Assistant Bereavement Services Officer (Memorial Safety), Perth Crematorium - Internal

Main Purpose of the Role and Skills & Experience Required

Working within Perth & Kinross Council is more than a job, it's about being part of an organisation that puts people at the heart of all we do and provides opportunities to make a real difference by enhancing every life we touch.

We currently have the following opportunity:

Assistant Bereavement Services Officer (Memorial Safety) - PKC13744
£34,424 - £37,784
Perth Crematorium

Please note: Only existing employees of Perth & Kinross Council may apply.

We are seeking an experienced and compassionate individual to oversee the operational delivery of the memorial safety programme operated by Perth and Kinross Council, based at Perth Crematorium.

The postholder will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and monitoring works to ensure memorials and cemetery assets are safe, fit for purpose and maintained in line with current legislation and regulations. 

Working closely with the Bereavement Services Officer (Cemeteries), you will manage staff deployment, contractors, budgets, performance reporting and compliance with health and safety legislation.

Working within a sensitive environment, you will engage with bereaved families in a caring, respectful, and professional manner, while also supporting staff development, encouraging positive team morale and contributing to continuous improvement in service delivery.

The post holder may be required to perform duties other than those given in the job description for the post. The particular duties and responsibilities attached to posts may vary from time to time depending on the requirement of the Service without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibilities entailed.

Interviews will be held in person at Perth Crematorium.

Please note, we are currently unable to offer sponsorship for this post.

Skills & Experience Required

The successful candidate will be in good general health with a reliable attendance record and the ability to work effectively under pressure.

You will demonstrate strong organisational skills, an ability to manage budgets, and sound knowledge of burial legislation and procedures.

A commitment to professional development is essential, including working towards the ICCM Diploma in Cemeteries and Burials and undertaking relevant training such as headstone safety and stabilisation.

Candidates must have good written skills, be self-motivated and enthusiastic, and work effectively as part of a team.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are required to engage confidently with colleagues, service users, and stakeholders.

You must have a valid driving licence as this post requires you to travel to a variety of locations across Perth and Kinross.

Main Accountabilities

Main Accountabilities

• Oversee the operational delivery of memorial safety programme, all construction, installation, maintenance, and repair of all burial ground infrastructure in accordance with the asset management plan in the Perth and Kinross Council area.
• To effectively assist with planned works to maximise efficiency of resources and ensure that memorials are in a safe and fit for purpose condition.
• Show an awareness of the sensitive nature of the location at which you work and deal with the bereaved and recently bereaved in a caring, sensitive, and responsible manner. Including responding to general enquiries from members of the public.
• Monitor Headstone safety budget and report on service KPIs and report to Bereavement Services Officer (Cemeteries)
• Encourage morale and create a positive working attitude amongst staff.
• Work planning on a programmed and ad-hoc daily basis and assisting Bereavement officers in monitoring thereafter to ensure performance, completion, work specifications, and quality standards are maintained.
• Deploy staff to undertake work tasks dictated by both ongoing regular work schedules and adjust respond to varying environmental and customer requirements.
• Communicate with external contractors, issue work instructions, and raise orders using relevant electronic systems as required.
• Identify and deploy transport, equipment, materials, and PPE to enable staff to perform work appropriately.
• Issue work schedules and instructions to staff and ensure after completion that records are correctly completed and submitted on time to management staff.
• Keep computer and paper records of work required.
• Assist in staff recruitment, provide staff training, induction, on site or depot reception and advice, across all operational areas.
• Deal with customers/ users/ service colleagues / complaints by telephone, visit face to face meeting. Assist Officers to conduct technical assessments and the provision of costings for one off jobs.
• Assess Council responsibility and advise customers accordingly helpfully and constructively.
• Deal with staff grievance, disciplinary issues and assist officers in implementing PKC maximising attendance policy and procedures.
• Do risk and COSHH assessments and safe systems of work as required and ensure staff always follow safe procedures. Ensure we comply with all relevant H&S legislation pertaining to all the services we provide including CDM regulations.
• Attend meetings on behalf of Bereavement services/ Council with other parties and correspond with all stakeholders regarding all operational activities, while also helping officers promote related council policies e.g. Headstone safety/Friends of cemeteries.
• Encourage Teamwork and adopt a flexible approach to covering other Officer duties as required.
• Perform manual tasks when the occasion demands e.g. show leadership and competence, demonstrate or work in response to requirement / emergency.
• Pro-actively identify and suggest changes to improve service delivery while assisting supervisors to financially control all the activities under their remit.
• Perform standby duties/Emergency response as required.

 

Working at Perth & Kinross Council

Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of our key priorities. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours. Find out more about Perth & Kinross Council and you could soon be joining our team!

Here's what we can offer you:

• A generous annual leave package
• 6 days public holiday and an additional discretionary day
• Eligibility to join our pension scheme
• Family friendly and positive work/life balance policies such as Flexible Working, Maternity, Paternity & Adoption leave, time off for volunteering and our Wellbeing Framework
• Access to a range of benefits

We recognise there can be benefits to flexible working and where individual jobs allow, we seek to support this. You are encouraged to discuss potential options with the recruiting manager, if this is of interest to you. A healthy work life balance is important to us and we provide supportive management and, where possible, flexible working arrangements to help you achieve that balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

Next Steps

We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Liam Hynd on 01738 476626 or at lhynd@pkc.gov.uk to find out more.

Click “APPLY NOW”

External candidates are required to provide contact details for 2 referees, including email addresses.  One of these must be your current or most recent employer.

We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post. Please contact the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on (01738) 475555 or recruitment@pkc.gov.uk to discuss any reasonable adjustments. Appointments are based on evidence supplied during the selection process.

Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender specific, we welcome applications from everyone and would encourage you to apply if you meet the job requirements. That includes welcoming applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.

To comply with Baseline Personnel Security Standard, you will be required to complete a Disclosure Scotland check.

If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check.

A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.