Apprentice - Bereavement Services Officer
| Posting date: | 16 July 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £17,846 per year |
| Additional salary information: | Local Government Pension Scheme |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 03 August 2025 |
| Location: | Barnstaple, Devon |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | North Devon District Council |
| Job type: | Apprenticeship |
| Job reference: |
Summary
The postholder will be trained to:
• carry out administrative duties, including: data input, processing of cremation and burial legislative documents, processing Garden of Remembrance memorial applications, assist in maintaining Crematorium / Cemetery registers and maps
• carry out reception duties (including taking funeral bookings and instructions from Funeral Directors / the public by telephone and face to face, search the registers as required, assist colleagues in the provision of assisted funerals and the associated administration and assist users of our services at all times
• following coaching / training / shadowing and always under supervision of a trained Technician, carry out coffin checks against paperwork and undertake cremations, ashes preparation and casketing for ashes removal
• learn how to undertake front-of-house duties in the chapels, including: operating the music and video tribute systems, preparing the chapel before each service by checking temperature, facilities and cleaning / clearing the chapel, waiting rooms, public lavatories, vestries to a high standard
• maintain front of house areas, including watering plants, leaf / debris removal, place funeral information up for that day and any other relevant signage, welcoming funeral parties onto the site
• monitor services and support Funeral Directors and officiants to ensure services run smoothly and efficiently, compliant with legislation and good practice guidelines and our policies
• with supervision, prepare ashes burial sites and shadow the officiating of ashes burials, to ensure dignity and compliance with current legislation, good practice guidelines and our policies, with bereaved families in attendance, as required
• provide accurate information to Funeral Directors, officiants, bereaved persons and members of the public in an appropriate and sensitive manner
• assist with maintenance of the Garden of Remembrance and with monitoring grounds maintenance to ensure all areas are safe, attractive, accessible, clean and free of litter and detritus at all times
• following coaching / training / shadowing and always under supervision of a trained Gardener, carry out mowing, strimming, hedgecutting and pond-clearing duties
• pay particular attention to Health & Safety in every task carried out and in every area of the buildings and grounds to ensure you, your work colleagues, members of the public, Funeral Directors, officiants and any other visitors are kept as safe as possible at all times
• comply with our Data Protection policies and procedures, to ensure that personal data is handled in an appropriate manner – safely and securely
• be proactive and passionate about giving an excellent service to all ‘customers’ and service users, aiming to deliver a quality service that is right first time
• ensure we deliver all our services and treat all our customers equally and be flexible / adaptive and sensitive to the needs of all disabled people and those with specialist or religious needs
• comply with our Safeguarding policies with regard to children and vulnerable adults
• carry out administrative duties, including: data input, processing of cremation and burial legislative documents, processing Garden of Remembrance memorial applications, assist in maintaining Crematorium / Cemetery registers and maps
• carry out reception duties (including taking funeral bookings and instructions from Funeral Directors / the public by telephone and face to face, search the registers as required, assist colleagues in the provision of assisted funerals and the associated administration and assist users of our services at all times
• following coaching / training / shadowing and always under supervision of a trained Technician, carry out coffin checks against paperwork and undertake cremations, ashes preparation and casketing for ashes removal
• learn how to undertake front-of-house duties in the chapels, including: operating the music and video tribute systems, preparing the chapel before each service by checking temperature, facilities and cleaning / clearing the chapel, waiting rooms, public lavatories, vestries to a high standard
• maintain front of house areas, including watering plants, leaf / debris removal, place funeral information up for that day and any other relevant signage, welcoming funeral parties onto the site
• monitor services and support Funeral Directors and officiants to ensure services run smoothly and efficiently, compliant with legislation and good practice guidelines and our policies
• with supervision, prepare ashes burial sites and shadow the officiating of ashes burials, to ensure dignity and compliance with current legislation, good practice guidelines and our policies, with bereaved families in attendance, as required
• provide accurate information to Funeral Directors, officiants, bereaved persons and members of the public in an appropriate and sensitive manner
• assist with maintenance of the Garden of Remembrance and with monitoring grounds maintenance to ensure all areas are safe, attractive, accessible, clean and free of litter and detritus at all times
• following coaching / training / shadowing and always under supervision of a trained Gardener, carry out mowing, strimming, hedgecutting and pond-clearing duties
• pay particular attention to Health & Safety in every task carried out and in every area of the buildings and grounds to ensure you, your work colleagues, members of the public, Funeral Directors, officiants and any other visitors are kept as safe as possible at all times
• comply with our Data Protection policies and procedures, to ensure that personal data is handled in an appropriate manner – safely and securely
• be proactive and passionate about giving an excellent service to all ‘customers’ and service users, aiming to deliver a quality service that is right first time
• ensure we deliver all our services and treat all our customers equally and be flexible / adaptive and sensitive to the needs of all disabled people and those with specialist or religious needs
• comply with our Safeguarding policies with regard to children and vulnerable adults
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.