Senior Anatomical Pathology Technician: Sponsorship Available

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust

Job Summary

An exciting job opportunity has arisen at UHBW Mortuary services. We are looking for a Qualified Anatomical Pathology Technician Level 4 or Diploma Level 3 for the position of Senior Anatomical Pathology Technician.

To help provide a specialist, safe, secure, effective and comprehensive mortuary and post mortem service for the needs of UHBW, Pathologists, Coroner and the community. This is a post for an experienced Anatomical Pathology Technologist (APT) who holds the Diploma of Anatomical Pathology Technology and either holds or is working towards the Level 4 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology.

The post holder will be based at the Bristol Royal Infirmary and provide technical supervision for daily operations and ensure high-quality after-death care for Adult and Children. The post holder will support the UHBW Mortuary Management Team ensuring standards according to the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) are mainted at all times. The post holder will occasionally assist in supporting the Post Mortem service at Weston General Hospital.

The postholder will be required to participate in a 24/7 on call rota.

Main duties of the job

To provide technical leadership within the Mortuary, ensuring safe, compliant and high-quality practice in line with legal, regulatory and Trust requirements. The role supports the Mortuary Management Team through staff supervision, professional development, training delivery and quality assurance, working closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure respectful and efficient care of the deceased.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

  • Provide technical leadership and supervision, ensuring safe working practices and efficient use of resources.
  • Supervise, mentor and train mortuary staff and other Trust employees in line with Trust policies.
  • Support and deliver mortuary-specific training programmes, including nurse and porter training.
  • Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, coronial law and the Human Tissue Act licence.
  • Work collaboratively with key internal and external stakeholders.
  • Contribute to the development, review and governance of SOPs, risk assessments, COSHH and change control processes.
  • Support quality systems, including audits, incident reporting (Datix) and regulatory compliance.
  • Oversee patient admission and release procedures and support post-mortem and tissue retrieval activities.
  • Ensure effective maintenance of mortuary equipment and facilities.
  • Maintain ongoing professional development through relevant professional bodies.
  • Participate in the mortuary on-call, out-of-hours service.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • Hold the Level 3 & 4 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology
  • Be registered with AHCS (Academy of Healthcare Sciences)
  • Be a member of the AAPT (Association of Anatomical Pathology Technology)
  • Evidence of CPD

Desirable

  • Management/Leadership Training

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • In depth knowledge and experience of HTA standards and regulations
  • Knowledge and expertise in Anatomical Pathology Technology
  • Experience of Organising and leading training of junior staff and other clinical staff
  • Experience of working with the public and bereaved relatives, in a highly emotive and sensitive environment
  • Extensive relevant experience of working within a hospital mortuary, including, hazardous implants removal understanding medical information, training, experience mentoring staff, dealing with families and other service users
  • Knowledge of the legal implications surrounding obtaining consent for postmortems organ retention, organ donation and disposal of human remains.
  • Quality Management, document control and auditing experience

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills
  • Empathetic skills in dealing with the bereaved
  • High level of keyboard skills
  • Analytical and judgemental skills in evaluating complex ranges of issues including but not limited to Quality and Service Development
  • Excellent time management skills with the ability to deal with a number of conflicting priorities in a calm and professional manner working to demanding timescales
  • Ability to use own initiative to improve process and procedures

Desirable

  • Writing Standard Operating Procedures and training programme for new staff

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 21 May 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.