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Job summary

Main area
Bereavement Support Officer
Grade
Band 4
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 12 hours per week (Thursdays and Fridays but some bank holidays will need to be covered.)
Job ref
100-AC168-0625
Employer
Hywel Dda University Health Board
Employer type
NHS
Site
Withybush Hospital
Town
Haverfordwest
Salary
£26,928 - £29,551 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
20/07/2025 23:59
Interview date
04/08/2025

Employer heading

Hywel Dda University Health Board logo

Bereavement Support Officer

Band 4

Our Hywel Dda values reflect who we are and how we behave. We continuously work together to be the best we can be as we strive to develop and deliver excellent services, putting people at the heart of everything we do. Throughout our recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you would demonstrate these values in the way that you work with us.

If you are registered Health Care professional considering relocating to the Hywel Dda area in West Wales please don’t hesitate to contact our recruitment campaigns team directly via [email protected]

To keep up to date with our latest recruitment activity follow us on Facebook (Swyddi Hywel Dda Jobs), LinkedIn or on Twitter @SwyddiHDdaJobs

Hywel Dda University Health Board reserve the right to close vacancies after 24 hours if a large number of suitable applications are received. We encourage early applications to ensure consideration for a post.


Please be advised that there is a temporary top up for Bands 2 and 3 to reflect the incorporation of the top up to the living wage of £12.60 per hour - £24,638 per annum.

This temporary top up will be in place until the annual pay uplift for 2025/26 is confirmed.

Job overview

We are looking for an empathetic, caring, enthusiastic and motivated individual You need to be able to organise yourself and others, to co-ordinate a wide range of tasks within tight timescales, to work under pressure and show initiative. You will play an important role in the effective organisation and coordination of the Bereavement Service's

Bereavement Services are the team who work alongside the Medical Examiners team to arrange for the Medical Cause of Death Certificates for our deceased patients to be completed. Bereavement Services speak to and liaise with bereaved relatives and co-ordinate with the Medical Examiners team, the mortuary team, the Coroner's Office, funeral directors and Registrars. As a member of the team you must be computer literate, used to working on the telephone, able to listen and support the bereaved, as well as your colleagues.

If you are a hardworking, empathetic, organised and confident individual, with strong administration/IT skills we would love to hear from you.

"It is our one chance to embed the safest possible memories at the worst time in someone's life"

Main duties of the job

The successful applicants will be kind and compassionate by nature, while also being professional and dedicated to delivering a proactive and efficient service to bereaved families at a distressing time. You will be someone who is methodical, calm under pressure, possess excellent IT skills, able to cope with change in demands and most importantly a team player. You will also be able to manage a caseload without direct supervision and work independently. You will be detail-focused and keen to develop your skills through the role and to actively support development of the services.

Excellent communications skills; in-person, on the telephone, virtually and in writing are essential, as you will be communicating with anxious and distressed bereaved people, as well as various other professional agencies such as the medical examiners,  His Majesty's Coroner, funeral directors and  registrars of deaths. You will work closely with the wards and with clinicians to coordinate timely arrangements for bereaved people. 

Working for our organisation

Hywel Dda University Health Board plans and provides NHS healthcare services for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and bordering counties.

We have over 13,000 staff and together we provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services.

We work in partnership with the three local authorities, as well as public, private and third sector colleagues, including our valued team of volunteers.

Our services are provided in:

  • Four main hospitals: Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth; Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen; Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli; and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest
  • Five community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery hospitals in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron Hospital in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire hospitals in Pembrokeshire
  • Two integrated care centres: Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion, and several other community settings
  • 47 general practices (six of which are health board managed practices); dental practices (including four orthodontic); 97 community pharmacies; 43 general ophthalmic practices; and 8 ophthalmic domiciliary providers
  • Numerous mental health and learning disabilities services

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences.  In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Interviews will be held on 04.08.25

Person specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Level III or equivalent experience
  • Experience of a full range of duties working in an administrative/ clinical environment.
  • Knowledge of medical/healthcare terminology

Language Skills

Desirable criteria
  • Welsh Speaker (Level 1)

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working in a busy complex environment
  • Working as part of a team and can work autonomously
  • Familiar and competent with Microsoft IT packages (including Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Email)
Desirable criteria
  • Experience working in a Bereavement service or relevant third sector
  • Experience of working in the NHS

Other

Essential criteria
  • Flexible approach to the needs of the service

Aptitudes and Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Ability to deal with distressed individuals on a daily basis
  • Demonstrate good organisational skills.
  • Good communication skills
  • Understanding of Confidentiality
  • Compassionate and sensitive to the needs of others

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareNo smoking policyCymraegMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStep into healthCarer Confident (With Welsh translation)Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldCore principlesStonewall 2023 Bronze

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Welsh language skills are desirable

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Helen Johns
Job title
Hospital Service Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01437773902
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