Trust Mortuary Services Manager

We are an award winning organisation providing care at two main hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—and a number of community-based services across London, such as sexual health and HIV clinics.

With 6,700 members of staff, we are proud to care for a diverse population of one million people. We are committed to ensuring that our workforce is just as diverse with a strong mix of skills and abilities.

Our staff are at the very heart of our organisation and we recognise the valuable contribution that each and every person working at the Trust makes. One of our Trust priorities is to be an employer of choice—a place where people want to start their career and to grow with us through continued education, professional development and support .

Site Cross site -- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital/West Middlesex Hospital Town London Salary £58,133 - £65,261 per annum incl. HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 19/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Trust Mortuary Services Manager to lead the delivery of a high-quality mortuary and after-death care service across Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, West Middlesex University Hospital, and potentially Hillingdon Hospital.

The post holder will provide operational leadership for all aspects of mortuary and after-death care, ensuring the dignified care of the deceased, support for bereaved families, and compliance with all relevant legislation, Human Tissue Authority (HTA) standards and Trust policies.

Working closely with clinical teams, Medical Examiners, Coroners and external partners, the post holder will ensure the safe, effective and responsive delivery of services while driving continuous quality improvement. They will promote high standards of after-death care across the Trust and provide leadership, guidance and support to staff involved in the care of deceased patients.

The successful candidate will have significant mortuary management experience, excellent communication and organisational skills, and a commitment to delivering compassionate, person-centred care.

Main duties of the job

The Trust Mortuary Services Manager will provide operational and strategic leadership for Mortuary Services across Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, with potential future support to Hillingdon Hospital. The post holder will lead the delivery of safe, effective and compassionate after-death care, ensuring deceased patients and bereaved families are treated with dignity, respect and professionalism.

Responsible for the day-to-day management of the mortuary service, the post holder will ensure compliance with Human Tissue Authority (HTA) standards, legislation, national guidance and Trust policies. They will oversee governance, quality assurance, risk management, service improvement, workforce development, capacity management and emergency preparedness arrangements.

Working closely with Medical Examiners, Coroners, Funeral Directors, Chaplaincy and clinical teams, the post holder will provide specialist advice, lead education and training, manage resources and budgets, and provide assurance to senior leaders on service quality, safety, performance and compliance.

Working for our organisation

Our Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5m, providing full clinical services including maternity, A&E and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health care. The CQC rates us Good in safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness, and Outstanding in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Mid.

We are delivering sustainable healthcare through our Green Plan. In line with Greener NHS ambitions, we aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Achieving this requires collective effort. We encourage staff to reduce their impact on carbon, waste and pollution wherever possible. Every action counts to create a healthier, more sustainable future.

We are committed to equal opportunities and believe diversity drives innovation and excellence. We welcome applications from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities, valuing the perspectives they bring.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Trust Mortuary Services Manager will provide operational and strategic leadership for Mortuary Services across Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, with potential future support to Hillingdon Hospital. The post holder will lead the delivery of a safe, compassionate and high-quality service, ensuring deceased patients and bereaved families are treated with dignity, respect and professionalism at all times.

They will be responsible for compliance with Human Tissue Authority (HTA) standards, legislation, national guidance and Trust policies, while overseeing mortuary operations, quality assurance, governance, risk management and service improvement. The role includes leadership of the mortuary workforce, management of resources and budgets, and oversight of capacity, business continuity and major incident arrangements.

Working closely with Medical Examiners, Coroners, Funeral Directors, Chaplaincy and clinical teams, the post holder will provide specialist advice, support education and training, and promote excellence in after-death care across the Trust. They will contribute to strategic planning and provide assurance to senior leaders and Trust committees regarding service quality, safety and compliance.

Person specification

Meets all essential criteria

• Demonstrates Trust Values
• Extensive experience managing mortuaries
• Sound knowledge of HTA
• Sound knowledge of legislation relevant to duties
• Experienced with delivering relevant training
• Commitment to quality improvements
• Skills in audit and policy development
• Able to perform all takes e.g. manual and automated in the mortuary
• Proven team leader
• Sound communication and interpersonal skills
• Organised good management skills
• Demonstrating compassion with vulnerable patients
• RSPH Diploma (Level 4) in Anatomical Pathology Technology

Important

• There may be some occasions when we have to close a vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date, this will be due to a high volume of applications. You are therefore advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please check your emails regularly (and your junk folder) as this is how we will communicate with you throughout the recruitment process.
• In submitting an application, you authorise the Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process, should you be appointed to the post.
• During the recruitment process your identity documentation (ie passport, driving licence, visa etc) will be scanned using a device which recognises UV, infrared and machine-readable zone security features of the documents provided.
• Employment at the Trust is offered subject to successful completion of a six month probationary period.
• We operate a joint recruitment hub across the North West London Acute Provider Collaborative Group. As part of this, your application and personal data may be shared with partner trusts within the group for recruitment and workforce purposes, in line with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Right to work

If you need sponsorship to work in the UK, please visit the Home Office website for information on sponsorship and visa status before you fill in your application form. Due to recent changes in the UK immigration rules which affect Skilled Worker Visas, Global Business Mobility, Higher Skill Level and Increased Salary Thresholds, please ensure that you are able to meet the requirements to live and work in the UK before applying. Further information about eligibility is available on UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Name Catherine Sands Job title Head of EPRR/BC Lead for Mortuaries Email address catherine.sands4@nhs.net Telephone number 020 331 56729 Additional information We welcome and encourage prospective applicants to visit our sites and learn more about this exciting opportunity. For further information or to arrange a visit, please contact Catherine Sands catherine.sands4@nhs.net

• Looking for flexible work? Why not join our StaffBank .

The recruitment team are available to provide support from 9am–5pm, Mon–Fri. To contact the team please call the Trust switchboard and ask for ‘Recruitment team, Human Resources Department’.

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