Apprentice Mortuary Assistant
DIGNITY FUNERALS LIMITED
Bristol (BS16 1RD)
Closes in 17 days (Monday 14 September 2026)
Posted on 27 August 2026
Contents
Summary
In this vital role, you’ll support the dignified care of the deceased and contribute to the smooth operation of our mortuary. Working closely with embalmers and funeral colleagues, you’ll help ensure that every individual is prepared and presented with the utmost respect, care, and professionalism.
- Wage
-
£26,548.89 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Additional on-call payments made if required.
- Training course
- Mortuary technician (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, may work evenings and weekends.
38 hours 20 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 21 September 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 6 months
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
As a Apprentice Mortuary Assistant, you’ll learn about the preparation and care of the deceased, ensuring they are treated with the respect and attention they deserve. You’ll also support mortuary cleanliness and organisation, collaborate with embalmers and operational teams, and contribute to a compassionate, professional environment at all times.
Key Responsibilities:
- Learn to support with the care and preparation of the deceased, including washing, dressing, hair styling, and makeup as instructed
- Prepare and dress coffins, including engraving nameplates and encoffining
- Maintain accurate identification and labelling of the deceased throughout all processe
- Accurately complete necessary paperwork, deceased checks, and audits
- Assist embalmers during the embalming process
- Ensure cleanliness and organisation in the mortuary and coffin storage areas
- Attend sensitively to religious and family-based requests
- Participate in team meetings and complete all mandatory training
- Submit accurate weekly timesheets and documentation
- Foster a positive, respectful working environment
Where you'll work
The Poplars
Bristol Road, Hambrook
Bristol
BS16 1RD
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER LTD
Training course
Mortuary technician (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Follow safe operating procedures to monitor and maintain the safety and hygienic condition of equipment and mortuary
- Organise the repair and replacement of faulty / damaged equipment if necessary
- Complete all relevant documents for each deceased in line with organisational system requirements reporting any discrepancies to the appropriate person
- Carry out opening checks to ensure mortuary environment is safe and ready for use
- Carry out stock rotation, control and replenishment in line with organisational systems and procedures
- Order supplies as required within limits of authority
- Carry out correct identification of the deceased, checking condition and recording personal effects and details on organisational database/system as required
- Triage the deceased by assessing, prioritising and carrying out initial care as necessary and permitted within scope of practise
- Complete on-going assessments, acting on and communicating any issues arising
- Monitor the available spaces and communicate to line manager in line with organisational procedures
- Complete necessary risk assessments on equipment and mortuary environment as required in line with organisational procedures
- Dispose of or return soiled items according to legislation and organisational procedures
- Carry out cleaning and disinfection processes in the care of the deceased according to client wishes
- Prioritise workload to meet business and client demands
- Demonstrate the use of communication methods, tools and skills, adapting technique and style to suit the individual
- Monitor the progress of the deceased through the mortuary area reporting any issues to the appropriate person
- Carry out quality checks at every interaction with the deceased
- Carry out cleaning schedule in line with organisational requirements, reporting any issues to the appropriate person
- Assist other colleagues within the mortuary environment as and when required
- Apply manual handling and safe working practices in the completion of duties
- Prepare the deceased for release and complete final quality checks before the deceased leaves the mortuary
- Monitor the standard of care within the mortuary, identifying training and development needs and reporting to the appropriate person
- Identify areas for self-development and maintain continuous professional development
- Demonstrate and share best practice with the team
- Prioritise workload considering initial assessment of the deceased, business, family members and client requirements, timescales and collaborate with the wider team
- Accurately measure the deceased considering size and weight implications, communicate any concerns to the appropriate person
- Prepare the deceased for embalming
- Support the embalmer in the embalming process
- 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
- Implement family-specific and cultural needs and wishes
- Carry out identification and personal effect checks at every interaction with the deceased
- Prepare the deceased for post-mortem examination
- Carry out external examination of the deceased
- Carry out evisceration and dissection of the deceased under the direction of supervisory staff
- Carry out examination of dissected organs and structures
- Carry out reconstruction of the deceased following post-mortem examination
- Carry out procedures for tissue retrieval and recording under the direction of supervisory staff
- Follow safe operating procedures to monitor and maintain the safety and hygienic condition of equipment and mortuary
- Organise the repair and replacement of faulty / damaged equipment if necessary
- Complete all relevant documents for each deceased in line with organisational system requirements reporting any discrepancies to the appropriate person
- Carry out opening checks to ensure mortuary environment is safe and ready for use
- Carry out stock rotation, control and replenishment in line with organisational systems and procedures
- Order supplies as required within limits of authority
- Carry out correct identification of the deceased, checking condition and recording personal effects and details on organisational database/system as required
- Triage the deceased by assessing, prioritising and carrying out initial care as necessary and permitted within scope of practise
- Complete on-going assessments, acting on and communicating any issues arising
- Monitor the available spaces and communicate to line manager in line with organisational procedures
- Complete necessary risk assessments on equipment and mortuary environment as required in line with organisational procedures
- Dispose of or return soiled items according to legislation and organisational procedures
- Carry out cleaning and disinfection processes in the care of the deceased according to client wishes
- Prioritise workload to meet business and client demands
- Demonstrate the use of communication methods, tools and skills, adapting technique and style to suit the individual
- Monitor the progress of the deceased through the mortuary area reporting any issues to the appropriate person
- Carry out quality checks at every interaction with the deceased
- Carry out cleaning schedule in line with organisational requirements, reporting any issues to the appropriate person
- Assist other colleagues within the mortuary environment as and when required
- Apply manual handling and safe working practices in the completion of duties
- Prepare the deceased for release and complete final quality checks before the deceased leaves the mortuary
- Monitor the standard of care within the mortuary, identifying training and development needs and reporting to the appropriate person
- Identify areas for self-development and maintain continuous professional development
- Demonstrate and share best practice with the team
- Prioritise workload considering initial assessment of the deceased, business, family members and client requirements, timescales and collaborate with the wider team
- Accurately measure the deceased considering size and weight implications, communicate any concerns to the appropriate person
- Prepare the deceased for embalming
- Support the embalmer in the embalming process
- 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
- Implement family-specific and cultural needs and wishes
- Carry out identification and personal effect checks at every interaction with the deceased
- Prepare the deceased for post-mortem examination
- Carry out external examination of the deceased
- Carry out evisceration and dissection of the deceased under the direction of supervisory staff
- Carry out examination of dissected organs and structures
- Carry out reconstruction of the deceased following post-mortem examination
- Carry out procedures for tissue retrieval and recording under the direction of supervisory staff
Training schedule
- Full training and support provided by Connect2Care, delivered remotely
- Dedicated learning time provided during working hours
- Hands-on experience working alongside experienced Embalmers, Funeral Directors and the wider funeral team
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade Grade C/4 or above)
- Maths (grade Grade C/4 or above)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Patience
- Physical fitness
- Empathy
- Respectful
- Professional
Other requirements
- Passing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
- Must be physically able as this role will involve manual handling
About this employer
We are Dignity, one of the UK’s oldest and most trusted funeral providers, with over 200 years of history, 570 branches, and 46 crematoria across the country. From launching the UK’s first funeral plan to helping shape modern regulation, we have led the way in supporting families with care, compassion, and professionalism.
We are now building the UK’s leading end-of-life company. As part of the Dignity Group, we also operate Farewill, the country’s most prominent will writer and one of the UK’s top probate providers, giving families support not just at the funeral, but before and after as well.
Today, we are over 4,000 people across the UK, all driven by the same goal: to care for families with compassion and make the UK a world leader in end-of-life care. Here to help, whenever you need.
https://www.rdaviesfunerals.co.uk/locations/hambrook (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Up to 25 days’ annual leave (increasing with service) + bank holidays
- Opportunity to earn a yearly bonus of up to £300–£500
- 4% matched pension
- Life assurance cover at 2x your salary
- Access to MyStaffShop, offering savings across high street and online retailers
- Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
- Ongoing training and development
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
On successful completion of the Level 3 Mortuary Technician Apprenticeship, we would look to retain the right person within the business in a permanent Mortuary Assistant role. We are committed to investing in our colleagues for the long term and supporting their ongoing development.
With experience and continued development, there are opportunities to progress into Trainee Embalming positions, taking on greater responsibility and supporting the development of others. Career progression will be supported through further training, on-the-job learning, and increased leadership opportunities.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
DIGNITY FUNERALS LIMITED
Kate Brown
apprenticeships@dignityuk.co.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000050435.
Apply now
Closes in 17 days (Monday 14 September 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.