Mortuary Assistant (fixed term)

Mortuary Assistant (fixed term)

The closing date is 04 November 2025

This post is to carry out duties associated with the mortuary at King\’s College Hospital Denmark Hill in particular to cover the surge in deaths over winter.

The post holder will participate in the provision of a quality service for the storage and examination of deceased prior to release for funeral, ensuring that all work is compliant with Mortuary standard operating procedures and performed to accredited standards.

The post holder will be involved in the smooth running of the office, post mortem room and body store. The post holder will need to liaise with various grades of staff including funeral directors, pathologists, clinicians, coroner\\\’s officers, police, laboratory staff, medical staff and other healthcare professionals both internal and external to the Trust.

The post holder will undertake a large amount of manual handling and will also be directly handling deceased patients as well as taking part in cleaning and housekeeping of the mortuary and body stores.

Main duties of the job

1. Assist the rest of the mortuary and bereavement team with day to day tasks. This includes but is not limited to; receipt and release of patients; setting up visits; taking and making phone calls; recording information on the local system (Eden); searching for information on the hospital system; liaising with wards; cleaning; checking patients who have been in our care for longer than a week.

About us

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King\’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King\\\’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone\\\’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust\\\’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Job responsibilities

1. To participate in the daily workload of the mortuary adhering to departmental protocols.
2. Assist with cleaning of equipment and working areas
3. To keep accurate records
4. Ensure that any visitors to the mortuary area are treated in a sympathetic and caring manner
5. Responsible for the accuracy of data within the mortuary area to ensure both electronic and manual records are maintained.
6. To ensure office administrative tasks are completed promptly
7. Release and receipt of patients
8. Assist with telephone calls and enquiries promptly, efficiently and sensitively, following mortuary procedures.
9. To complete data entry required for the day to day running of the mortuary department
10. Liaise and communicate with various individuals and organisations concerned with the work of the mortuary both within and outside the Trust
11. To liaise with all staff, students and others who are present at post mortem examination.
12. Assist with the preparation for deceased patients ready for visits
13. To assist with equipment maintenance required as necessary
14. To help ensure that the mortuary is at all times secure
15. It is the responsibility of every member of staff to ensure that he/she is conversant with safety procedures in the department and work in line with the Health and Safety Protocols and Standard Operating Procedures.

Person Specification

Criteria needed

• Computer literacy and ability to use common software
• Awareness of bereavement, cultural and religious needs
• High level of attention to detail
• Fit and well enough to undertake strenuous manual handling activities, such as moving deceased patients
• Experience of viewing or handling human tissue or bodies
• Previous NHS experience
• Ability to deal sensitively with bereaved relatives

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

King\\\’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

£30,546 to £32,207 a year, including high cost area