Anatomical Pathology Technologist

Applications are invited for the post of Anatomical Pathology Technologist for the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust Mortuary Service. We are looking for a highly-motivated APT to join our enthusiastic team in maintaining and developing service quality. Applicants must have excellent communication skills, be compassionate, display meticulous attention to detail and have a will to develop a detailed knowledge of Mortuary function and end-of-life care and a good understanding of mortuary services.

Our service is comprised of an HTA-licensed mortuary site providing hospital and Coronial services for South Devon. We look after approximately 2000 deceased patients and carry out around 550 Coronial Post Mortems annually.

The role will include participating in the 24/7 on-call service.

We strongly encourage potential applicants to evaluate the practical elements of being available to respond to calls and be on site out-of-hours 1 week in 4 before applying

To provide a specialist safe, secure, and effective mortuary and post mortem service for the needs of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, Pathologists, Coroner and the community.

You will be required to hold the Level 3 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology or equivalent e.g. RSPH Certificate in Anatomical Pathology Technology; work unsupervised and perform a broad range of duties.

You will provide an expert level of theoretical and practical knowledge and experience.

You will provide practical assistance to the Pathologist whilst in attendance and ensure that safe practices and standard operating procedures are adhered to in every aspect of the departments’ work.

They will ensure the efficient day to day running of the department, directing junior staff; being responsible for essential user maintenance and excellent standards of cleanliness and sterilisation of mortuary equipment as required.

You will ensure that appropriate techniques are applied by staff when preparing for and assisting in post mortem examinations and identify potential hazards to health and take measures to minimise or eliminate risks in the Mortuary.

We are a small close knit team within the Mortuary that support each other in what can, at times, be an incredibly challenging role. We pride ourselves on how we care for peoples loved ones and believe that care does not stop when a patient dies.

Why work with us

Communication and working relationship

Maintain patient and relative privacy, dignity and respect at all times
- Ensure positive relative experience in all aspects of after life care
- Engage and participate as required, in external visits to the Mortuary, ensuring compliance with national quality frameworks (e.g. CQC)-
Analytical and judgement
- Ensure that all available options for Tissue Donation are taken, including arranging 3 rd party operatives to come in and facilitate retrieval if required.
- Responsible and accountable for the release of the deceased to authorised Funeral Directors in accordance with the law and local safety procedures, ensuring the correct identification of the deceased.
- To report incidents in line with Trust policies.

To make judgements regarding which techniques to use with the removal of organs, based on different Anatomy and Pathology which may be present.Planning and organisation
- Responsibility for ensuring that Funeral Directors are given the correct certificates required for the disposal and cremation of the body
- Responsible for the organisation of foetuses for monthly committals at crematorium and arrange collection by contract Funeral Directors.
- Responsible for organising and participating in an out of hours on call rotaResponsibility for patient and client care
- Responsible and accountable for recording and supervising lawful disposal of human tissue, products of conception and police forensic exhibits

Have knowledge of specialist skills in Anatomical Pathology Technology, including knowledge of different evisceration and reconstruction techniques such as removal of spinal cord and some experience reconstructing trauma cases.-
Policy and service responsibility
- Ensure continued professional development in-keeping with national practice and guidance
- Ensure that documentation surrounding consents for Post mortem and Tissue Donation are fully completed and in accordance with the law.
- Responsible for maintaining Health and Safety, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and Risk assessments appropriate to the departmentResponsibility for finance, equipment and other resources
- To take a role in maintaining Mortuary equipment by carrying out visual checks and reporting any defects or abnormalities to the Senior APT or Mortuary Manager
- To decontaminate and provide appropriate documentation for medical devices that need to be serviced by other departments.Responsibility for supervision and Leadership
- Share good practice within the Mortuary, Care Group and Trust wide.
- Supervise trainee