Job overview
An exciting job opportunity has arisen at the Mortuary at Bristol Royal Infirmary. We are looking for a member of the team to take the position of Mortuary Assistant in our busy city centre Hospital.
The post holder will work in a small team within the body storage facility and be responsible for the supporting the daily activities and processes within the storage facility for Adult and Paediatric patients. They will be expected to provide a safe, secure, effective and comprehensive service to meet the needs of the hospital and ensure that deceased patients and their families are treated with dignity and respect at all times.
This post will be based at Bristol Royal Infirmary but could be expected to work cross site (Weston) when and if needed, to receive and release deceased patients, prepare deceased patients for viewing, as well as completing general disinfection and cleaning of all the areas. Other duties will include liaising with and assisting funeral directors, medical examiners, bereavement officers, coroner’s personnel, police officers, doctors and multidisciplinary Trust teams as well as relatives and friends of the deceased patients. The postholder will be required to participate in a 24/7 oncall rota.
This job advert may close early if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been submitted.
Main duties of the job
- Carry out all daily duties required for the efficient operation of the storage facility, under supervision from the Mortuary Manager/ Deputy Mortuary Manager and Body Store Supervisor. • Complete all work to a high standard and within expected time frames to meet service demands. • Provide a safe, secure, effective and comprehensive service to meet the needs of the hospital and ensure that deceased patients and their families are treated with dignity and respect at all times. • Ensure security and confidentiality at all times including the monitoring of all activities by internal and external staff. • Report to the Body Store Supervisor regarding the operational status of the department, including any issues or information relevant to the running of the department. • Assist the Deputy/Mortuary Manager in working towards improving departmental procedures to Human Tissue Authority regulatory standards. • Be able to multitask and prioritise when there are competing demands; evaluate and act upon anomalous situations when dealing with emotional families at viewings or over the telephone; give guidance, support and comfort to bereaved relatives and friends.
A successful candidate must have the emotional strength to deal with all duties whilst maintaining calm, mature and compassionate disposition.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description attached to this vacancy.
Person specification
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Good IT Skills specially the use of Microsoft Excel, Word etc
- Excellent communication and organisational skills
- Ability to interact sensitively with the public
- Understanding of Confidentiality
- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in record keeping
- Ability to work alone or as a team member
Desirable
- Ability to work methodically
- Ability to multitask
- Physically able to manoeuvre heavy loads
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of Trust IT systems
- Experience of the Hospital environment
Desirable
- Previous experience of supervising
- Experience with the deceased
- Knowledge of Mortuary practices including Health and safety and Human Tissue Authority standards and regulations
- Understanding of the Coronial and Medical Examiners systems
- Understanding of infection control procedures
- Mortuary Experience
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Good basic general education 4 x GCSE grade C or above – to include English & Maths)
Desirable
- Health and Safety Training
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Mortuary Assistant with University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust in Bristol, South West, England. It is listed as a Band 3 Healthcare support worker role. The advertised salary is £25,760 - £27,476 pa. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 26 Jun 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (10 Jun 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
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