Relevant Material Lead and Administrative Assistant | Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
| Posting date: | 06 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £27,485 - £30,162 Per annum |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 05 April 2026 |
| Location: | Bedford, MK42 9DJ |
| Company: | Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7839427/418-COR39427-SJ |
Summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Pathology Department to join the Mortuary and Bereavement teams, working across both Bedford Hospital and the Luton & Dunstable Hospital sites.
The post holder will act as an HTA Person Designate for the HTA licences, requiring a strong understanding of HTA standards and regulations. They will be responsible for the accurate archiving, tracking, and documentation of relevant material in line with regulatory requirements.
The role involves undertaking a wide range of duties to support the efficient and effective running of the mortuary and bereavement services. The post holder will work independently, prioritising their workload to ensure the smooth operation of this busy service, and will become an integral member of the team.
Key Duties
• Act as an HTA Person Designate for the HTA licence across both sites, ensuring full compliance with tissue tracking and traceability requirements.
• Manage the archiving, tracking, and documentation of relevant material, including carrying out regular audits.
• Support the HTA Person Designate for Paediatrics when required.
• Assist the Mortuary and Bereavement teams in coordinating the day‑to‑day operations of the service.
• Monitor shared departmental email inboxes, ensuring timely responses and appropriate saving and distribution of information.
• Liaise with the County Coroner’s Office regarding post‑mortem arrangements, including handling documentation such as bookings, consent forms, and cause‑of‑death information.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of the Mortuary and Bereavement service in line with Trust needs and national initiatives.
• Maintain the safety, dignity, and respectful care of the deceased at all times.
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Mortuary and Bereavement Responsibilities
1. Assist the Mortuary and Bereavement Office team in coordinating the day‑to‑day functions of the service across both sites.
2. Carry out all administrative procedures related to patient deaths, including reception duties and the admission and release of deceased patients.
3. Provide accurate, sensitive information, support, and guidance to bereaved relatives.
4. Assist with preparing the deceased for post‑mortem examination, viewings, and formal identifications.
5. Contribute to maintaining a high‑quality service through ongoing evaluation and monitoring.
6. Manage administrative tasks across both sites, including monitoring shared email inboxes, updating all relevant systems daily, and ensuring national records and GP services are notified of deaths.
7. Provide accurate daily admission information for the Medical Examiner Officer (MEO) service and other service users as directed by the Mortuary Manager.
8. Offer clear, practical information and support to patients, bereaved families, friends, and staff regarding procedures following a death, including assisting with locating and distributing patient property when required.
9. Maintain effective two‑way communication between the Mortuary and Bereavement Service and external agencies such as His Majesty’s Coroner’s Office, the Registry Office, the Office for National Statistics, crematoria, cemeteries, funeral directors, local authorities, and the police.
Please refer to the attached JD.
10.
This advert closes on Friday 20 Mar 2026