Health and science
Mortuary technician - Funeral mortuary technician
Ensure the effective operation of the mortuary and to assist colleagues in providing dignified care of the deceased.
Summary
This occupation is found in the death care industry, typically within funeral organisations, NHS and private hospitals, Universities, Schools of Anatomy, private and public mortuaries.
A Funeral Mortuary Technician prepares, dresses and encoffins the deceased, ensuring that they are cared for and presented with dignity and respect in line with religious and cultural requirements.
An Anatomical Pathology Technologist assists with post-mortems, evisceration and dissection, removal of organs and tissue retrieval, and reconstruction of the deceased following post-mortem.
The broad purpose of the occupation for both options is to ensure the effective operation of the mortuary and to assist colleagues in providing dignified care of the deceased.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with internal and external stakeholders for example, the deceased, relatives, funeral directors, embalmers, crematoria, cemeteries, funeral arrangers, funeral service operatives, drivers, embalmers, doctors, police, coroners, regulatory agencies (for example, Human Tissue Authority), religious/cultural leaders, bereavement services, midwives, trade organisations, hospital and care home staff, suppliers, managers.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for three broad areas of work:
- ensuring that the deceased is cared for and presented with dignity and respect in line with religious and cultural requirements.
- ensuring the organisation of daily mortuary activities including mortuary governance for example, checking documentation, reviewing the condition of the deceased, infection control, monitoring equipment and consumables and ensuring that they are replenished and available as necessary.
- ensuring that work areas and equipment are sanitary and functional.
Mortuary technicians work as part of a team in either a funeral business, NHS or private hospital, University, School of Anatomy, private or public mortuary. They normally work set hours, however they may occasionally work unsociable hours if required by the business.
Typical job titles include
- Anatomical pathology technologist | Embalming assistant | Mortuary assistant | Mortuary technician
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
Industry standards, regulations and legislation relating to mortuary procedures and governance
K2:
Organisational policies, protocols and standard operating procedures, systems and applications
K3:
The required stock levels for consumables and sundries based on scope of practice
K4:
The importance of ensuring the Mortuary area is safely set up
K5:
The identification and prevention of further deterioration and decomposition of the deceased and the process to escalate issues
K6:
The importance of infection control and how to prevent and control the spread of infection within the workplace
K7:
The risks and control of chemical exposure
K8:
The implications of excessive size and weight of the deceased and how to safely handle the deceased
K9:
Risk assessments and the employee's responsibilities in line with organisational standards
K10:
The limits of own responsibilities
K11:
The equipment available to support and mitigate risks, how and when to utilise the equipment and how to report faults
K12:
How and when to safely remove medical equipment from the deceased
K13:
The implications of implants, when to remove from the deceased and escalation procedures
K14:
The organisation’s databases and systems for recording the journey of the deceased and their care information
K15:
The importance of treating each deceased with dignity and respect at all times
K16:
The importance of continuous professional development and how to research opportunities for development
K17:
Coaching and mentoring methods
K18:
Methods of communication
K19:
The importance of and how to complete and process all relevant paperwork
K20:
The legal implications surrounding specialist funeral services such as burial, cremation and repatriation
K21:
The individual needs of clients and family members and the impact that these have on the deceased’s time in mortuary care (such as: cultural, religious, age, gender requirements)
K22:
Mouth and eye closure techniques
K23:
How to, and the reasons for packing orifices
K24:
Personal grooming techniques in the care of the deceased including cosmetic application
K25:
Dressing techniques and rituals in the care of the deceased
K26:
The embalming process and specific requirements when supporting the embalmer
K27:
The anatomical structure of the human body
K28:
The physiology of anatomical systems in the human body
K29:
The structure and life cycles of bacteria, protozoa, fungi and viruses of relevance to human health
K30:
The procedure to record and retrieve tissue from a deceased person
K31:
The requirements for specialist post-mortem examinations
K32:
The documentation requirements for post-mortem examination consent and subsequent procedures
K33:
The specific requirements when supporting the pathologist
Technical Educational Products
- ST0889: Mortuary technician - Funeral mortuary technician (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0889B
- Status:
Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £27,921 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 6138 Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 6138/99 Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants n.e.c.
- 6138/01 Crematorium assistants
S1:
Follow safe operating procedures to monitor and maintain the safety and hygienic condition of equipment and mortuary
S2:
Organise the repair and replacement of faulty / damaged equipment if necessary
S3:
Complete all relevant documents for each deceased in line with organisational system requirements reporting any discrepancies to the appropriate person
S4:
Carry out opening checks to ensure mortuary environment is safe and ready for use
S5:
Carry out stock rotation, control and replenishment in line with organisational systems and procedures
S6:
Order supplies as required within limits of authority
S7:
Carry out correct identification of the deceased, checking condition and recording personal effects and details on organisational database/system as required
S8:
Triage the deceased by assessing, prioritising and carrying out initial care as necessary and permitted within scope of practise
S9:
Complete on-going assessments, acting on and communicating any issues arising
S10:
Monitor the available spaces and communicate to line manager in line with organisational procedures
S11:
Complete necessary risk assessments on equipment and mortuary environment as required in line with organisational procedures
S12:
Dispose of or return soiled items according to legislation and organisational procedures
S13:
Carry out cleaning and disinfection processes in the care of the deceased according to client wishes
S14:
Prioritise workload to meet business and client demands
S15:
Demonstrate the use of communication methods, tools and skills, adapting technique and style to suit the individual
S16:
Monitor the progress of the deceased through the mortuary area reporting any issues to the appropriate person
S17:
Carry out quality checks at every interaction with the deceased
S18:
Carry out cleaning schedule in line with organisational requirements, reporting any issues to the appropriate person
S19:
Assist other colleagues within the mortuary environment as and when required
S20:
Apply manual handling and safe working practices in the completion of duties
S21:
Prepare the deceased for release and complete final quality checks before the deceased leaves the mortuary
S22:
Monitor the standard of care within the mortuary, identifying training and development needs and reporting to the appropriate person
S23:
Identify areas for self-development and maintain continuous professional development
S24:
Demonstrate and share best practice with the team
S25:
Prioritise workload considering initial assessment of the deceased, business, family members and client requirements, timescales and collaborate with the wider team
S26:
Accurately measure the deceased considering size and weight implications, communicate any concerns to the appropriate person
S27:
Prepare the deceased for embalming
S28:
Support the embalmer in the embalming process
S29:
Carry out preparation of the deceased for example, washing, feature setting, orifice packing, dressing, application of cosmetics, personal grooming and any specific individual requirements respecting religious and cultural beliefs
S30:
Implement family-specific and cultural needs and wishes
S31:
Carry out identification and personal effect checks at every interaction with the deceased
S32:
Prepare the deceased for post-mortem examination
S33:
Carry out external examination of the deceased
S34:
Carry out evisceration and dissection of the deceased under the direction of supervisory staff
S35:
Carry out examination of dissected organs and structures
S36:
Carry out reconstruction of the deceased following post-mortem examination
S37:
Carry out procedures for tissue retrieval and recording under the direction of supervisory staff
Technical Educational Products
- ST0889: Mortuary technician - Funeral mortuary technician (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0889B
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £27,921 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 6138 Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 6138/99 Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants n.e.c.
- 6138/01 Crematorium assistants
B1:
Treat colleagues and the deceased with respect and dignity
B2:
Maintain professionalism at all times
B3:
Be considerate of the diverse needs of individuals
B4:
Demonstrate attention to detail
B5:
Demonstrate empathy and sensitivity
B6:
Be adaptable and flexible to situations as they arise
Technical Educational Products
- ST0889: Mortuary technician - Funeral mortuary technician (Level 3) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0889B
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- Average (median) salary:
- £27,921 per year
- SOC 2020 code:
- 6138 Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 6138/99 Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants n.e.c.
- 6138/01 Crematorium assistants
