Mortuary Assistant/Bereavement Officer - Huntingdon

Job summary

The Bereavement Care Officer and Mortuary Assistant plays a key role in ensuring safe, compassionate, and professional care for deceased patients and their families. Working within the Mortuary and Bereavement Service, the postholder supports the respectful management of the deceased and provides guidance to relatives and clinical teams.

This role combines practical mortuary duties with sensitive bereavement support. The postholder will assist with the receipt, identification, and safe storage of deceased patients; prepare and maintain mortuary spaces and equipment; and ensure accurate documentation and traceability throughout all stages of care. They will also provide information and support to families, liaise with clinical areas, funeral directors, the Coroner's Office, and other external partners, and contribute to the smooth running of the service.

The postholder will uphold the highest standards of dignity, confidentiality, and professionalism, demonstrating empathy, resilience, and excellent communication skills. They will work as part of a small, dedicated team to deliver a safe, efficient, and person-centred service that supports both the organisation and the wider community.

*Please Note the advert may close sooner than the date advertised due to levels of interest, closing of the advert will happen with no notice*

Main duties of the job

As a Bereavement Officer and Mortuary Assistant, you will provide compassionate support to bereaved families while ensuring the dignified and efficient management of post-death processes across the Trust. Acting as a key point of contact for relatives, healthcare professionals, funeral directors and external agencies, you will guide families through practical arrangements following a bereavement.

Key duties include supporting relatives with advice on death certification, registration and funeral arrangements; coordinating bereavement administration, including MCCDs and Coroner referrals; and liaising with Medical Examiners, clinicians, Registrars, Coroner's Officers and Funeral Directors to ensure timely completion of documentation.

You will maintain accurate records in line with legal, governance and Trust requirements, assist with the admission, identification, care and release of deceased patients, and support family visits with sensitivity and respect. The role also includes the arrangement of transfers to other hospitals for paediatric and adult post-mortem examinations, maintaining mortuary facilities through safety, security and stock checks, and contributing to audits, quality improvement initiatives and incident reporting.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful difference to families during difficult times while delivering a high-quality, person-centred bereavement and mortuary service across North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust.

About us

We are committed to supporting colleagues through organisational change. Priority will be given to staff at risk within North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care Board.