Mortuary Assistant

Due to increased workload and new service, we are recruiting Mortuary assistants who will be working, when required, under the direction of the Senior Mortuary assistant and Lead APT or their deputy to support the departmental workload.

The Mortuary assistants will be primarily based at St Richards Hospital, Chichester, although travel between all sites (Royal Sussex County Brighton, Princess Royal Haywards Heath and Worthing hospitals) will be required at times. The post requires the ability to drive an automatic transmission van between sites transporting deceased patients as required, undertaking direct funerals for the Trust. This post will involve some lone working, there will be a period of training and assessment on other sites prior to starting work, namely 2 weeks at Worthing hospital, 1 week at St Richards hospital Chichester and 1 week at Royal Sussex County Brighton.

The Mortuary is a standalone service and falls under the Director of Clinical Support Services, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. The Trust Mortuary service currently deals with approximately 6000 deceased from across West Sussex and the 4 hospitals mentioned above.

We currently hold a HTA (Human Tissues Authority) licence, number 12286

To undertake day-to-day operational aspects of the Mortuary under the direction of the Head of Mortuary services, Lead APT, Senior Mortuary Assistant and HTA (Human Tissues Authority) Designated Individual (DI) in compliance with the conditions of HTA and UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service).

To assist the Head of Mortuary services, Lead APT and Senior Mortuary Assistant in the provision and development of a comprehensive Mortuary service within University Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust mortuaries: Worthing Hospital, St Richards Hospital, Royal Sussex Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital as required. Travel to all sites will be required to support service needs.

To participate in the provision of a high quality, cost-effective service covering all aspects of the Mortuary practice including, receipt and release of deceased patients and their property, admittance and release of sensitive disposals, informing relevant persons of an implantable device, maintaining a safe & hygienic working environment, including general housekeeping, fridge cleaning, assist in stock control, internal audits and other HTA related paperwork, general administration, transfer of deceased patients between sites and to and from other locations.

Supporting the Mortuary “users” in helping to provide an effective Trust-wide Mortuary Service.

Join us at UHSussex, every day is different, you can be the change, better never stops.

At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute Trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

**Improving lives**: We are a vibrant and inclusive organisation, with hardworking, talented and dedicated individuals, who work together towards a common goal, to always put our Patient First. Our mission is summed up by our ‘where better never stops’ motto and no matter the role at UHSussex, you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex. We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our wellbeing programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

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Mortuary assistants participate in the provision of a high quality, cost-effective service covering all aspects of the Mortuary practice including, receipt and release of deceased patients and their property, admittance and release of sensitive disposals, informing relevant persons of an implantable device, maintaining a safe & hygienic working environment, including general housekeeping, fridge cleaning, assist in stock control, internal audits and other HTA related paperwork, general administration, transfer of deceased patients between sites and to and from other locations using the Mortuary patient transport vehicle, undertaking direct cremations for the Trust.

Travel to all sites will be required to support service needs along with participation in the out of hours service on a rotational basis with other Mortuary Assistants, occasionally assisting APT