Specialist APT

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Mortuary Team at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as a Band 5 Specialist Anatomical Pathology Technologist.

Working closely with the Mortuary Management Team, you will lead the day-to-day operation of the service. You will coordinate and allocate daily work, supervise and line manage staff, support training and development, and help ensure that the service operates safely, efficiently and to a consistently high standard. You will continue to undertake specialist technical work across a wide range of post-mortem activities, including high-risk, paediatric and forensic cases. The role includes participation in the mortuary’s 24-hour rotational on-call service.

Applicants should hold the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) Level 4 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology (or equivalent) and hold RSciTech registration with the Science Council. Applications may be accepted from Anatomical Pathology Technicians who hold the RSPH Level 3 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology who are currently progressing through the RSPH Level 4 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology (or equivalent). Successful candidates that have not yet finished the Diploma will be paid on AfC Band 4 based on their experience at that grade, until completion and successful assessment and award of their qualification by the RSPH and RSciTech registration with the Science Council.

Main duties of the job

Manage, supervise, motivate and lead the technical and support staff to ensure an efficient and safe mortuary service is maintained.

Ensure all mortuary activities are carried out in accordance with Human Tissue Authority (HTA) standards, legislation, departmental procedures and quality requirements.

Supervise, train and support junior staff, students and colleagues, contributing to competency assessment and professional development.

Assist with service improvement, audits, incident investigations, quality management activities and the development of policies, procedures and SOPs.

Undertake a wide range of mortuary duties, including routine, paediatric, high-risk and specialist post-mortem examinations.

Support pathologists during post-mortem examinations, including advanced techniques, specimen collection, and body reconstruction.

Provide compassionate support to bereaved families and facilitate viewings, ensuring individual cultural, religious and personal wishes are respected.

Maintain accurate documentation, traceability and records relating to deceased patients, samples, retained tissues and personal effects.

Liaise effectively with HM Coroner, pathologists, police, funeral directors, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to ensure a high-quality service.

Participate in the 24-hour on-call rota, providing specialist mortuary support outside normal working hours.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

This vacancy will close at midnight on 28th September 2026.

Interviews are due to be held on 6th October 2026.

All appointments with a start date on or after 1 October 2026 will be subject to a 12-week probationary period. This provides a structured and supportive period to help you settle into your role, with regular reviews and feedback.

Right to Work

As there is a 12-week probationary period, successful candidates are expected to have the Right to Work for a period of at least 6 months from the proposed start date. Immigration and Right to Work status will be discussed with successful candidates at conditional offer. CUH will not offer sponsorship to candidates that have applied for a fee waiver.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full-time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full-time permanent contract unless you have:

- applied for a Graduate visa

- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.