Job title: Assistant Bereavement Services Officer
Salary: £32,076.00 - £33,945.00
Hours: 37 hours per week, together with evening, weekend and bank holiday hours as required.
Contract: Permanent
Location: Farnley Hall, LS12 5HA but may be based at any point within the Leeds City boundaries.
As an Assistant Bereavement Services Officer, you’ll be working with a small team of grave diggers to organise and undertake grave digging operations ensuring that correct work-related records are kept. The post holder will assist in providing legal compliance and technical assistance to officers and managers within the Bereavement Service team and work as a team member within the Bereavement Service office, providing advice and guidance to members of the public on bereavement and technical related matters.
Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
As an Assistant Bereavement Services Officer, you will bring to the role:
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills at all levels and have a flexible, calm, and sympathetic attitude, particularly when dealing with the bereaved.
- You will hold or be willing to work towards Level 3 BTEC Diploma in Cemetery Management
- You will be familiar with the use of a computers particularly Microsoft packages such as Word and Excel.
- You must be able to work overtime including some evening, weekend, and bank holiday working. You will also provide a standby and emergency call out response on a rota basis, for which a vehicle will be provided, and payment will be made.
About the role
Duties include direct staff supervision, onsite interpretation of maps and plans to ensure grave digging is accurate and detailed record keeping. It is desirable but not essential that the successful applicant will be able to demonstrate that they have a significant number of years practical experience in burial operations or the use of digging machines.
As our next Assistant Bereavement Services Officer, you’ll join a team currently delivering around 5500 burials and cremations annually. This is an exciting time for the service as we look to modernise building on the good level of service currently achieved. Alongside recruiting to key positions, we are also seeking to introduce upgraded ICT systems and business processes as well as significantly investing in new equipment for our crematoria and grave digging teams.
What we offer you
We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Please complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Jason Kaye, Principal Bereavement Services Officer, call 0113 3788196 or email Jason.kaye@leeds.gov.uk
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is ranked 70 on the Stonewall Equality Index 2023. We are also an age-friendly employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.
All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period. This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.
Job Description
Job Purpose: To organise and undertake, on a day to day basis, the available resources in order to complete grave digging operations and to ensure that correct work related records are kept. To assist in ensuring legal compliance and technical assistance to officers and managers within the Bereavement Services team and work as a team member within the Bereavement Service office providing advice and guidance to members of the public on bereavement and technical related matters.
Responsibilities:
- The organisation, undertaking and completion of all burial operations within the defined working area and deputise as required for the Principal Bereavement Service Officer.
- The supervision and training of staff under the post holder’s control. This will also include the driving from one area of work within the Leeds City boundaries to another, in order to supervise staff and check on work progression.
- To assist the staff under the post holder’s control in burials involving grave digging and the use of technical specialist associated plant and equipment in relation to burial vaults and earthen graves. The work will involve digging and repetitive lifting of heavy objects outside in all weathers.
- To undertake return to work interviews and appraisals for all staff under the post holder’s control and where necessary, to implement the council’s policies and procedures.
- To undertake accurate record keeping of burial plans and the accurate completion and return of inspection records, job sheet documents, staff time sheets and other administrative duties as required.
- To undertake any training as is deemed necessary to improve performance and to meet the needs of the maintenance and operation of the cemeteries in Leeds.
- To prepare land for burial and exhumation.
- To undertake the aftercare and grounds maintenance of grave centres within the cemeteries.
- To be on call for the out of hours service.
- To officiate at burials & exhumations when required.
- To undertake other manual labouring duties as required in all weathers.
- To fully respond to enquiries from cemetery visitors and service users on site and in an office environment.
- To work with the line manager when identifying and planning out new areas for future burial provision within the city of Leeds.
- The operation of mechanical digging and ancillary equipment to include Front Loader Backhoe, Dumper and JCB2CX or similar.
- Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade
- Participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
- Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
- To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
- Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
- Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
- Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
- Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
- The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
- The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
Qualifications
COTS Certification in grave digging or able to demonstrate a significant number of years practical experience in the use of digging machines and actively working towards Level 3 BTEC Diploma in cemetery management.
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements
Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate
Skills Required
- Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
Knowledge Required
- Knowledge of cultural differences when dealing with multi faith burials.
- Possess a sound knowledge of the role and functions of Bereavement Services.
- Technical knowledge of legislation in relation to burials and cremations.
- Knowledge of current modern grave digging machinery and associated equipment and its uses
- Knowledge of departmental policies and procedures
Experience Required
- Significant number of years practical experience in the use of digging operations
Behavioural & other Characteristics required
- Committed to continuous improvement.
- Ability to understand and observe Leeds City Council Equal Opportunities Policy.
- To carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health & Safety Policies.
- Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills and continuous professional development
- Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct.
