Local authority DI management and oversight review

There must be a review of the management and oversight arrangements for the mortuary service, taking into consideration who is appointed as the Designated Individual, their direct contact with the mortuary, level of influence within the local authority, and attendance at governance forums. In particular: Local authorities must ensure that the Designated Individual has enough time and resource to fulfil their statutory responsibilities, including time for learning and development. The Designated Individual must have access to director-level officers in the local authority. The Designated Individual must also be able to directly raise issues in relation to the mortuary at the highest level within the local authority if they deem it is necessary. Where the Designated Individual is non-technically trained, a senior anatomical pathology technologist must fulfil the Mortuary Manager role to ensure that there is sufficient technical experience within the mortuary. The Designated Individual must attend regular, documented meetings at mortuary level. The Designated Individual must also attend governance forums where the mortuary is discussed and scrutinised. In line with Human Tissue Authority guidance, the named Licence Holder must be at a more senior level than the Designated Individual (e.g. director level or higher) and have a clear understanding of the Human Tissue Authority's statutory requirements and the role of the Designated Individual.