Bereavement Specialist

We are looking for an experienced Bereavement Specialist to join our team at Putney Vale.

About Us: 

Enable is a charity dedicated to improving people's wellbeing and strengthening local communities. We work with councils, charities and other local organisations to deliver health, leisure, community services and events that enrich people’s lives and strengthen our local community.  

At Enable, we value our employees and our culture, focusing on embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive, flexible and fun environment for employees to perform at their best. On top of a competitive salary and flexible working environment, employees will also receive:  

Benefits: 

• 30 days of annual leave (plus 8 bank holidays), 3 additional free days off at Christmas
• Life Insurance
• Reward Schemes (RewardHub Membership, wellbeing budgets and cycle to work)
• A variety of social and wellbeing activities each month
• Mental Health & Wellbeing Perks (Monthly talks, Wellbeing Hour, etc)
• Free Gym Membership
• Free breakfasts/snacks

Reports to: Cemetery Manager

Based: Putney Vale Crematorium and Cemetery

Salary: £29,000 to £30,950 depending on experience 

Contract: Permanent, Full Time 

Work Arrangement: 40 hours per week, Office Based 

DBS: Basic

Role Overview: 

We are looking for a self-motivated individual to assist in the day-to-day operation of the crematorium  and cemeteries that are managed by Enable. The postholder will have sound all round knowledge of the bereavement industry, able to advise and support staff  with enquiries and concerns raised by all stakeholders. 

This role is to work 5 days over 7, where possible rotas will be made available up to 2 weeks in advance.  

Reporting to the Cemeteries Manger, the Bereavement specialist will be Based at Putney Vale Cemetery. The main areas of work will be around the chapels, providing cover for the chapel attendant, and completing usual daily tasks such as cleaning public areas and maintaining the floral tribute areas. Assisting with burial processes, from identifying graves to overseeing interments, also interments of ashes and occasionally exhumations from both the cemetery and gardens of remembrance. Administration duties and reception cover, for both cemeteries and crematorium. 

Ideally you will be qualified to cremate but this is not essential because you can work towards this. Experience in a related environment linked to bereavement or a care-based industry would be an advantage. Experience of attending burials in an official capacity would be an advantage. You will ideally have your own transport suitable for use at work, with a full UK driving licence. This role requires lone working and working flexibility including attending funeral services at weekends, sometimes at short notice. 

We 

Our Bereavement Team are a small team of professionals based at Putney Vale or North East Surrey. The team manages two crematoria, three busy cemeteries and two closed cemeteries. The team pride themselves o their work showing professionalism, empathy and compassion through everything they do, positively supporting the community in times of need.  

Main Duties/Responsibilities:  

• Dealing with enquiries made by the public face to face in the cemetery, at the crematorium and at the administration office reception, also via email or by telephone. Meeting with families where required
• Marking graves, prior to burial, completing graveside checks, monitoring for safety and compliance with policy/cemetery regulations and law. Attending burials services held in our chapels ensuring music and all requests are complied with
• Monitoring public, masons and contractors using our cemeteries and crematorium
• Assist the administration team in office, covering absence where required and inputting historical data from cemeteries
• Attending at community events and memorial services. Time managed within contracted hours or taken as toil in agreement with line manager
• Carrake oy out cremations; clean/rut cremators; accurate transfer and handling of ashes; Cremulation duties; inter or scatter ashes; emission monitoring and other associated work. Distribute ashes to funeral directors and families.  
• Handle tributes in a safe and respectful manner; remove tributes from viewing area to display area; clean viewing area, display area and reflection garden; clear old flower displays and tributes; remove flowers from grounds and display areas as and when required.
• Completing all necessary paperwork relating to bereavement services, make entries in registers; compile audit/ stock reports 
• Monitoring and control of cremations by computer input; monitor analytical equipment - change filters and calibrate as required; compile statistical information and reports as required; resolve general technical problems during cremations; report any problems and low stock to the crematorium operations manager 
• Liaising with Officiants, organists, public and funeral directors, receive funerals, check coffin identification, resolve minor issues in a professional and respectful manner

Technician's Duties: On gaining the Crematorium Technicians Certificate of Proficiency, the postholder will be required to provide day to day supervision of cremation activities including on site guidance and training to other employees as required. 

Conduct and Appearance: When working in the public or crematory areas, all employees will act in a dignified and respectful manner. When handling coffins, employees will acknowledge the considerable responsibility and trust which is placed in them, by the bereaved, and act appropriately at all times. Employees will attain a high standard of dress and appearance at all times to reflect the reverence and respect required by the duties being undertaken 

Skills and Experience:  

• Experience of working in either a bereavement or care based environment.  
• A clear and concise telephone manner with the ability to deal with the public under, at  times, stressful and emotive situation
• Experience of using computer packages e.g. windows and Microsoft Office effectively and efficiently to support and deliver tasks as required
• Experience of attending burials in an official capacity
• The ability to deal with bereaved families including the distribution and handling of cremated remains caskets
• A general understanding of safeguarding vulnerable adults and young people and a willingness to attend training as required
• The ability to deal effectively with people from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds and to commit to implement the company’s equal opportunity policy
• Holds a clean UK drivers licence and owns a vehicle insured for business use

This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of a company that positively impacts the community around us. If you are someone that is motivated by a desire to enrich the lives of others and make a genuine difference, then please Apply Now and follow the prompts. 

If this role not quite right, however you are still interested in working at Enable then we encourage you to get in touch today on hr@enablelc.org 

Enable is strongly committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an equal opportunities employer. We value diversity and encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. To find out more on our approach to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit our website.