SGH Bereavement Officer

To support the Bereavement Services Manager with operational and administrative issues and to assist the Manager in the development of the Bereavement Service and day to day running of the Bereavement Services Office.

To facilitate excellent communication within the department by effectively disseminating all information received to the team and by feeding back relevant comments and queries to the Bereavement Services Manager.

To assist the Manager of Medical Examiner & Bereavement Services through maintaining processes relating to the smooth cohesive running of the departments.

To act as first point of contact for queries and concerns from patients, carers, visitors, etc., and assisting in investigations as required.

To take responsibility for producing reports and dealing with general queries.

To participate in budget control as specified by the Bereavement Services Manager by ensuring that all orders placed are necessary and within budget.

Displaying all new and outstanding cases on the whiteboard for the team, management, and attending doctors to track progress in real-time.

Notifying the registered GP of the patient to inform them of their patients death.

Identifying doctors who can complete the paperwork and invite them to the Medical Examiner (ME) office to discuss and agree on a cause of death.

Advocating for rapid release faith requests (e.g. Muslim, Jewish), highlighting religious urgency to the ME and Mortuary teams.

Assisting the doctors in completing the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). Accuracy is the highest priority to ensure legal compliance and prevent delays for grieving families.

Proactively reaching out if a next of kin (NOK) has not contacted the office within 48hours of a death, using recorded contacts in the medical notes to help move the process forwards.

Monitoring cases referred to the Coroner and managing ad hoc requirements for Repatriations.

Issuing release forms to funeral directors to allow them to collect a patient from the mortuary.

Monitoring the Long Stay List (30+ days) to help maintain safe mortuary capacity.

Escorting families to the mortuary. (Families often find our office more easily than the mortuary. If a family arrives here for a viewing, an officer will accompany them to the correct location).

Coordinating pregnancy loss funeral services. We offer funerals free of charge for losses between 1624 weeks, liaising between families, the chaplaincy team and our contracted funeral director.

Processing deceased patients property. The items must be checked and logged; Some items may be refused as we cannot accept medication, soiled clothing or valuables (jewellery, cash, etc.)

Preparing and distributing bereavement booklets for wards, ensuring each contains a staff survey and freepost envelope.

Referring cases to Public Health. If there is no NOK or they cannot take responsibility, we must refer the case to Wandsworth Council.

St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey.Our sites include St George's Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).

After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.

At gesh we are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements. Applicants are encouraged to discuss any flexibility they may need during the recruitment process.

Skills

Desirable: - Previous experience of working in Bereavement Services

Qualifications

Essential: - Numerate and literate to A level standard or equivalent experience