Anatomical Pathology Technician

Purpose of the Post

Anatomical Pathology Technicians (APTs) provide an essential service to Consultant Histopathologists via assistance at Post Mortem examinations/ Autopsies, and direct support/cover for the Senior Anatomical Pathology Technician, as appropriate.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Professional

· The person holding this post is required to support the principle that the care of the patient comes first at all times and will approach their work with the flexibility and enthusiasm necessary to make this principle a reality for every patient to the greatest possible degree.

· Maintain throughout the hospital awareness of the primacy of the patient in relation to all hospital activities.

· Receive, identify and store bodies/deceased in secure and hygienic conditions.

· Keep accurate records of the deceased and their property in the Mortuary Register and deal with certificates required for disposal and cremation.

· Prepare and reconstitute bodies to agreed standards after ‘Post Mortem’ examination.

· Arrange for relative and Gardai to identify and view the deceased, and deal sympathetically with bereaved persons.

· Assist with the discharge of the deceased to authorised Funeral Directors in accordance with the law.

· Establish and maintain liaison with Hospital staff, relatives, Funeral Director’s, Gardai and Medical staff.

· Ensure that all Rites of various religious denominations are observed.

· Perform the cleaning, disinfection and care of the Mortuary to ensure that it is hygienic, safe and efficient at all times.

· Clean, Sterilise and maintain equipment and instruments required by the Pathologists.

· Receive store and transmit specimens taken for analysis and Laboratory examination.

· Assist Consultant Pathologists during post-mortem examinations.

· Perform ‘Special Autopsy Techniques’ as taught and instructed.

· Maintain stocks of disposable materials and of instruments necessary for the above procedures. To liaise with persons responsible for their provisions.

· Be familiar with the management and disposal of pre-24 week pregnancy loss.

· Participate in the training of junior/student/trainee APTs including participation in Anatomical Pathology Technology courses under the auspices of the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene.

· Educate other groups on Mortuary procedures, as required.

· Document appropriate training received and ongoing education of Mortuary procedures, as appropriate.

· Participate in professional development of Mortuary/Staff with support from the Hospital through self-learning and formal courses, or informal ‘on the job’ training.

· Engage in educating and training undergraduates, interns and post-graduate students, as required.

· Ensure that policy relating to the Department of Pathology is followed.

· Ensure appropriate compliance with International and National guidelines and actively participate in appropriate quality control and quality assurance.

· Ensure the provision of written procedures for all techniques performed.

· Maintain documented policies and procedures including those related to technical processes associated with the Mortuary.

· Maintain Health & Safety standards in the Mortuary work area, including observing Code of Practice for Fire & Accident polices.

· Participate in the Major Emergency Plan according to Health Service Executive policy for deaths, multiple trauma or isolated incidents.

· Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards, etc.,and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.

· To perform other duties as appropriate to the office as maybe assigned from time to time by Hospital Management.

KPIs

· The identification and development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which are congruent with the Hospital’s service plan targets.

· The development of Action Plans to address KPI targets.

· Driving and promoting a Performance Management culture.

· In conjunction with line manager assist in the development of a Performance Management system for your profession.

· The management and delivery of KPIs as a routine and core business objective.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING GENERAL CONDITIONS:

· Employees must attend fire lectures periodically and must observe fire orders.

· All accidents within the Department must be reported immediately.

· Infection Control Policies must be adhered to.

· In line with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 all staff must comply with all safety regulations and audits.

· In line with the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2004, smoking within the Hospital Campus is not permitted.

· Hospital uniform code must be adhered to.

· Provide information that meets the need of Senior Management.

· To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

Risk Management, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety

· The management of Risk, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety is the responsibility of everyone and will be achieved within a progressive, honest and open environment.

· The post holder must be familiar with the necessary education, training and support to enable them to meet this responsibility.

· The post holder has a duty to familiarise themselves with the relevant Organisational Policies, Procedures & Standards and attend training as appropriate in the following areas:

o Continuous Quality Improvement Initiatives

o Document Control Information Management Systems

o Risk Management Strategy and Policies

o Hygiene Related Policies, Procedures and Standards

o Decontamination Code of Practice

o Infection Control Policies

o Safety Statement, Health & Safety Policies and Fire Procedure

o Data Protection and confidentiality Policies

· The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they become familiar with the requirements stated within the Risk Management Strategy and that they comply with the Group’s Risk Management Incident/Near miss reporting Policies and Procedures.

· The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they comply with hygiene services requirements in your area of responsibility. Hygiene Services incorporates

· environment and facilities, hand hygiene, catering, cleaning, the management of laundry, waste, sharps and equipment.

· The post holder must foster and support a quality improvement culture through-out your area of responsibility in relation to hygiene services.

· It is the post holder’s specific responsibility for Quality & Risk Management, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety; this will be clarified to you in the induction process and by your line manager.

· The post holder must take reasonable care for his or her own actions and the effect that these may have upon the safety of others.

· The post holder must cooperate with management, attend Health & Safety related training and not undertake any task for which they have not been authorised and adequately trained.

· The post holder is required to bring to the attention of a responsible person any perceived shortcoming in our safety arrangements or any defects in work equipment.

· It is the post holder’s responsibility to be aware of and comply with the HSE Health Care Records Management/Integrated Discharge Planning (HCRM / IDP) Code of Practice.

The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications and/ or experience

1.Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc.

(a) Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:

(i) Possess the Certificate in Mortuary Hygiene and Technology awarded by the Royal Society for Public Health, London (formerly the Royal Institute of Public Health & Hygiene, London) (www.rsph.org.uk) or an equivalent qualification.

Or

(ii) Possess the Level 3 Diploma in Anatomical Pathology Technology (APT) awarded by the Royal Society for Public Health, London (formerly the Royal Institute of Public Health & Hygiene, London) (www.rsph.org.uk) or an equivalent qualification

Or

(iii) Are currently working in the Irish health system as an Anatomical Pathology Technician

And

(b) Candidates must possess the requisite knowledge and ability, including a high standard of suitability for the proper discharge of the duties of the office

2. Age

Age restrictions shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation Act, 2004). A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office occurs.

3. Health

A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

4. Character

Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

Post Specific Requirements

N/A

Other requirements specific to the post

Will be included at expression of interest stage, if applicable

Skills, competencies and/or knowledge

Candidates must:

· Demonstrate professional expertise, skills and knowledge to carry out the duties of the role, including a good knowledge and understanding of the job.

· Demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills, including an ability to deal sympathetically with families/ next of kin.

· Demonstrate effective team skills.

· Demonstrate planning, organising and time management skills, including an ability to work on his/her own initiative in a methodical manner.

· Demonstrate a strong commitment to providing a quality service.

· Demonstrate problem-solving and decision-making skills.

· Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and policies at all times.

· Demonstrate ability to accurately record information

· Demonstrate ability to accepts telephone calls and takes messages, taking action as necessary and within agreed procedures

· Demonstrate ability to work independently within procedural guidelines

· Demonstrate ability to work closely with other members of the Department to ensure that targets are achieved

· Demonstrate ability to respond flexibly to workload (eg. ensure appropriate cross cover in the absence of colleagues in the Mortuary)

· Demonstrate ability to manage stocks.

Campaign Specific Selection Process

Ranking/Shortlisting / Interview

A ranking and or shortlisting exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and or shortlisting are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.

Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.

Those successful at the ranking stage of this process (where applied) will be placed on an order of merit and will be called to interview in ‘bands’ depending on the service needs of the organisation.

Code of Practice

The Health Service Executive will run this campaign in compliance with the Code of Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). The Code of Practice sets out how the core principles of probity, merit, equity and fairness might be applied on a principle basis. The Code also specifies the responsibilities placed on candidates, facilities for feedback to applicants on matters relating to their application when requested, and outlines procedures in relation to requests for a review of the recruitment and selection process and review in relation to allegations of a breach of the Code of Practice. Additional information on the HSE’s review process is available in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, information for candidates”.

Codes of practice are published by the CPSA and are available on www.hse.ie/eng/staff/jobs in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, information for candidates” or on www.cpsa.ie.

The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as structures change the job description may be reviewed.

This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.

PLEASE UPLOAD AND COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM ATTACHED TO THE JOB ADVERT. CVs WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR THIS POSITION