Bereavement Officer

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job summary

The Bereavement Officer will provide:

Support and guidance to relatives, carers, friends and hospital staff dealing with the death of in patients.

Ensure all the necessary paperwork is completed to the required standard so that the appropriate person can register the death at the local Town Hall.

Provide information to relatives, carers or friends to facilitate the organisation of funerals or cremations.

Ensure that those involved in the out of hours releasing of bodies are fully prepared and able to do so.

Main responsibilities

Bereavement advice and leadership

Communication and collaboration

Support & cover for medical examiner officer, mortuary officer during absence and leave

Staff training

1 Bereavement leadership

1.1 To provide a service which will allow relatives, carers, friends and staff to feel supported following the death of a patient.

1.2 To facilitate doctors to provide an accurately completed medical certificate of cause of death for the next of kin to enable them to register the death at the Town Hall, liaising with the medical examiner officer and medical examiner as required.

1.3 Make an appointment for the next of kin at the Town Hall.

1.4 Arrange viewing of the body at the Hospital Chapel of Rest during office hours.

1.5 Request medical staff to complete medical certificate of cause of death accurately in a timely fashion.

1.6 Guide the next of kin to where they can collect valuables belonging to the deceased.

1.7 If there is no next of kin, the Bereavement Officer will carry out the following actions:

1.7.1 Ask the Local Authority to carry out a search of the patients property to check whether details of next of kin are available or contact genealogist to search for relatives.

1.7.2 If no next of kin is determined, then register the death as the occupier.

1.7.3 Arrange the funeral as per Trust contract arrangements ensuring all necessary paperwork is completed.

1.7.4 Liaise with the chaplains to carry out the funeral.

1.8 For unusual or unexpected deaths, the Bereavement Officer will facilitate doctors for it to be reported to the Coroner, liaising with the medical examiner officer and medical examiner as required.

1.9 The Bereavement Officer will lead on the arrangements for postmortems for adults.

1.10 Notify the GP in writing and ensure the patients is recorded as deceased on EPR.

1.11 Ensure the cause of death is recorded in the patients medical records.

1.12 Ensure the deceased patients notes are returned to the medical records department.

2 Communication and Collaboration

2.1 To ensure that the Trust staffs feel informed about the bereavement process and all necessary steps to be taken.

2.2 Provide written and verbal information to relatives on their next steps; signposting them to further information.

2.3 Provide written and verbal information on support groups that are available.

2.4 Assist on induction of new doctors on the role of the Bereavement Officer and doctors requirements within the bereavement process.

2.5 To ensure that information is exchanged between all relevant parties following the death of a patient.

2.6 To develop and nurture close working relationships between the bereavement administrator and the Chaplaincy Department.

2.7 Develop and nurture relationships with the bereavement midwives.

3 Training and Education

3.1 Support the development of materials and pamphlets on the role of the Bereavement Officer and ensure that all staff are familiar with these.

3.2 Ensure ward and departmental nursing and medical staff are familiar with the process of how to deal with relatives following the death of a patient.

4 Other duties

4.1 Provide absence cover for the medical examiner officer, mortuary officer including the receipt and release of bodies as per protocols and policy and preparing for and facilitating viewings.

4.2 Adhere to Homerton Code of Behaviour and adopt a professional approach to customer care at all times.

4.3 Comply with the Trusts Equal Opportunities Policy and Single Equality Scheme and treat staff, patients, colleagues and potential employees with dignity and respect at all times.

4.4 Take personal responsibility for promoting a safe environment and safe patient care by identifying areas of risk and following policy and procedure.

4.5 Take personal responsibility for ensuring that Homerton resources are used efficiently and with minimum wastage.

4.6 Comply with Trust policies for personal and patient safety and for prevention of healthcare-associated infection (HCAI); this includes a requirement for rigorous and consistent compliance with Trust policies for hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment and safe disposal of sharps.

4.7 To be aware of and adhere to all Trust policies and procedures, the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Data Protection Act.

4.8 To maintain confidentiality at all times.

Inclusive - We will respect and value the diversity of our patients and people so everyone can thrive, feel a sense of belonging and can be their authentic self. We will do this by:

celebrate and value everyones uniqueness and difference

create psychologically safe spaces that enable people to bring

their whole, authentic selves to work

foster a sense of belonging

have an anti-racist approach and tackle all forms of Discrimination

This job description outlines the current main responsibilities of the post. However the duties of the post may change and develop over time and this job description may, therefore be amended in consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of working unsupervised
• Providing a service to the general public

Desirable

• Experience of working with the bereaved
• Working in a hospital environment

Education / Qualifications

Essential

• Demonstrable mathematics and English skills, both verbally and written

Skills/ Abilities

Essential

• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written
• Be able to deliver information in a clear and precise way.
• Computer literate

Knowledge

Essential

• Awareness of the concept of consumer care

Desirable

• Understanding of the documentation and process following the death of a patient

Other

Essential

• Understanding and demonstration of the Trust Values
• Sensitive and compassionate nature

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Homerton University Hospital

Homerton Row

London

E9 6SR

Employer's website

https://www.homerton.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)