Job summary The Bereavement Officer will provide a service to friends or relatives of deceased patients. This includes offering information and advice on procedural matters relating to death notification, funeral arrangements and the release of patients' personal property. The role of Bereavement Officer requires the post-holder to exercise tact and diplomacy, sensitivity, and the ability to listen. It also involves a considerable degree of independent judgement and initiative in liaising with a variety of services, as may be appropriate, on related matters. The post holder will be expected to work with all grades of medical, nursing and administration staff to coordinate the smooth running of the bereavement function in accordance with national and hospital guidelines for the care of the bereaved, the medical certification of deceased patients and preparations for Inquest hearings. The post holder will receive direction, but will be expected to manage a workload, determine priorities, achieve deadlines and identify future tasks and work needs. Main duties of the job Job responsibilities 1. Be the first point of contact for bereaved families and coordinate the bereavement function throughout the Trust. 2. Work with colleagues on wards and departments to co-ordinate the collection of the deceased's belongings. 3. Work with colleagues in the Mortuary team to arrange viewings for families of deceased patients. 4. Coordinate the initial referral to the Coroner by the Parent Medical team in a timely manner 5. Assist the Legal Services Team in managing coroner requests for information, statements and preparing for Inquest hearings. 6. In line with processes, support the bereaved in raising and documenting their concerns and complaints, initiating the complaints handling process and assisting in their administration in conjunction with the Patient Experience Team. 7. Link closely with the Patient Experience Team and Palliative Care Teams to analyse common concerns arising from people who are bereaved and identify their core needs. 8. Regularly attend Wards and Departments to ensure that supplies of relevant documentation is in good supply and available when needed. May also be required to collect and deliver patient records to support the referral to the Coroner. 9. Liaise with external partners; HM Coroners, Funeral Directors, Local Authorities and Registration services. About us Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) cares for the population in Harrogate and the local area, as well as across North Yorkshire, Leeds and parts of the North East. At HDFT we provide outstanding care to both our patients and our staff and we value Kindness, Integrity, Teamwork and Equality. If you're looking for an interesting and rewarding career in the NHS, where you can make a real difference to patients' lives, HDFT could be the place for you We offer colleagues: A supportive culture so colleagues can bring their whole selves to work. Staff Recognition - as well as regular appraisals, we recognise achievements with our Making a Difference & Team of the Month Awards, along with annual Colleague Recognition Awards. Employee Support and wellbeing - we offer a wide range of staff benefits including an Employee Assistance Programme, counselling service and a fast-track Physiotherapy service. Please note: Due to high levels of interest, posts may close early if we reach a sufficient number of applications Visa sponsorship is only available for certain roles. Please ensure the role you are interested in meets the criteria for a visa before submitting your application. Please also be aware that the Trust does not offer relocation packages for Agenda for Change roles. Date posted 13 January 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 4 Salary £26,530 to £29,114 a year or secondment Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Flexible working Reference number 421-CORP-1785S Job locations Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust Harrogate HG2 7SX Job description Job responsibilities Please see the attached documents and contact Yasser Hussain yasser.hussain4nhs.net or 01423 553543 for an informal discussion about the role. Job description Job responsibilities Please see the attached documents and contact Yasser Hussain yasser.hussain4nhs.net or 01423 553543 for an informal discussion about the role. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Holds qualifications equivalent to diploma level, or is able to demonstrate administrative experience of an equivalent level. GCSE English and mathematics, at Grade C or above Desirable Administration qualification - Experience of Patient Administration System - Knowledge of databases and spreadsheets Experience Essential Good IT skills and experience of working with multiple IT systems as part of the role. Significant experience of working with people in a customer care context, including face to face interactions Desirable Experience of using Datix Experience of working with bereaved families Person Specification Qualifications Essential Holds qualifications equivalent to diploma level, or is able to demonstrate administrative experience of an equivalent level. GCSE English and mathematics, at Grade C or above Desirable Administration qualification - Experience of Patient Administration System - Knowledge of databases and spreadsheets Experience Essential Good IT skills and experience of working with multiple IT systems as part of the role. Significant experience of working with people in a customer care context, including face to face interactions Desirable Experience of using Datix Experience of working with bereaved families 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). 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. 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). Employer details Employer name Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust Address Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust Harrogate HG2 7SX Employer's website https://www.hdft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)