Job summary
We are seeking a full-time Bereavement Officer to join our team at Whipps Cross University Hospital. In this role, you will be working in the complex and demanding environment of a hospital that offers a wide range of services to support our local community. Your responsibilities will include supporting enquiries from bereaved next of kin, medical staff, and various clinical and administrative staff. You will provide support and guidance to friends and relatives of deceased patients, who may be going through one of the hardest and most stressful times of their lives. Additionally, you will be responsible for completing statutory and mandatory paperwork.
The post holder may be required to cover other Barts Health Hospital sites as needed. However, this role is dedicated to Whipps Cross University Hospital, and it will only be under special circumstances that a member of the team is asked to work at another site.
Main duties of the job
The main purpose of the Bereavement Officer is to ensure that the care of the family after death is handled sensitively and accurately. It is important that the completion of documentation to facilitate death certification is done promptly. Moreover, it is crucial to ensure that all referrals to the coroner and communications with funeral directors are timely and comprehensive. The post holder will also be responsible for ensuring that medical staff complete discharge summaries and that the Compassionate Care Plans are extracted from the notes for any patient on the end-of-life pathway. The post holder will also work closely with the Medical Examiner and the Medical Examiner Officer. There will be a need to perform the necessary administrative procedures required within this role.
About us
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good basic education to GCSE or equivalent level
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working in an acute hospital.
- Previous experience of the bereavement processes.
- Previous experience of front facing related work with patients and users or members of the public.
- A commitment to a high standard of service and attention to detail
Desirable
- Previous experience of preparation of Medical Certificate for Cause of Death (MCCD).
- NVQ level 2 in customer service or previous experience of working in a customer focused or service area
- Previous experience of working on own with limited supervision.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, particularly in sensitive situations
- Ability to express ideas clearly and effectively in speech and writing
- Ability to communicate where there may be barriers e.g. people with special needs, exhibiting challenging behaviour, or when English is not the first language
- Ability to understand complex and sensitive issues and problems
- Awareness of practices and procedures relating to the maintenance of confidential and comprehensive records and information
- Experience of Cerner and Microsoft Office
Desirable
- Experience of using Oracle
- Level 1 or 2 Medical Terminology (AMSPAR)
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of Data Protection legislation and procedures
- Knowledge of equality and diversity legislation and procedures
- Working knowledge of office IT systems
- Able to identify potential risks involved in work activity for self and others
Desirable
- Knowledge of safeguarding legislation and procedures
Other
Essential
- Flexible working across site
- Accountability - takes responsibility for own actions
- Promotes team working
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good basic education to GCSE or equivalent level
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working in an acute hospital.
- Previous experience of the bereavement processes.
- Previous experience of front facing related work with patients and users or members of the public.
- A commitment to a high standard of service and attention to detail
Desirable
- Previous experience of preparation of Medical Certificate for Cause of Death (MCCD).
- NVQ level 2 in customer service or previous experience of working in a customer focused or service area
- Previous experience of working on own with limited supervision.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, particularly in sensitive situations
- Ability to express ideas clearly and effectively in speech and writing
- Ability to communicate where there may be barriers e.g. people with special needs, exhibiting challenging behaviour, or when English is not the first language
- Ability to understand complex and sensitive issues and problems
- Awareness of practices and procedures relating to the maintenance of confidential and comprehensive records and information
- Experience of Cerner and Microsoft Office
Desirable
- Experience of using Oracle
- Level 1 or 2 Medical Terminology (AMSPAR)
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of Data Protection legislation and procedures
- Knowledge of equality and diversity legislation and procedures
- Working knowledge of office IT systems
- Able to identify potential risks involved in work activity for self and others
Desirable
- Knowledge of safeguarding legislation and procedures
Other
Essential
- Flexible working across site
- Accountability - takes responsibility for own actions
- Promotes team working
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).
