Bereavement Officer | Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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.

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.

Choose Well - Choose WWL

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.

• 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 Coroner’s 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

• 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 Coroner’s 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 registrar’s Office daily

• Ensure effective use of resources within own role
• Utilise the department & trust’s IT recourses appropriately in line with policies and procedures

• 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

• 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

• 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.

This advert closes on Friday 21 Feb 2025