Mortuary Manager

Find out about the current vacancies available at the Trust and take the next step in your career with us.

Site: North Tees Hospital

Town: Stockton on Tees

Salary: £49,387 - £56,515 per annum

Salary period: Yearly

Closing: 06/08/2026 23:59

Job overview:

Please note: This vacancy may close early once sufficient applications have been received. We are seeking a highly skilled, knowledgeable and experienced APT for the leadership role of Mortuary Manager. As the professional lead for the service, you will be responsible for day-to-day operational management, ensuring the highest standards of care, professionalism and compliance and promote dignified care of the deceased at all times. You will have strong leadership skills, a passion for delivering high quality, compassionate services and significant post L4 diploma experience working in a hospital mortuary service, which includes forensic post mortems. A post graduate level qualification equivalent to Level 7/MSC or evidenced equivalent competence and experience are required. Although not expected to routinely participate in the out of hour’s roster, the post holder is expected to be available for on call advice and emergency cover if needed.

Main duties of the job:

• Be the professional lead for the Mortuary Services across North Tees and Hartlepool NHSFT and South Tees Hospitals NHSFT liaising with all members of the multi-disciplinary team involved in care of the deceased. Duties will be undertaken across multiple sites associated with both hospitals.
• Be responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the Mortuary Services across North Tees and Hartlepool NHSFT and South Tees Hospitals NHSFT and Bereavement Services at North Tees and Hartlepool NHSFT.
• Be responsible for all aspects of after death care and ensure that services promote dignified care of the deceased at all times.
• Undertake the role of Persons Designate, across all mortuary sites, assisting the DI(s) in ensuring compliance with HTA standards.
• Maintain standards according to relevant legislation, HTA and UKAS standards keeping up to date with changes and implementing these accordingly.
• Provide specialised training for relevant staff in after death care and post-mortem assistance.
• Encourage close team working and foster cross-site working links to ensure consistency in procedures, practice, and develop robust contingency and business continuity plans.

Working for our organisation:

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust have come together to form University Hospitals Tees. As a result, post holders may be required to work across sites within both organisations. Across University Hospitals Tees, our ambition is to be the best place to work, ensuring we have the right staff in the right roles at the right time to deliver outstanding patient care and experience. We are committed to supporting our staff through an inclusive and supportive working environment, offering health and wellbeing initiatives, staff benefits, and opportunities for personal and professional development.

Person specification:

• Recognised professional qualification or evidenced equivalent experience: Masters Level 7 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology or L4 Diploma.
• Certificate in eye enucleation from a recognised eye bank.

• In-depth knowledge of both theoretical and practical aspects of postmortem examination, evisceration and tissue and body reconstruction.
• A working knowledge of bereavement services and the role of Medical Examiner.
• Knowledge and understanding of the HTA codes of practice.
• Knowledge of UKAS, CQC, RCPath guidelines.
• Knowledge of mass fatalities planning.
• A thorough understanding of funeral customs and practices associated with different religious, non-religious and cultural traditions.
• Knowledge of the L3 Diploma APT and expectations of candidates.

• Significant experience in a Senior Specialist role.
• Experience of external visits e.g. UKAS/HTA.
• Experience in recruitment and selection of staff.
• Experience of training/mentoring APT’s and support staff.
• Experience in conducting audits, formulating risk assessments/SOPs and investigating incidents.
• Experience of managing a multi-site service.
• Experience of leading a mortuary through the change process.
• Experience of duty of candour.

• Ability to work collaboratively and engage others in service development.
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative.
• Able to communicate effectively with a wide range of professionals including the Coroner, medical and nursing staff, police officers, funeral directors etc.
• Able to communicate effectively with members of the public via telephone or face to face.
• Demonstrates an empathetic approach to the role and an ability to be caring and compassionate, dealing with the recently bereaved and the care after death.
• Act as a role model of professionalism leading by example, displaying high levels of leadership and professionalism and inspire others to learn and develop.
• Flexible attitude to work to meet the needs of the role.

Important - Once sufficient applications have been received this vacancy may close early.

Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS): It is the policy of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, that all successful candidates who are new to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost for their DBS certificate. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay on commencement with the Trust. The DBS check will be undertaken during the pre-employment check screening.

New Starters – Probationary Period: For any new employees commencing employment with North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, you will be subject to satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period.

Employment References: As part of our pre-employment screening process, all applicants are required to provide references covering their last three years employment history including any gaps.

Working Hours: If the hours advertised for the post are up to full time (37.5 hours per week), applications are still welcomed from individuals who may be seeking to work less than full-time hours and all requests will be considered in line with the post being appointed to for the successful applicant.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Everything we do is shaped by our values: Respect, Support, and Collaborate. At University Hospitals Tees we want our workspaces to be places where everyone feels welcome, valued and safe.

Disability: We are a Disability Confident Lead employer. This means we give fair and full consideration to applicants and will offer reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process.

Right to Work in the UK: The Trust welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the criteria for the role.

Further Important Information: Please check your email on a regular basis for updates on your application.