Senior Mortuary Technician

Job overview

Supervise and coordinate Mortuary Technicians across University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust mortuaries, including Worthing, St Richard’s, Royal Sussex and Princess Royal Hospitals, with travel between sites as required. Key responsibilities include rota management, staff supervision, admission, storage and release of deceased patients and their property, management of sensitive disposals (pregnancy remains), implantable device notifications, stock control, administration, audit activity and maintaining a safe, clean and compliant mortuary environment. The role also supports the transfer of deceased patients between Trust and external locations, facilitates unattended Trust funerals and ensures completion of HTA documentation and quality assurance processes.

The post holder will provide compassionate support to bereaved families, undertake Trust cremation processes, care for babies following pregnancy loss and support the delivery of post-mortem services, including high-risk, traumatic and decomposed cases.

The role includes participation in coronial and forensic post-mortems and reconstruction procedures, including organ replacement, body packing and suturing under supervision. The post holder must ensure compliance with Human Tissue Authority (HTA) legislation, Codes of Practice and Trust policies, maintaining high standards of dignity, traceability, governance and patient care at all times.

Main duties of the job

The role includes coordinating daily mortuary operations across multiple locations, managing staff rotas and workloads, supporting staff development and appraisals, and ensuring compliance with Trust policies, procedures and legislation. You will oversee the respectful admission, care, storage and release of deceased patients and their property, maintaining dignity, traceability and legal compliance at all times.

You will provide sensitive support to bereaved families, facilitate viewings and funerals, and guide relatives through mortuary processes. Responsibilities also include leading audits, quality assurance activities and Human Tissue Authority (HTA) compliance, implementing service improvements and corrective actions where required.

The post holder will support coronial, hospital and forensic post-mortem services, including reconstruction procedures and assisting Anatomical Pathology Technologists (APTs). Additional duties include managing tissue and sample handling, sensitive disposals, unattended funerals, implantable device notifications, stock control and maintaining a safe, hygienic mortuary environment.

The role requires participation in the out-of-hours on-call rota, transfer of deceased patients between sites and external locations, and acting as an HTA Person Designate when required.

Working for our organisation

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please note: This role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules, which set specific salary and skill thresholds. As such, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. Applicants will therefore need to already have the right to work in the UK to be considered. We include this information at the outset to provide clarity and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for applicants.

If you do not meet the sponsorship requirements, and you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.

As a Senior Mortuary Technician, you will support the delivery of a high-quality, compassionate and compliant mortuary service across all Trust sites. The role requires excellent communication skills and regular liaison with bereaved families, clinical teams, Coroner’s Officers, Funeral Directors, Crematoria, Medical Examiners, local authority representatives and forensic agencies. You will provide sensitive advice and support on matters relating to the care and release of the deceased, viewings, funerals, post-mortems and legal requirements.

You will oversee the daily operation of the mortuary service, including staff deployment, rota management, workload prioritisation and ensuring service continuity across all sites. Responsibilities include supervising Mortuary Technicians, managing annual leave and on-call arrangements, conducting appraisals, supporting staff development and ensuring compliance with Trust policies and procedures.

The post holder will lead audits, quality assurance activities, HTA compliance monitoring, risk assessments and the implementation of service improvements, corrective actions and updated standard operating procedures. You will maintain accurate records, manage post-mortem tissue and sample traceability, and act as an HTA Person Designate when required.

Operational duties include the admission, care, storage and release of deceased patients and their property, facilitating viewings, sensitive disposals, Trust funerals and Direct It Yourself (DIY) funerals. You will support coronial, hospital and forensic post-mortem services, organ and tissue retrieval programmes, reconstruction procedures under APT supervision, and the transfer of deceased patients between Trust sites and external locations.

The role also includes maintaining a safe, hygienic and well-stocked mortuary environment, participating in the out-of-hours on-call rota, and ensuring all activities are conducted in accordance with HTA, Health & Safety, infection prevention and Trust requirements. Continuous professional development, mandatory training and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of legislation and mortuary best practice are essential requirements of the post.

Person specification

Essential and desirable

Essential criteria

• Knowledge and experience of advanced autopsy, forensic, and infection procedures.
• Attained a diploma level in anatomical Pathology Technology or attained an equivalent qualification plus knowledge and experience to Diploma level.
• Must hold a Level 2 certificate in Mortuary Support or an equivalent qualification.
• Must possess an extensive knowledge of the HTA legislation and the implications of this on patient care and the operational running of the Mortuary is required.
• The importance of infection control measures and the implications of safe handling of patients and samples is essential to the role
• Proven previous experience of conducting Mortuary duties including audits, corrective actions and learning reviews
• Demonstrable experience in working with deceased patients.
• Sound level of Numeracy and English
• Demonstrable ability to receive and understand data of varying levels of complexity
• Demonstrable ability to communicate in an empathic manner over sensitive issues.
• Demonstrates ability to overcome any barriers to understanding e.g in terms of language or learning difficulties.
• Attention to detail and working with accuracy and precision
• Ability to deal with the emotion of distressing situations, in a empathetic and professional manner.
• Ability to plan own tasks and those of the team.
• Ensure all goals are achieved in accordance with timescales and level of quality is not compromised.
• Proven proficiency in using Microsoft Word and Excel, other software packages
• Proven ability to lead and manage a team
• Work cohesively as part of a team
• Evidence of continued CPD
• Experience of conducting appraisals for team members
• Experience of managing team members in accordance with the relevant policy and procedure.
• Proven ability to reconstruct, suture incisions and wounds on the deceased.
• Ability to recognise and monitor parameters of quality, accuracy and imprecision
• Ability to deal with frequent exposure to highly unpleasant working conditions.
• Knowledge of the HTA code of practice A consent and B post mortem
• Full Driving licence held for a minimum of 2 years (cat b)
• Guided by precedent and clearly defined policies, protocols and procedures.
• Work is managed rather than supervised and results/outcomes are assessed and reviewed at agreed stages.
• Ability to cope with frequent “Lone Worker” situations.
• Participation in the Out-Of-Hours (OOH) Service on a rotational basis with the other Mortuary Technicians and APTs (once signed-off on appropriate competencies).

Desirable criteria

• Registration with the Association of Anatomical Pathology Technologists as an associate member (currently voluntary).
• Previous experience of funeral booking and understanding of funeral services

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential criteria

• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)

Important information for applicants:

A Note on AI Use in Applications

UHSussex values authenticity and encourages applicants to ensure that all application materials accurately reflect their own skills, experience, knowledge and motivations. Candidates may use AI and digital tools to support the preparation of applications, for example to assist with spelling, grammar, structure or accessibility needs. However, applicants remain responsible for the content submitted and should ensure that it genuinely represents their own abilities and experience. Where there are reasonable concerns that an application does not authentically reflect the applicant's own knowledge, skills, experience or suitability for the role, the Trust reserves the right to explore this further and, where authenticity cannot be satisfactorily demonstrated, to reject the application.

Bank Workers: Bank workers are welcome to apply for any of our vacancies but please note if you are successful at interview there will be a delay in confirming a start date due to the Trust's current financial controls.

Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.

Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.

Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.

DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check . We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.

Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.

UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications