Bereavement Officer

Job description

Job summary

"We kindly ask those candidates who have previouslyapplied within the last 6 months for this role, please do not apply at thistime''

NHS Band 3 Salary: £25,760 - £27,476 per annum

Hours Per Week: full time 37.5

Contract Type: Permanent

We reserve the right to close this publish vacancy earlybased on volume of applications received

We are seeking a compassionate and professional individualto join our Bereavement Services team in a key administrative role supportingbereaved families during a difficult time. This post is primarily office-based,with a significant proportion of the work undertaken via telephonecontact with relatives, staff, and external organisations, requiring a highlevel of sensitivity and professionalism.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for relatives of deceased patients, responding to enquiries with sensitivity, empathy, and professionalism.
• Provide clear guidance and support to colleagues across the Trust, Medical Examiners, funeral directors, crematoria, registrars, and members of the public.
• Deliver a compassionate and timely service to ensure bereaved families are fully supported throughout the process.
• Communicate effectively in situations that may involve complex or sensitive discussions, including where there may be barriers to understanding.
• Respond to routine queries and concerns, identifying appropriate solutions within defined protocols.
• Liaise regularly with medical staff across Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust to ensure all legal documentation is completed accurately and promptly, in line with relatives wishes for burial or cremation.

About us

Working as a partnership, both Isle of Wight NHS Trust andPortsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust have a shared vision for excellencein care for our patients and communities; with a set of strategic aimsunderpinning how we will achieve this.

The single corporate service is delivered across bothorganisations. You may be based at either IWT or PHU and individuals may berequired to undertake business travel between sites. For leaders managing staffacross multi-site locations, you will need to be visible and provide in personleadership. The arrangements and frequency will be agreed locally.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront ofeverything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantasticbenefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for thoselong summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimmingpool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality andDisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe wecan offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.

We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring interms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, genderidentity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veterans'status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will play a vital role in ensuring a responsive, efficient, and high-quality bereavement service. Working closely with the Bereavement Services Manager, you will support liaison with Medical Examiner Officers (MEOs) in their role supporting the Medical Examiners. You will act as a key point of contact for relatives and external agencies, helping to ensure a smooth and respectful bereavement process.

Please note, this role is not a counselling role and is purely administrative to support the families through the process of what happens following a death.

Specific Core Functions

• Work in accordance with departmental and Trust policies and procedures, escalating to the Bereavement Services Manager where appropriate.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of departmental protocols and processes.
• Support the effective and efficient running of the Bereavement Service within agreed standards and boundaries.
• Plan and organise day-to-day activities to ensure a responsive and coordinated service.

About You

• Compassionate, respectful, and emotionally intelligent
• Professional and able to communicate to a high standard with sensitivity and clarity
• Experience and organised administrator and able to manage a varied workload
• Confident in liaising with both clinical and non-clinical stakeholders

For further details please refer to enclosed job description.

Job description
Job responsibilities

The post holder will play a vital role in ensuring a responsive, efficient, and high-quality bereavement service. Working closely with the Bereavement Services Manager, you will support liaison with Medical Examiner Officers (MEOs) in their role supporting the Medical Examiners. You will act as a key point of contact for relatives and external agencies, helping to ensure a smooth and respectful bereavement process.

Please note, this role is not a counselling role and is purely administrative to support the families through the process of what happens following a death.

Specific Core Functions

• Work in accordance with departmental and Trust policies and procedures, escalating to the Bereavement Services Manager where appropriate.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of departmental protocols and processes.
• Support the effective and efficient running of the Bereavement Service within agreed standards and boundaries.
• Plan and organise day-to-day activities to ensure a responsive and coordinated service.

About You

• Compassionate, respectful, and emotionally intelligent
• Professional and able to communicate to a high standard with sensitivity and clarity
• Experience and organised administrator and able to manage a varied workload
• Confident in liaising with both clinical and non-clinical stakeholders

For further details please refer to enclosed job description.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in Healthcare/NHS.
• Demonstrable experience in an admin role with a good knowledge of office procedures.
• Experience of working in a people-centred environment.
• Experience of working with the public.
• Commitment to personal and professional development.
• Experienced communicator both orally and on paper.

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE level of education or equivalent.
• Secretarial skills, acquired through an NVQ 3 or equivalent experience.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Keyboard skills to RSA level 3.
• Excellent listening skills.
• Tact and diplomacy when dealing with highly sensitive issues. Ability to present highly sensitive information in a highly emotive situation.
• Effective interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate with staff on all levels, patients and relatives.

Person Specification
Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in Healthcare/NHS.
• Demonstrable experience in an admin role with a good knowledge of office procedures.
• Experience of working in a people-centred environment.
• Experience of working with the public.
• Commitment to personal and professional development.
• Experienced communicator both orally and on paper.

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE level of education or equivalent.
• Secretarial skills, acquired through an NVQ 3 or equivalent experience.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Keyboard skills to RSA level 3.
• Excellent listening skills.
• Tact and diplomacy when dealing with highly sensitive issues. Ability to present highly sensitive information in a highly emotive situation.
• Effective interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate with staff on all levels, patients and relatives.

Employer details

Employer name

Isle of Wight NHS Trust
Address

Queen Alexandra Hospital

Southwick Hill Road

Portsmouth

Hampshire

PO6 3LY

United Kingdom

Employer's website