technician Worcester, England
Job description
Job Purpose: To provide and supervise an efficient and high quality mortuary and post mortem examination Service to the Local Authority, H.M. Coroner and the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust at the WRH & the Alexandra Hospital. To provide supervision, training and support to qualified and unqualified APTs, porters, security staff, nurse bleep holders/managers, and students Assist to develop and maintain effective operating procedures, which comply with Health and Safety, legal, UKAS, HTA and Trust policies, guidelines and legislation. Assist to develop effective systems implemented to provide an efficient and safe mortuary service countywide.
To assist with the update of existing/production of new mortuary SOPs and staff competencies. To perform and assist with mortuary audits monthly and quarterly for, and FOI requests. To provide appropriate assistance in the absence of senior staff General Duties: Clinical / Scientific / Technical To participate in the provision of a reliable high quality service that meets nationally accepted standards (UKAS or HTA). To assist in the arrangement of autopsies through liaison with the Chief Anatomical Pathology Technician, Consultant Histopathologists, Medical Secretaries, Medical Staff, HM Coroner, Coroners Officer and Bereavement Services.
To help maintain proper orderliness of the mortuary. Cleaning and disinfection of instruments after post mortem examination. Cleaning and disinfection of the post mortem examination room, body stores and general areas daily. Accept deceased into the mortuary, both hospital deaths and deaths from the community.
Ensure deceased are tagged appropriately with 3 points of ID in accordance with current HTA guidelines for post mortem examinations on behalf of the H.M.Coroner. Undressing of deceased, using safe manual handling techniques. Release of deceased to appointed Funeral Director, ensuring all relevant paperwork is in place ( HMC release, Green cert, Cremation forms, Out of England form, organise free from infection certificate and consent forms ). Ensuring Funeral Directors provide 3 points of ID.
To complete daily checks for deceased received out of working hours. This includes checking ID, recording valuables and condition of deceased, checking for pacemaker and identifying potential ICD devices for deactivation. To participate in the on-call rota providing an out of hours service (viewings including paediatric, Home Office post mortems , reception and release of bodies, formal identification of bodies, liaising with on site engineers in the event of equipment failure. Relocation of deceased if required).To prepare the post mortem suite, provide safe utilisation of tools and equipment during post mortem processes, and disinfect all equipment at the end of the activity To undertake specialist duties and supervise APTs in all duties associated with the preparation of the deceased prior to, during and subsequent to post mortem examinations including: Evisceration of deceased, in accordance with Consultant Pathologist specific instructions.
Specialist dissection, Spinal cord removal, removal of femoral bones, middle ear exposure, D.V.T exposure, iliac crest /vertebral bone samples. Reconstruction (Routine and complex) Detailed suturing Collection of samples/specimens/DNA analysis/tissue donation. This can include samples of blood, CSF, vitreous humor, psoas and bone for toxicology. Microbiology samples including swabs and heart culture.
Thorough cleaning of deceased, ensuring dignified and respectful storage until collection. Knowledge of current HTA guidelines for storage of deceased. Occasional handling of super bariatric deceased, including risk assessments to ensure safe transfer into fridges, and adjusting PM room practice in accordance with departmental SOPs. Use of Winpath database and PM ledger to record cause of death and then fax the form to the coroners officers and for further investigations.
Collection of samples / organs for Research departments. To participate in the viewing service (including foetuses, babies and children), involving interacting with the bereaved, giving professional advice following sudden death, etc. This will include dealing with sensitive deaths, including suicides and young adults from fatal RTCs. The post holder must decide if the deceased is suitable for viewing, and give professional advice.
To assist with disposal of wet tissue/blocks/slides and/or whole organs following next of kin wishes, ensuring that all documentation is completed correctly, and ensuring compliance with current HTA legislation. Occasional taking consent from NOK for Hospital Post Mortems. Explaining the process, and potential options for limiting the PM, and ensuring correct consent is given for retaining tissue, and subsequent disposal. To ensure that the deceased and those in qualifying relationships to them are treated at all times with respect and dignity.
To assist with and perform quarterly whole organ and tissue/blocks and slides audits. To maintain appropriate stocks of materials and consumables with a weekly stock take to enable service provision. To be responsible for the recording and safe keeping of deceased personal effects and valuables. To provide advice to other professionals (e.g.
in assessing identification, state of decomposed/mutilated bodies for HM Coroner and Senior Police Officers, assessing bariatric bodies for post mortem examinations and informing HM Coroner of the risk factors involved. To complete capacity spreadsheets, and ensure the capacity folder is kept up to date. To train internal staff using our facilities e.g. porters, security, nurse bleep holders/managers etc.
Ensure compliance with departmental SOPs and HTA guidelines. To maintain a flexible approach in order to adjust to an extremely variable workload and work patterns. This can include travelling across county at short notice To ensure that all documentation/communication forms/data bases that are specific/relevant to the area of responsibility are maintained in a timely, safe, confidential nature to ensure that audit and information flows are easily shown and understood. To ensure that all accidents/incidents occurring within the area of responsibility are reported, within Datix, in a timely manner and in accordance within the Trust Policies To regularly manoeuvre, transfer and lift bodies (average weight 65kg-115kg) using the equipment provided To regularly manoeuvre, transfer and lift bariatric bodies and assist in/perform post mortem examinations on bariatric bodies (250kg+) with the use of the hydraulic hoist and Patslide.
To perform any other duties covered by the post holders competencies after consultation and agreement with the line manager To use the Tutela system to monitor fridge temperatures, act on alarm calls received, and log in to the website to sign off alarm calls. To deputise for the senior staff in their absence To perform validation and verification and re-verification checks on new and existing pieces of equipment to ensure they are for purpose, working correctly following UKAS guidelines. Service Delivery & Development To be actively involved in the planning of service improvements and developments within the area of expertise covered Participate in teaching, training and developing staff in the designated field. To assist with production and review of Standard Operating Procedures for the mortuary in line with current practices/standards (H & S, legal, HTA, UKAS & Trust policies).
Promote up to date knowledge and understanding of mortuary and related services and develop effective working relationships with staff, users, colleagues and HM Coroner (e.g. through givinginstructive talks, advising bereaved relatives on procedures following a sudden death, arranging activities with Coroners Officers). To maintain a safe and healthy workplace through compliance with Trust and Directorate Health and Safety policies. To engage in meaningful communication with staff, colleagues and users ensuring that quality standards are maintained, services are provided within an appropriate time frame and that there is an awareness of changing requirements and legislation.
Establish and maintains safe systems of work within the department and specialist work areas. Professional Take all necessary measures to keep up to date with CPD in the discipline. This will include the reading of medical and scientific journals and attendance and participation in courses, seminars and scientific meetings (local, regional and national) as required. Attend departmental meetings including quarterly HTA meetings.
Be able to work independently and manage own workload working to local and national standards within the APT professional code of conduct. Be responsible for ensuring that consistently high standards of customer service are delivered. To deputise for the senior staff in their absence To supervise and participate in the training of APTs Education and Training To ensure all mandatory training is completed by required dates. To keep ones own and staffs training and development needs and action plans up to date through conducting regular reviews, and individual performance appraisal.
To promote and develop teamwork. To encourage good time management skills and use of skill mix. To promote and develop a culture of good communication methods and ensure that effective systems are in place to obtain views from all staff both from within and outside the areas of responsibility that impact on the service or service delivery. To promote education and training of internal/external users in order to optimize use of the service (e.g.
one to one practical training, giving talks, tours and demonstrations). To supervise and participate in the training of APTs
