Bereavement Support Officer

Our cemetery & crematoria team provides expert services to our local communities, to make sure that every customer receives the best possible service from us at an emotionally charged time. From building relationships with funeral directors and families to coordinating burial and cremation services this is a busy and rewarding role, where you'll see the impact of your work in front of you.

About us

Career development is something we take seriously at Buckinghamshire Council. We are committed to helping our colleagues grow and develop, with many team members progressing quickly as they gain experience and take on greater responsibility. As part of our Cemeteries and Crematoria Service, you will be supported by an experienced and encouraging management team and will have access to professional development opportunities, including training through the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM), to broaden your knowledge and support your career progression.

About the role

As a Bereavement Support Officer, you will provide administrative support across our two crematoria and six cemeteries, helping to ensure the highest standards of care and service are delivered to bereaved families, funeral directors and other customers.

Key responsibilities include:

• Responding to enquiries from customers, families and funeral directors
• Taking bookings for burial and cremation services
• Processing statutory documentation and maintaining accurate records on our systems
• Applying fees, processing payments and handling burial plot applications
• Supporting the day-to-day administration of cemetery and crematorium services
• Monitoring and liaising with contractors working across our cemetery sites

This is a customer-facing role where you will often be supporting people during emotionally difficult circumstances. You will play a vital role in ensuring every interaction is handled with professionalism, empathy and care.

Working across our crematoria and cemetery offices, you will be contracted to work every Saturday, alongside four flexible days between Monday and Friday. You will help ensure that every visitor receives a compassionate, efficient and high-quality service.

Fixed

As a 'fixed' worker, you'll spend most of your time in the same location, which will likely be a fixed office or location where your role is performed. Typically, you'll be based in the same location as the rest of your team, because you provide a particular service from that fixed location or need access to information there.

About you

You will have experience of working within a team environment and delivering excellent customer service. You will be organised and able to manage competing priorities, with strong attention to detail and confidence using computer systems to record information and process payments.

You will also have:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• The ability to work effectively with colleagues, contractors, funeral directors and members of the public
• A caring, compassionate and sensitive approach when supporting bereaved families
• A flexible, proactive and positive attitude
• The ability to work accurately and efficiently in a busy environment

Above all, you will share our commitment to putting customers at the heart of everything we do and delivering a professional, respectful service to our communities.

Other information

Our cemetery and crematoria sites are peaceful places for families to remember their loved ones and are a place of great beauty and contemplation. You'll be working from sites based at Bierton and Chilterns Crematoria and Penn Road Cemetery and will travel to cemeteries to meet the needs of our customers.

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That's why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.