Bereavement Services Officer

To be a source of expert advice and support to medical and managerial staff on the administrative procedures following death, for example to ensure that all Medical Certificates of Cause of Death are completed correctly to prevent added distress to the relatives. To coordinate the completion of Cremation Certificates and any other supplementary documentation required after the death of a patient, troubleshooting when necessary. To be conversant with the types of deaths required by law to be reported to the Coroners Office. To provide detailed information for the bereaved relatives on the practical procedures involved with death registration and to advise on the availability of community support where necessary. To advise the next-of-kin on the process and legal requirements for repatriation of the deceased. To offer advice and information for funeral arrangements as appropriate. To ensure that all deceased patients details are recorded on the Eden database, including community and
Emergency Department deaths. To use discernment in recognising the needs of newly bereaved people, so that support in terms of counselling or other help may be made available, either inside the hospital or by referral to other organisations. To be conversant with the types of deaths required by law to be reported to the Coroners Office. To work closely with the local Coroners officers in providing information and documentation for cases referred to the Coroner, liaising with clinicians where necessary. To be conversant with the necessary documentation and policies to release bodies from the Mortuary to the funeral directors. To ensure that general practitioners and any outside agency involved with the patients care is informed of the death as soon as possible, including the production of standard letters. To update files and hospital system in relation to patients death. To accurately record details of the person collecting the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death ensuring
that their next-of-kin status is in accordance with hospital policy. To process all cash and valuables placed in safe custody, liaising with Finance to ensure the return of monies following discharge or death. To facilitate hospital procedures for arranging funerals for adults where no relatives have been identified. To support the arrangement of funeral services for pregnancy losses, stillbirths and neonatal deaths. To ensure that all duties described above are carried out in accordance with office procedures and in a timely and efficient manner.