and maintain accurate records and statistical returns.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications Essential
RSPH Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology (Level 4 equivalent). Certificate in Anatomical Pathology Technology. Management qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience).
Desirable
Evidence of CPD Health & Safety qualification
Knowledge Essential
Thorough understanding of HTA legislation and the Named Individual / Designated Individual role legislation for Coroner's and forensic post-mortems, death registration and statutory duties. In-depth knowledge of both theoretical and practical aspects of post-mortem examination, evisceration, tissue retrieval and body reconstruction
Desirable
Understanding of funeral customs and practices associated with different religious, non-religious and cultural traditions.
Experience Essential
Extensive post-Diploma experience in a mortuary environment equivalent to a Senior APT. Experience of specialised evisceration techniques and of performing autopsies / post-mortem examinations in the same capacity as the lead, including high-risk and bariatric examinations. Leadership and management experience, including a range of HR processes.
Desirable
Experience of major incident planning and / or mass fatalities.
Skills and Abilities Essential
Strong professional communications skills Compassionate care and communication Strong analytical skills
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name Stockport NHS Foundation Trust
Address Stepping Hill and Tameside general hospitals
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, Poplar Grove,
Stockport,
SK2 7JE
United Kingdom
Employer's website http://www.stockport.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)