Anatomical Pathology Technologist in St Leonards

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Main area Anatomical Pathology Technologist Grade NHS AfC: Band 5 Annex 21 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (On call rota) Job ref 374-ED2096

Site Conquest Hospital (Rotate Eastbourne) Town St Leonards-on-sea Salary Annex 21 per annum, pro rata Closing 19/11/2026 23:59

We are proud to provide 'Outstanding' care and be a great place to work.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust provides safe, compassionate and high quality hospital and community care to the half a million people living in East Sussex and those who visit our local area.

We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex with an annual income of £700 million and we are the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex.

Our extensive health services are provided by over 8,000+ dedicated members of staff working from two acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites across East Sussex, and in people’s own homes.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated us as 'Good' overall, and 'Outstanding' for being Caring and Effective. The Conquest Hospital in Hastings and our Community Services were rated 'Outstanding' and Eastbourne DGH was rated 'Good' Our two acute hospitals have Emergency Departments and provide 24 hour a day care, offering a comprehensive range of surgical, medical, outpatient and maternity services, supported by a full range of diagnostic and therapy services.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Mortuary Team at ESHT. This is a rewarding opportunity for a compassionate, motivated and professional individual to contribute to the delivery of a high-quality mortuary service supporting both the Trust and Coroner's Service.

We welcome applications from candidates who hold a Level 3 and Level 4 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology and are registered with the AHCS or Science Council. Applicants holding a Level 3 Diploma and professional registration will also be considered, as will those committed to progressing through the Anatomical Pathology Technology career pathway.

As part of our mortuary team, you will provide a safe, efficient and dignified service. Duties include the admission and release of deceased patients, assisting with post-mortem examinations, supporting mortuary operations and ensuring compliance with Human Tissue Authority (HTA) licensing requirements and ISO 15189 standards. The role also involves working across Trust sites and participating in the out-of-hours rota.

The successful candidate will demonstrate professionalism, compassion and respect at all times, with the ability to work effectively in emotionally challenging situations.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop your career within a supportive and experienced team. Whether you are already qualified or progressing within Anatomical Pathology Technology, we will support your professional development and career aspirations.

Main duties of the job

As a key member of the Mortuary Team, you will provide a comprehensive mortuary service for East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, ensuring the highest standards of care, dignity and respect for deceased patients at all times.

Key responsibilities include admissions and release procedures, supporting post-mortem examinations, maintaining tissue traceability records and ensuring compliance with Human Tissue Authority (HTA) requirements, legislation and professional standards. You will liaise with the Coroner's Office, Bereavement Services and Medical Examiner's Office to support effective service delivery.

The role also involves monitoring stock and equipment, undertaking audits, contributing to quality improvement activities and supporting the review of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). You will participate in the on-call rota and provide support across Eastbourne District General Hospital and Conquest Hospital as required.

We are seeking a professional, resilient and motivated individual with excellent communication and organisational skills, a commitment to high standards and the ability to work effectively in sensitive and emotionally challenging situations.

You will be expected to maintain your professional knowledge and contribute to the sharing of best practice within the team.

This is a rewarding opportunity to join a dedicated team and make a valuable contribution to patients, families and partner organisations during some of life's most sensitive moments.

Working for our organisation

A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to onsite nurseries. staff restaurants and accommodation.

In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year.

Statement on the Use of AI

We value the individuality that each candidate brings to the application process. While we understand that AI tools are widely available, we strongly discourage applicants from using AI-generated content when applying for jobs with us. We believe that your application should reflect your true skills, experiences, and motivations, which are best conveyed through your own words and unique perspective.

Using AI for your application may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and may result in a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application.

We encourage applicants to take the time to thoughtfully complete your applications; by doing so, you allow us to better understand your true potential and ensure a fair and transparent evaluation of your application. Over reliance on AI-generated content may diminish your chance of success.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For full details of the role and person requirements, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

We welcome any questions and look forward to hearing from prospective applicants.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Educated to postgraduate diploma level or proven equivalent experience
• RSPH Certificate and Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology or Level 4 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology (RSPH) or Level 3 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology (RSPH) with substantial post qualification APT experience
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Registration with AHCS and/or SC
• HTA Consent training
• AAPT member
• Leadership Training

Experience

• Experience of working in an HTA licensed mortuary (NHS or Council)
• Experience of participating in post mortem examinations including traumatic injuries and those in various states of deterioration
• Experience of mentoring staff
• Previous experience of completing audits and reviewing SOPs
• Liaising with the bereaved
• Experience of training other professionals
• Representing the mortuary at meetings
• Exposure to babies, children, young people
• Mentoring trainee APTs
• Emergency response involvement

Skills

• Knowledge of current APT standards of post mortem examination practice
• Good keyboard and IT skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office Word, Excel and Outlook
• Good organisational skills
• Knowledge of the HTA codes and standards
• Flexible to changing demands and able to identify and adjust priorities
• Will assist other team member’s, pathologists and other service users on a daily basis.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Availability at peak times and as the service requires.
• Polite and courteous and comply with all Trust policies
• QPulse
• Evotix
• Datix
• EDEN
• INTEGRA
• NHS Supply chain

Patients come first at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

Our vision is to be:

• The healthcare provider of first choice for the people of East Sussex.

Our mission is to:

• Deliver better health outcomes and an excellent experience for everyone we provide with healthcare services.

Our strategic objectives are to:

• Improve quality and clinical outcomes by ensuring that safe patient care is our highest priority.
• Play a leading role in local partnerships to meet the needs of our local population and improve and enhance patients' experiences.
• Use our resources efficiently and effectively for the benefit of our patients and their care to ensure our services are clinically, operationally and financially sustainable.

Our aims are that all services delivered by the Trust are:

• Safe
• Effective
• Caring
• Responsive and
• Well led

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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