Job summary
Bereavement Officer
Band 6
Kettering General Hospital
Overview
At Kettering General Hospital (KGH), we are seeking a full- time Bereavement Officer.
The main purpose of the Bereavement Officer is to ensure that the care of the family/ friends after death is handled sensitively and accurately. You will be available to families/friends to contact via phone, face to face and email in supporting enquires from bereaved relatives through the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).
Main duties of the job
Main Duties
To provide sensitive and accurate care, support, and guidance for loved ones of deceased patients, recognising that they are experiencing a significantly difficult time in their lives. This includes paediatric patients. Therefore, building a good relationship and rapport with bereaved families/ friends is paramount.
A main duty of the role is being a key facilitator between families/ friends and clinical teams, gaining answers to questions they may have on their loved one's care and treatment. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the ability to have difficult and emotional conversations, which could be distressing in nature.
You will also work closely with the wider Patient Experience Team, Mortuary Team, Medical Examiner's Office, and End- Of- Life Care team, who may refer patients to the Bereavement Office. You will also aid families and loved ones in understanding the process of funeral arrangements and linking in with funeral directors as required.
There will also be a need to perform vital necessary administrative procedures within this role, including the logging, following up and closing of concerns (on our Datix system), displaying core organisational skills to ensure timely responses and answers to bereaved families.
About us
Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. Our mission is to provide safe, compassionate, and clinically excellent patient care, by being an outstanding employer for our people. We have entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Northampton General Hospital and have become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire. Our Excellence Values: Compassion Respect Integrity Courageous Accountable
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached JD and PS.
To provide sensitive and accurate care, support, and guidance for loved ones of deceased patients, recognising that they are experiencing a significantly difficult time in their lives. This includes paediatric patients. Therefore, building a good relationship and rapport with bereaved families/ friends is paramount.
A main duty of the role is being a key facilitator between families/ friends and clinical teams, gaining answers to questions they may have on their loved ones care and treatment. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the ability to have difficult and emotional conversations, which could be distressing in nature.
You will also work closely with the wider Patient Experience Team, Mortuary Team, Medical Examiners Office, and End- Of- Life Care team, who may refer patients to the Bereavement Office. You will also aid families and loved ones in understanding the process of funeral arrangements and linking in with funeral directors as required.
There will also be a need to perform vital necessary administrative procedures within this role, including the logging, following up and closing of concerns (on our Datix system), displaying core organisational skills to ensure timely responses and answers to bereaved families.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached JD and PS.
To provide sensitive and accurate care, support, and guidance for loved ones of deceased patients, recognising that they are experiencing a significantly difficult time in their lives. This includes paediatric patients. Therefore, building a good relationship and rapport with bereaved families/ friends is paramount.
A main duty of the role is being a key facilitator between families/ friends and clinical teams, gaining answers to questions they may have on their loved ones care and treatment. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the ability to have difficult and emotional conversations, which could be distressing in nature.
You will also work closely with the wider Patient Experience Team, Mortuary Team, Medical Examiners Office, and End- Of- Life Care team, who may refer patients to the Bereavement Office. You will also aid families and loved ones in understanding the process of funeral arrangements and linking in with funeral directors as required.
There will also be a need to perform vital necessary administrative procedures within this role, including the logging, following up and closing of concerns (on our Datix system), displaying core organisational skills to ensure timely responses and answers to bereaved families.
Person Specification
Education, Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Education to Degree level (Or Equivalent Experience)
Desirable
- Clinical Degree, or Diploma (e.g., Nursing)
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working in an Acute Hospital,
- Previous End- Of- Life Care Experience
- Previous Experience of front facing position, managing patients/customer concerns
- A commitment to a high standard of service and attention to detail in terms of administrative processe supporting the service.
- The ability to communicate with significantly distressed people, providing in depth emotional support to bereaved families/ friends,
- Previous experience with dealing with conflict,
- Experience of using word, excel, databases and PowerPoint
- In-depth understanding and usage of risk management and incident reporting system
Desirable
- Previous Bereavement Service Experience,
- Knowledge of NHS Complaints and PALS Regulations,
- Experience of working autonomously
Skills
Essential
- Ability to articulate clearly, fluently, and authoritatively where necessary to both individuals and teams,
- Ability to communicate on a range of levels where there may be barriers to understanding,
- Able to make judgements based on evidence-based practice and translate this for use in feedback families/ friends and teams
- Leadership Skill
- Provide and receive sensitive and highly complex or contentious information, and use high level communication skills to rely this in a compassionate way to bereaved families/friends.
Key Competencies/ Personal Qualities & Attributes
Essential
- Ability to assess a range of information of mixed complexity and make judgements
- Negotiating and influencing skills and ability to deal confidently with conflict situations
- Ability to deal with conflicting demands ensuring that key priorities and deadlines are met through effective time management,
- Ability to work with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
- Organisational skills e.g., prioritising and reviewing complex situations,
Desirable
- Understanding of current developments in the NHS
Person Specification
Education, Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Education to Degree level (Or Equivalent Experience)
Desirable
- Clinical Degree, or Diploma (e.g., Nursing)
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Previous experience of working in an Acute Hospital,
- Previous End- Of- Life Care Experience
- Previous Experience of front facing position, managing patients/customer concerns
- A commitment to a high standard of service and attention to detail in terms of administrative processe supporting the service.
- The ability to communicate with significantly distressed people, providing in depth emotional support to bereaved families/ friends,
- Previous experience with dealing with conflict,
- Experience of using word, excel, databases and PowerPoint
- In-depth understanding and usage of risk management and incident reporting system
Desirable
- Previous Bereavement Service Experience,
- Knowledge of NHS Complaints and PALS Regulations,
- Experience of working autonomously
Skills
Essential
- Ability to articulate clearly, fluently, and authoritatively where necessary to both individuals and teams,
- Ability to communicate on a range of levels where there may be barriers to understanding,
- Able to make judgements based on evidence-based practice and translate this for use in feedback families/ friends and teams
- Leadership Skill
- Provide and receive sensitive and highly complex or contentious information, and use high level communication skills to rely this in a compassionate way to bereaved families/friends.
Key Competencies/ Personal Qualities & Attributes
Essential
- Ability to assess a range of information of mixed complexity and make judgements
- Negotiating and influencing skills and ability to deal confidently with conflict situations
- Ability to deal with conflicting demands ensuring that key priorities and deadlines are met through effective time management,
- Ability to work with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
- Organisational skills e.g., prioritising and reviewing complex situations,
Desirable
- Understanding of current developments in the NHS
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).
