Detailed job description and main 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 patient’s 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 patient’s 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 doctor’s 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 Trust’s 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 everyone’s 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.