Job summary
To provide practical help and advice to the relatives of those who have recently died within the hospital; to include return of property and valuables and handing over the Medical Certificate and Cause of Death when one is issued.
To support bereaved relatives by providing advice and information on a wide range of bereavement issues including registration of the death and signposting relatives to other sources of advice including Coroner's Office and bereavement support as necessary.
The Bereavement Team works as part of the wider Quality Governance Team, which contributes to the delivery of outstanding patient care by engaging at all levels of the organisation to ensure quality standards are being met.
Main duties of the job
To liaise with Medical Examiner's Service, Medical Examiners, Medical Examiner Officers and attending practitioners regarding the issuing of the medical certificate of the cause of death (MCCD) and pre-cremation certification
To provide good communication to relatives and ensure that they are contacted as soon as possible following the death of the patient and kept sufficiently up to date
Respond to telephone calls from bereaved families, where callers may be highly emotive and distressed
To ensure that appropriate records are kept in relation to the handover of deceased patient property, in compliance with the relevant financial procedures
To facilitate meetings between bereaved relatives and nursing/medical staff, where relatives wish to discuss the care of the deceased
To coordinate the necessary requirements for consent and hospital postmortem examinations
To liaise with mortuary staff and external agencies as appropriate, where the deceased or their family have expressed a wish for tissue/organ donation or medical research
To support and, when appropriate, accompany families wishing to view the deceased in the hospital mortuary
To present a professional image of the Trust to patients, visitors and staff, in particular by protecting the confidentiality of information and providing an effective point of contact with the Trust
About us
The Trust are advertising for 1.8 WTE Bereavement Officers. This is one post at 1WTE and one at 0.8WTE.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide practical help and advice to the relatives of those who have recently died within the hospital; to include return of property and valuables and handing over the Medical Certificate and Cause of Death when one is issued.
To support bereaved relatives by providing advice and information on a wide range of bereavement issues including registration of the death and signposting relatives to other sources of advice including Coroners Office and bereavement support as necessary.
The Bereavement Team works as part of the wider Quality Governance Team, which contributes to the delivery of outstanding patient care by engaging at all levels of the organisation to ensure quality standards are being met.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide practical help and advice to the relatives of those who have recently died within the hospital; to include return of property and valuables and handing over the Medical Certificate and Cause of Death when one is issued.
To support bereaved relatives by providing advice and information on a wide range of bereavement issues including registration of the death and signposting relatives to other sources of advice including Coroners Office and bereavement support as necessary.
The Bereavement Team works as part of the wider Quality Governance Team, which contributes to the delivery of outstanding patient care by engaging at all levels of the organisation to ensure quality standards are being met.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Educated to GCSE standard or equivalent to include English and Maths at grades A-C (or equivalent)
Desirable
- Completed secondary school education
Experience
Essential
- Ability to set up and administer systems for record keeping
- Experience of working with people on a one-to-one basis
Desirable
- Previous experience within a healthcare environment
- Customer Care experience
- Experience working with the bereaved
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Sensitivity towards the needs of others
- Ability to deal with a variety of tasks simultaneously
- Ability to pass on information in an open and diplomatic way
- VDU/Keyboard skills
- Understanding of office procedures
Desirable
- Knowledge of Medway System
- IT skills
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Smart appearance
- Able to be flexible in working hours
- Effective written and verbal communication
- Works as a team member
- Awareness/understanding of confidentiality
- Reliable/trustworthy
- Mature Outlook
Demonstrates our Proud to CARE Values
Essential
- Compassion, Ambition, Respect, Encouragement - Proud to care
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Educated to GCSE standard or equivalent to include English and Maths at grades A-C (or equivalent)
Desirable
- Completed secondary school education
Experience
Essential
- Ability to set up and administer systems for record keeping
- Experience of working with people on a one-to-one basis
Desirable
- Previous experience within a healthcare environment
- Customer Care experience
- Experience working with the bereaved
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Sensitivity towards the needs of others
- Ability to deal with a variety of tasks simultaneously
- Ability to pass on information in an open and diplomatic way
- VDU/Keyboard skills
- Understanding of office procedures
Desirable
- Knowledge of Medway System
- IT skills
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Smart appearance
- Able to be flexible in working hours
- Effective written and verbal communication
- Works as a team member
- Awareness/understanding of confidentiality
- Reliable/trustworthy
- Mature Outlook
Demonstrates our Proud to CARE Values
Essential
- Compassion, Ambition, Respect, Encouragement - Proud to care
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
