Job summary
Employer heading
Senior Bereavement Officer
NHS AfC: Band 4
Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements. The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’. This is a great opportunity to join our clinical or non-clinical teams to create a positive and motivating environment within our trust. Come and join our team in this exciting time of change as we pride ourselves, our staff and our services on excellence.
At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”
We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions
We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate
We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live
We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice
Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us. We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.
Diversity is what makes us interesting… Inclusion is what will make us outstanding.
Inequality exists and the journey to eliminate it is not easy. Every step we take will be a purposeful step forward to deliver a truly inclusive culture where all our people are enabled to deliver outstanding care, where background is no barrier, and where everyone can be their authentic self and we truly represent our patient community.
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where possible. All applicants who have a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the post can opt for a guaranteed interview.
If you need additional help with your application please get in touch by calling the recruitment team on 0118 322 6997 or 0118 322 5342.
Our primary method of communication will be via email. However, if you would prefer to be contacted through a different method, please inform the recruitment team.
Job overview
Senior Bereavement Officer
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Bereavement Team.
We are looking for a dedicated individual with excellent communication skills and a genuine sense of empathy to provide a professional and coordinated bereavement service. In this role, you will support the relatives, carers, friends, and legal representatives of patients who have died at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.
The role involves comprehensive secretarial and administrative duties, diary & data management, minute taking and contact with a wide variety of people including the recently bereaved.
In addition the successful post holder will work collaboratively with the Medical Examiners Service to ensure paperwork is reviewed and completed in a timely manner.
Main duties of the job
You must be able to use your own initiative and have a keen attention to detail in all tasks.
- Demonstrate proficiency in computer skills, with an intermediate understanding of Microsoft Office applications.
- Bring previous administrative experience.
- Excellent secretarial, organisational, data entry and keyboard skills.
- Effectively manage tight deadlines, and adapt to changing and challenging situations while maintaining attention to detail.
- Handle multiple tasks simultaneously, ensuring all are completed efficiently and accurately.
- You will need to be enthusiastic, have good problem-solving skills, be creative and innovative in your approach, and work well under pressure.
- Be empathetic, compassionate and have strong core values all while maintaining a professional balance.
Working for our organisation
The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest District General Hospitals in the country. The hospital achieved Foundation Trust status on 1st June 2006. It was the first Foundation Trust in the South Central Strategic Health Authority. The Trust has a successful track record of delivering high quality acute medical and surgical services for 500,000 patients across West Berkshire, an area extending from Newbury in the west to Henley-on-Thames in the east, and including Wokingham and parts of Hampshire to the south and parts of Oxfordshire to the north. The Trust is Reading’s biggest employer.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For further details on the job role, please refer to the job description and person specification attached.
Person specification
Education
Essential criteria
- Very good level of computer literacy
- GCSE level of education or equivalent
- Training in bereavement support
Desirable criteria
- Minutes taking course/training evidence or experience
- European Computer Driving Licence - ECDL
Experience
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable experience in an admin role with excellent knowledge of office procedures
- Experience of working with bereaved families or working with people in sensitive and emotional situations
- Demonstrable experience of training/mentoring staff
Desirable criteria
- Experience in conducting audits
- Demonstrable experience of working in a healthcare setting
Skills and Abilities
Essential criteria
- Strong time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines
- Understanding of data protection and confidentiality
- Very good interpersonal and communication skills both written and oral
- Ability to work both as part of a team and individually
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of the Coroner & Justice Act 2009, including The Notification of Deaths Regulations 2019
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Lisa Jane Richardson
- Job title
- Service Manager - Bereavement/ME Service
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0118 322 8066
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