Position Details
Infrastructure and Facilities, College of Medical and Dental Sciences
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £22,050 to £23,535, with potential progression once in post to £28,631
Band 400
Full Time, Permanent
Closing date: 8th May 2023
Please note: We are advertising at both Band 400 and Band 500 level, with a total of 3 opportunities available. Please find the Band 500 opportunity using this reference: 1773
Our offer to you
People are at the heart of what we are and do.
The University of Birmingham is proud to have been a part of the City of Birmingham and the wider region for over 100 years, and we are equally proud to be recognised as a leading global university. We want to attract talented people from across the city and beyond, support them to succeed, and celebrate their success.
We are committed to helping the people who work here to develop through our sector-leading Birmingham Professional programme which provides all professional services staff with development opportunities and the encouragement to reach their full potential. With almost 5,000 professional services jobs in a wide-range of functions in Edgbaston and in our campus in Dubai, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be able to develop your career at the University.
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of staff and that diversity is a source of strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation, and debate. We warmly welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is at the heart of who and what we are, and how we work.
Supporting our people to achieve a healthy work/life balance is important both to our employees and to the success of the University and, depending on the role, we offer a variety of flexible working arrangements. We therefore welcome discussions on all forms of flexible working. In addition, you will receive a generous package of benefits including 40 days paid holiday a year, one paid day a year for volunteering, occupational sick pay, and a pension scheme. We also have three high quality subsidised day nurseries.
The University is situated in leafy Edgbaston and there are excellent transport links to our beautiful campus, including main bus routes and a train station on site. On campus we have a state-of-the-art sports centre with pool, shops, places to eat and drink, our own art gallery, museum and botanical gardens.
Find out more about the benefits of working for the University of Birmingham
Role summary
You will, with training, deliver timely and high-quality technical and administrative support within the HAU, utilising your anatomical knowledge to develop an understanding of the requirements for delivering our undergraduate classes and an in-depth understanding of the main subject areas supported by the anatomy team.
You will, with training, support all activities undertaken by the HAU Professional Services staff. You will, under supervision, be trained in the receipt, preparation, embalming, storage and maintenance of the donors accepted by the HAU for anatomical examination. You will also assist the team in preparing cadavers and specimens for funerals and respectful disposal. Utilising your anatomical knowledge, you will prepare, under supervision, high-quality prosected specimens from all regions of the human body for use in our licensed teaching facilities.
You will assist with the transport of cadavers and cadaveric material as directed by senior technical staff. You will utilise your anatomical knowledge to liaise with academic staff to ensure the smooth running of all our undergraduate teaching sessions. You will, with training, support all other duties in the Unit, including postgraduate courses, research and statutory administrative record-keeping required by the Human Tissue Act and by Health and Safety legislation.
You will also be expected to ensure that your working area is safe and to support others in following health and safety instructions. You may need to operate outside normal working hours to accommodate activities. In order to use resource flexibly, you may be required to work in different areas of the unit, or be given the opportunity to work in the university more widely.
As part of your training, you will be expected to obtain a Certificate and Diploma in Anatomical Technology and Science ( Anatomical Education | The Institute of Anatomical Sciences (anatomical-sciences.org.uk) for which full financial support will be given to register and sit the associated viva voce examinations. Reasonable paid time off to complete this training outside our timetabled teaching sessions will also be given.
Main duties
Anatomy duties
- You will, with training, utilise your anatomical knowledge to support a wide range of classes across all our teaching facilities, including active participation in the delivery of our Prosectorium teaching sessions, by carrying out the following tasks:
- Enforce Human Tissue Act and Health and Safety legislation, and ensure that all activities are carried out in accordance with these laws and regulations.
- Assist with maintenance of HTA statutory documentation relating to cadaver information and records, including processing movement of cadavers, from receipt to disposal. Ensure accurate completion of all documentation, records and reports; participate in all compliance audits.
- With training, assist with the administration and implementation of health and safety documents relating to HAU matters, including the provision of risk and COSHH assessments and other documentation, to ensure in-house and statutory rules and regulations are up to date, understood and complied with.
- Ensure that adequate security exists in all our licensed teaching areas to comply with relevant laws and regulations.
- With training, assist the Anatomy Technician and Anatomy Manager with the organisation, administration and delivery of all undergraduate teaching classes held in the Prosectorium.
- Assist with the organisation, supervision and delivery of postgraduate and external surgical skills courses, research projects, students and visitors using our facilities.
- Be responsible for the administration and preparation of prosections from human cadavers to support teaching for undergraduate/postgraduate courses and research.
- Be responsible for ensuring cadaveric and supporting materials are available and prepared as required by our curricula.
- Apply and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of human anatomy.
- With training, provide support to the Anatomy Manager and Anatomy Technician in delivery of training to staff, students and visitors in dissection and other techniques.
- With training, provide support for all embalming duties, including administration, in consultation with the Anatomy Manager.
- Under supervision, be responsible for the maintenance of the HAU teaching materials and areas.
- Prepare and support Open Day, Applicant Visitor Day events, Continuous Professional Development and other external requirements within the HAU or other areas, as and when required (including outside working hours) – for which you will receive either time off in lieu or enhanced payment.
- Using your anatomical knowledge, advise and assist academic staff with the development of teaching materials.
- Advise and assist staff and students in the development, design, preparation, construction, assembly, and application of the equipment, and/or deployment of particular techniques.
- In conjunction with senior technical staff, utilise your anatomical knowledge to conceptualise, interpret and deliver the requirements of academic staff.
Support duties
- Demonstrate techniques and use of equipment to other staff and/or students as appropriate. The role may involve providing instruction to others under the guidance of more experienced members of staff.
- You will be expected to resolve problems in your area of expertise, but also to recognise when problems need to be referred to more senior staff.
- Monitor and replenish consumables, including generating purchase order requisitions, and receipt and correct storage of consumables/equipment and chemical reagents.
- Maintain all equipment and ancillary services, ensuring that they function properly. Identify faults and undertake repairs as appropriate. Where there are faults which you cannot resolve, you will report these to the Anatomy Manager/Technical Manager.
Health and Safety duties
- Uphold compliance with all University and local Health & Safety policies, including risk assessments and manual handling, reporting any breaches or non-compliance to the relevant manager.
- Manage the safe handling and disposal of all materials used in the HAU, including hazardous materials.
- If required, assist in preparation of, or prepare, risk assessments and keep these up to date.
- Carry out regular maintenance processes as appropriate.
Other duties
- Maintain all records as appropriate and comply with Standard Operating Procedures.
- Comply with any legislation relevant to the area of research/activity, contributing to internal and external audit procedures and to regulatory inspections as needed.
- Undertake training to obtain a Certificate and Diploma in Anatomical Technology.
- When necessary, assist with PAT testing and calibration of equipment and with updating equipment inventories.
- Ensure that the facilities are maintained in a clean, functional and safe condition, reporting any problems.
- Adopt a proactive attitude to assisting with and implementing carbon reduction and energy saving measures.
- Support equality and value diversity; moderate behaviour to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others.
- Complete any other duties as may be reasonably required by the HAU Management Team.
Person Specification
- The post holder will be expected to obtain a Certificate and Diploma in Anatomical Technology and Science during their training period. We would expect this training programme to take 2-3 years. Submission of the application form for the Certificate in Anatomical Technology and Science would be a condition of successfully completing the probationary period for this post.
- BSc in Human Anatomy (or similar closely related qualification with a significant Anatomy component) or evidence of relevant workplace experience in an HTA-licensed laboratory.
- GCSE level 2 (A*- C/4-9) or equivalent level 2 qualification in mathematics and English.
- Positive service attitude and courtesy in dealing with others.
- Ability to organise and manage own workload after consultation with manager.
- Proactive approach to health and safety matters.
- Ability to be flexible to meet deadlines.
- With training, be fully familiar with the safe handling and storage of cadavers and preservation chemicals.
- Proficiency in commonly used software packages.
- Understanding of the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace
- Ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures.
- An understanding of the Human Tissue Act (2004) and associated Human Tissue Authority standards is desirable.
- Knowledge of current Health and Safety policies and ability to uphold these is desirable.
- Practical experience in a mortuary, funeral home or in a role caring for the deceased is desirable.
Dimensions
- You will have no direct line management responsibility (other than occasional instructions to other staff) and no budget to manage.
- You must demonstrate a commitment to a culture of care towards our cadaveric donors, specimens, and colleagues.
- You will be required to work within the guidelines set by the Human Tissue Authority and regulated by the Human Tissue Act (2004).
- You must liaise with the Persons Designated and Designated Individual, working with them to maintain regulatory compliance standards.
Planning and organising
You will be able to schedule and organise your own work within the priorities and requirements for the area. You will be able to do some forward planning, but also react to problems, and ensure, through checking stock, that all the equipment and consumables are available as required.
Problem solving and decision making
You will deliver a level of service to colleagues/researchers/students as agreed, providing support as required. You will be expected to apply your knowledge and experience to help resolve issues with protocols, processes and equipment.
Internal and external relationships
This role will be advising and supporting research staff and/or students.
Further particulars can be found here
Informal enquires to Natasha Russell, email: [email protected]
View our staff values and behaviours here
Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working .