Bereavement Practitioner – Band 5

Job Description

Overview:

Are you passionate about end-of-life and bereavement care? Do you possess compassion, emotional insight, and excellent communication skills? If so, this could be the perfect role for you.

We are looking for a dedicated individual to join our small, compassionate Bereavement Team at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC). You will play an essential role in supporting patients, families, and staff dealing with grief and loss, while helping to shape and improve bereavement services across our Trust.

About the Bereavement Service:

The Bereavement Service offers support to the relatives of deceased patients and acts as a resource for healthcare staff across NCIC. The service is central to ensuring compassionate care following a patient’s death.

Key Responsibilities:

Serve as a primary point of contact for bereaved families and other service users.

Provide compassionate and sensitive support to people experiencing a wide range of emotional responses to grief.

Assess service user needs, deliver high-quality bereavement support, and signpost or escalate to senior colleagues when necessary.

Use advanced communication skills to liaise effectively with clinical and non-clinical staff about best practices in end-of-life and bereavement care.

Lead or contribute to quality improvement projects under the supervision of the Bereavement Liaison Specialist Nurse.

Work across acute and community sites within NCIC and travel to external community settings when required.

Supervise and guide junior staff, such as Bereavement Officers and Clinical Educators, including line management responsibilities where appropriate.

Support and deliver training and development related to end-of-life care in collaboration with Clinical Educators.

Adapt to evolving practices, technologies, and service developments, with appropriate consultation and training.

About NCIC:

We aim to provide outstanding healthcare to North Cumbria’s population. As a Trust, our ambition is to become a centre of excellence for rural and remote healthcare.

Our Core Principles:

Clinically led organization

Quality and safety at the heart of everything we do

Positive patient experience

Great place to work

Responsible financial management

We are committed to inclusivity, diversity, compassion, and sustainability. NCIC is proud to support our region’s ambition to become the greenest in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainable practices.

Candidate Requirements:

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of the essential and desirable criteria. Ensure your application clearly demonstrates how you meet each essential requirement.

Additional Information:

Immigration and Right to Work:
Applicants needing a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa must check eligibility, especially regarding updated salary thresholds and roles listed on the UKVI Immigration Salary List.

Guaranteed Interview Schemes:

We participate in the Disability Confident Scheme and Armed Forces Covenant. Eligible applicants meeting all essential criteria are guaranteed an interview.

Relocation Support:

Relocation assistance may be available for some roles. Refer to our relocation policy for details.

Closing Date:
Posts may close early if sufficient applications are received. Apply promptly to avoid missing out.

Interview Process:

Shortlisted candidates will be notified by email and asked to log into their Trac account to select an interview time—usually within two weeks of the closing date. If using a Hotmail account or strict firewall settings, please check your junk mail folder regularly.

DBS Checks & Disclosure:

This post may require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. If so, the cost will be deducted from your salary as follows:

Standard Check: £21.85 (admin fees included)

Enhanced Check: £41.90 (admin fees included)

For advice on disclosing criminal record information:

Nacro: 0300 123 1999 | helpline@nacro.org.uk

Unlock: 01634 247350 | advice@unlock.org.uk

Employee Benefits:

NHS Pension Scheme

27 days annual leave (rising to 33 after 10 years)

Flexible working options

Lease car scheme (where applicable)

NHS retail and leisure discounts

Excellent training and development opportunities

Access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – free confidential support for personal or work-related issues

We’re proud to support our staff and deliver care that makes a real difference. If you’re ready to bring compassion, insight, and professionalism to our bereavement services, we encourage you to apply.