Job summary An exciting opportunity has arisen within Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh (WWL) Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust to join our well established bereavement team based at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary. We are looking for a person with excellent communication skills, who is empathetic and caring with the ability to provide a professional and co-ordinated bereavement service to relatives, carers and friends of patients who have died in WWL. In addition the successful post holder will have a working knowledge of Microsoft packages including outlook, word, and excel and will work collaboratively with the Medical Examiner Service to ensure paperwork is completed in a timely manner. Candidates are required to present certificates for qualifications at interview stage. Main duties of the job The role of the bereavement officer involves administrative duties, processing and issuance of the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) liaising closely with a wide range of stake holders as well as being the first point of contact for the deceased relatives carers and friends during a very stressful time. About us Choose Well - Choose WWL Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that 'happy staff, makes for a happy department. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement, and living our values 'the WWL Way'. WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs. Date posted 17 February 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 3 Salary £24,071 to £25,674 a year pa pro rota Contract Permanent Working pattern Part-time, Flexible working Reference number 302-25-6926920M Job locations Royal Albert Edward Infirmary Wigan Lane Wigan WN1 2NN Job description Job responsibilities Planning and Organisational Duties To provide a timely and appropriate service for the bereaved. Work in partnership with the mortuary & Trust Medical Examiners services Assisting appropriate medical staff in completing Certificate for the Cause of Death & Cremation certificates. Assist Clinicians in completion of death certificates as requested by the Coroners office for patients recently discharged from hospital; to save relatives from the distress of the deceased having to undergo a postmortem examination. Provide support and explanations for Coroners post-mortems, registration of death, the release of the deceased and the process of viewings in the mortuary. Provide basic information around the involvement of the Medical Examiners Service. Ensure relatives are aware of the procedures for the collection of deceased property. To ensure all deaths are recorded on Patient Care system via data sent from the PCT & G.Ps surgeries. To maintain the Peri Operative register To ensure that a supply of Trust bereavement booklets are available and distributed to the wards and departments for care of bereaved relatives. Support the reviewing all literature used by the service for relatives. Provide support in accessing the Hospital Chaplaincy team and other local clergy Responsible for the accurate and timely distribution of GP letters To supply notification of death reports to other hospital departments that use standalone recording systems Receive and process all information regarding patient deaths in accordance with agreed policies and procedure Communications and Key Working Relationships To act as first point of contact for bereaved relatives carers and friends concerning deaths of patients who die in WWL and provide information on the processes that follow such as Medical Examiner, issuing of certificates & registration of death ensuring this is done in a caring and understanding way. Liaise with mortuary staff daily to identify deaths that have occurred in the hospital. Communication with the Coroners office re reported deaths where no communication received for more than 48 hours after referral. Liaise with the hospital bereavement specialist liaison nurse. Refer relatives to the Bereavement Specialist Nurse services where required. To liaise with clinicians and administrative personnel both internally and externally Access translation/ interpretation services as necessary Liaise with the General registrars Office daily Responsibility for Finance Ensure effective use of resources within own role Utilise the department & trusts IT recourses appropriately in line with policies and procedures Responsibility for Human Resources Post holder will be required to participate in the performance review system Comply with e-mandatory training Be familiar with and comply with all appropriate policies and procedure Responsibility for Health & Safety To maintain health, safety and security by adherence to Trust policies and procedures and ensure adherence by others. To report accidents / incidents & near misses in accordance with the Trust Incident Reporting System Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions Responsibility for Teaching To be involved in any job-related training in order to maintain quality standards including e-mandatory training To have a good understanding of the Hospital information system and other Trust Information systems. To maintain personal administration competency and professionalism by attending educational and or training courses as appropriate to the role. You will be openly expected to share knowledge and experience with colleagues. Job description Job responsibilities Planning and Organisational Duties To provide a timely and appropriate service for the bereaved. Work in partnership with the mortuary & Trust Medical Examiners services Assisting appropriate medical staff in completing Certificate for the Cause of Death & Cremation certificates. Assist Clinicians in completion of death certificates as requested by the Coroners office for patients recently discharged from hospital; to save relatives from the distress of the deceased having to undergo a postmortem examination. Provide support and explanations for Coroners post-mortems, registration of death, the release of the deceased and the process of viewings in the mortuary. Provide basic information around the involvement of the Medical Examiners Service. Ensure relatives are aware of the procedures for the collection of deceased property. To ensure all deaths are recorded on Patient Care system via data sent from the PCT & G.Ps surgeries. To maintain the Peri Operative register To ensure that a supply of Trust bereavement booklets are available and distributed to the wards and departments for care of bereaved relatives. Support the reviewing all literature used by the service for relatives. Provide support in accessing the Hospital Chaplaincy team and other local clergy Responsible for the accurate and timely distribution of GP letters To supply notification of death reports to other hospital departments that use standalone recording systems Receive and process all information regarding patient deaths in accordance with agreed policies and procedure Communications and Key Working Relationships To act as first point of contact for bereaved relatives carers and friends concerning deaths of patients who die in WWL and provide information on the processes that follow such as Medical Examiner, issuing of certificates & registration of death ensuring this is done in a caring and understanding way. Liaise with mortuary staff daily to identify deaths that have occurred in the hospital. Communication with the Coroners office re reported deaths where no communication received for more than 48 hours after referral. Liaise with the hospital bereavement specialist liaison nurse. Refer relatives to the Bereavement Specialist Nurse services where required. To liaise with clinicians and administrative personnel both internally and externally Access translation/ interpretation services as necessary Liaise with the General registrars Office daily Responsibility for Finance Ensure effective use of resources within own role Utilise the department & trusts IT recourses appropriately in line with policies and procedures Responsibility for Human Resources Post holder will be required to participate in the performance review system Comply with e-mandatory training Be familiar with and comply with all appropriate policies and procedure Responsibility for Health & Safety To maintain health, safety and security by adherence to Trust policies and procedures and ensure adherence by others. To report accidents / incidents & near misses in accordance with the Trust Incident Reporting System Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions Responsibility for Teaching To be involved in any job-related training in order to maintain quality standards including e-mandatory training To have a good understanding of the Hospital information system and other Trust Information systems. To maintain personal administration competency and professionalism by attending educational and or training courses as appropriate to the role. You will be openly expected to share knowledge and experience with colleagues. Person Specification Experience Essential Admin and Clerical Experience Experience of working in a busy office environment that requires maintaining records & checking paperwork. Meeting deadlines whilst working under pressure. Experience of dealing with the General Public. Qualifications Essential Educated to GCSE / 'O' Level standard or equivalent Including English & Maths Grade A-C/ 9-4 Skills Essential Keyboard Skills and ability to use varying computer / office systems including MS Outlook, Excel, Word, and use of databases. Excellent communication and interpersonal Skills Able to demonstrate calmness, empathy towards recently bereaved families and able to manage upsetting and stressful situations with pride and Dignity. Ability to adapt work routines according to daily demands, be flexible and adaptable to meet the rapidly changing demands of the service Motivated to learn new skills Able to work as part of team Knowledge Essential Knowledge of governance procedures including Data Protection, Caldecott Principals and Patient Confidentiality Health and Safety Procedures Additional Essential Adaptable and flexible - available to change hours of work at short notice Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation Person Specification Experience Essential Admin and Clerical Experience Experience of working in a busy office environment that requires maintaining records & checking paperwork. Meeting deadlines whilst working under pressure. Experience of dealing with the General Public. Qualifications Essential Educated to GCSE / 'O' Level standard or equivalent Including English & Maths Grade A-C/ 9-4 Skills Essential Keyboard Skills and ability to use varying computer / office systems including MS Outlook, Excel, Word, and use of databases. Excellent communication and interpersonal Skills Able to demonstrate calmness, empathy towards recently bereaved families and able to manage upsetting and stressful situations with pride and Dignity. Ability to adapt work routines according to daily demands, be flexible and adaptable to meet the rapidly changing demands of the service Motivated to learn new skills Able to work as part of team Knowledge Essential Knowledge of governance procedures including Data Protection, Caldecott Principals and Patient Confidentiality Health and Safety Procedures Additional Essential Adaptable and flexible - available to change hours of work at short notice Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation 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. Employer details Employer name Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Address Royal Albert Edward Infirmary Wigan Lane Wigan WN1 2NN Employer's website http://www.wwl.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)