Job summary
Bereavement Services are looking to appoint a Bereavement Team Leader to work in the Bereavement Department to cover both the office at Central and the Northern sites.
As well as being the team leader you will also be expected to work as a bereavement officer.
The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate visible leadership skills in provide day-to-day supervision and support to staff members.
Providing leadership, guidance and support to individuals and teams, guiding them towards the achievement of departmental objectives.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will essentially be a people person - caring, methodical, calm under pressure, IT literate, team player.
Good interpersonal and telephone skills are essential as the job involves daily contact with bereaved families, and the ability to work as part of a team is essential. The office is very busy, mentally taxing, and sometimes emotionally demanding.The successful candidate will need to work very closely with the Medical Examiner Officer's, Coroner's office and Registrar's offices to ensure that statutory and mandatory paperwork is completed correctly , ensuring that bereaved families are given a service of compassionate excellence.The duties include using a computerised system to the accurate completion of statutory records.Good literacy, numeracy and keyboarding skills are essential. Applicants need to be well organized, logical, and able to cope with and understand people emotions at one of the most stressful times in a person's life.
About us
The bereavement department is a small and unique team with 1 admin support worker; 3 bereavement officers; 1 team leader and a department manager.
You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.
When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please view the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for full details regarding this post.
When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- 5 or more GCSEs or equivalent, to include English Language & Mathematics (C/4 grade or above)
- NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration / Customer Service / IT or be able to demonstrate the equivalent experience
- Recognised management / supervisory qualification such as ILM or other short courses or relevant equivalent experience
- IT qualification e.g. European Computer Driving Licence, Microsoft Office or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience of supervising staff
- Working knowledge and experience of office practice and procedures
- Experience of dealing with, validating, managing and monitoring data quality with demonstrable understanding of importance of maintaining data integrity
- Experience of dealing with confidential and personal issues with sensitivity
- Working knowledge of hospital procedures and policies relating to death and bereavement.
- Experience of direct work with the public, especially in highly distressing and emotional circumstances
- Experience of delivering work in accordance with standard operating procedures
Desirable
- Sound knowledge and understanding of bereavement procedures for different cultures and religions
- Experience of participation in service improvement initiatives
- Experience of managing teams in a demanding NHS administration environment
- Experience of working within a multi-professional environment and liaising with internal and external stakeholders
- Experience of using a Patient Administration Systems and Electronic Patient Record systems
- Experience of handling emotionally challenging situations such as liaising with bereaved families
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Excellent computer skills with demonstrable knowledge and skills using Microsoft Office packages including Outlook, Excel and Word
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to persuade and motivate others and able to use tact and empathy to deliver difficult/sensitive news to individuals
- Flexible approach to working practices.
- Excellent time management skills with ability to manage and prioritise workload whilst dealing with competing priorities, organising self and team to deliver multiple and competing priorities to strict deadlines
- Ability to work as part of a team and independently with minimal supervision
- Understanding of data protection issues and the ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.
- Demonstrable self-awareness, an understanding of impact on others and an ability to manage self and maintain professional conduct in sometimes difficult and challenging situations
- Ability to work under pressure and at a fast pace in changing and potentially stressful situations with both patients / relatives and colleagues, maintaining a professional approach at all times
- Good interpersonal skills and the ability to develop relationships and rapport with the general public and colleagues of different disciplines, backgrounds and levels of seniority
Desirable
- Knowledge and understanding of medical records procedures and medical terminology
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Flexible and adaptable approach with an enthusiastic and proactive "Can Do" attitude.
- Demonstrate honesty, integrity, fairness and tenacity in line with PROUD values
- Willing and able to challenge processes with a view to improving patient care and service provision.
- A commitment to promoting equality and diversity in the workplace
- Committed to providing the highest levels of patient / client care.
- Willingness to undertake and complete further training as identified and appropriate.
- Ability and willingness to perform the duties of the role at any Trust site or at any other site where the Trust is responsible for delivering activity aligned to this post.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- 5 or more GCSEs or equivalent, to include English Language & Mathematics (C/4 grade or above)
- NVQ Level 3 in Business Administration / Customer Service / IT or be able to demonstrate the equivalent experience
- Recognised management / supervisory qualification such as ILM or other short courses or relevant equivalent experience
- IT qualification e.g. European Computer Driving Licence, Microsoft Office or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience of supervising staff
- Working knowledge and experience of office practice and procedures
- Experience of dealing with, validating, managing and monitoring data quality with demonstrable understanding of importance of maintaining data integrity
- Experience of dealing with confidential and personal issues with sensitivity
- Working knowledge of hospital procedures and policies relating to death and bereavement.
- Experience of direct work with the public, especially in highly distressing and emotional circumstances
- Experience of delivering work in accordance with standard operating procedures
Desirable
- Sound knowledge and understanding of bereavement procedures for different cultures and religions
- Experience of participation in service improvement initiatives
- Experience of managing teams in a demanding NHS administration environment
- Experience of working within a multi-professional environment and liaising with internal and external stakeholders
- Experience of using a Patient Administration Systems and Electronic Patient Record systems
- Experience of handling emotionally challenging situations such as liaising with bereaved families
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Excellent computer skills with demonstrable knowledge and skills using Microsoft Office packages including Outlook, Excel and Word
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to persuade and motivate others and able to use tact and empathy to deliver difficult/sensitive news to individuals
- Flexible approach to working practices.
- Excellent time management skills with ability to manage and prioritise workload whilst dealing with competing priorities, organising self and team to deliver multiple and competing priorities to strict deadlines
- Ability to work as part of a team and independently with minimal supervision
- Understanding of data protection issues and the ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.
- Demonstrable self-awareness, an understanding of impact on others and an ability to manage self and maintain professional conduct in sometimes difficult and challenging situations
- Ability to work under pressure and at a fast pace in changing and potentially stressful situations with both patients / relatives and colleagues, maintaining a professional approach at all times
- Good interpersonal skills and the ability to develop relationships and rapport with the general public and colleagues of different disciplines, backgrounds and levels of seniority
Desirable
- Knowledge and understanding of medical records procedures and medical terminology
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Flexible and adaptable approach with an enthusiastic and proactive "Can Do" attitude.
- Demonstrate honesty, integrity, fairness and tenacity in line with PROUD values
- Willing and able to challenge processes with a view to improving patient care and service provision.
- A commitment to promoting equality and diversity in the workplace
- Committed to providing the highest levels of patient / client care.
- Willingness to undertake and complete further training as identified and appropriate.
- Ability and willingness to perform the duties of the role at any Trust site or at any other site where the Trust is responsible for delivering activity aligned to this post.
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).
