Job overview

We are looking for a full time bereavement officer to join our team. Providing a holistic bereavement service for the bereaved where deaths have occurred, both in Nottingham University Hospital and in the community across Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. The post will be based primarily in the bereavement centres at both hospital campuses.

The bereavement service is responsible for ensuring that all of the practical arrangements that are required following a death are carried out in an efficient and timely manner. The post holder will provide a point of contact service to the bereaved, facilitating the completion of medical death certificates, providing practical information in the acute phase after a death has occurred and performing clerical, administrative and reception duties. Opportunities to work directly with the deceased will also be provided, these include accompanying doctors to view deceased patients for the purposes of cremation paperwork.

Main duties of the job

In addition to the below summary, you need to familiarise yourself with the full Job Description and Personal Specification documents attached to this advert.

The bereavement service is responsible for ensuring that all of the practical arrangements that are required following a death are carried out in an efficient and timely manner. The post holder will provide a point of contact service, to the bereaved, facilitating the completion of medical death certificates, providing practical information in the acute phase after a death has occurred and performing clerical, administrative and reception duties.

The post holder will arrange the issue of death certificates and cremation forms, as well as liaising with other organisations such as funeral directors, Coroner's officers and registration services.

The post holder will also deal with potentially distressed relatives and friends on a daily basis, and a wide administrative experience is required. Computer literacy, attention to detail and ability to work both as part of a team and on own initiative is essential.

Hours of work will be varied between 07:30 and 08:30 starts and 15:30- 16:30 finishes, over five days a week, the post holder will be required to work at both campus.

Working for our organisation

This is an exciting opportunity to join a forward thinking and progressive team within Nottingham University Hospitals. We are looking for a full time bereavement officer to assist us in the provision of a holistic bereavement service, for bereaved families and friends, where deaths have occurred, both in Nottingham University Hospital and in the community across Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. The post will be based primarily in the bereavement centres at both hospital campuses.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will provide a point of contact service, to the bereaved, facilitating the completion of medical death certificates, providing practical information in the acute phase after a death has occurred and performing clerical, administrative and reception duties. Opportunities to work directly with the deceased will also be provided, these include accompanying doctors to view deceased patients for the purposes of cremation paperwork.

Excellent communication skills are required as the majority of the contact with the bereaved is over the telephone. Good organisational skills are also required, as the role requires liaising with wards and medical staff and other health professionals to facilitate the completion of medical certificates and cremation forms. Bereavement officers are also required to liaise with the Medical Examiners Service and other organisations such as, the Coroner's and Registration services, and funeral directors.

The role of a bereavement officer is primarily administrative, but the post holder will deal with distressed relatives and friends on a daily basis, therefore, the successful candidate will have an empathetic and sensitive manner and previous experience dealing with the bereaved is essential.

Wide administrative experience, education to GCSE/NVQ Level 3 standard or equivalent, good numeric and literacy skills and a high standard of verbal & written English are also required. Computer literacy, attention to detail and ability to work both as part of a team and on own initiative is essential.

Hours of work will be between 07:30 and 08:30 start and 15:30 to 16:30 over five days a week, depending on service requirements the post holder will be required to work at either campus. The post holder should also be aware that there is a potential for weekend working.