At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide vital support to bereaved families and manage sensitive enquiries with compassion.
- Company: Join Durham County Council, a proud equal opportunities employer.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, and flexible working arrangements.
- Other info: Great career growth opportunities and a supportive, diverse work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference during challenging times for families in need.
- Qualifications: NVQ Level 2 in Business Administration or equivalent experience required.
The predicted salary is between 26403 - 28598 £ per year.
We are looking to appoint a Support Services Officer – Bereavement to join our Business Support team, providing a vital, customer-focused service to residents at what can be one of the most difficult times in their lives. This is a permanent, full-time role based at Meadowfield Depot. You will be the first point of contact for bereaved families, funeral directors and stonemasons, providing advice, guidance and administrative support across Bereavement Services. Working closely with operational colleagues, you’ll help ensure that services run smoothly, sensitively and efficiently. This role requires a calm, empathetic and professional approach, excellent communication skills and the confidence to handle emotional and sometimes challenging situations with tact and diplomacy.
Key responsibilities include:
- Acting as the main contact point for bereavement-related enquiries
- Booking interments and managing exclusive rights of burial and transfer of deeds
- Providing advice on policies, procedures, pricing and relevant legislation
- Maintaining and updating electronic bereavement databases accurately
- Processing orders, invoicing and income in line with procedures
- Working collaboratively with Bereavement Services, Clean and Green and Financial Support teams
- Supporting service improvement through smarter, leaner ways of working
About you
You will have experience working in an administrative or support role, with a strong focus on customer service. You’ll be confident working both independently and as part of a team, able to manage sensitive conversations professionally and compassionately. You’ll also bring:
- Strong communication skills (written and verbal)
- Attention to detail and accurate record keeping
- The ability to remain calm and supportive in emotionally charged situations
- A positive, flexible and customer-focused approach
Experience in local government, use of electronic systems, or working with bereavement or frontline services would be beneficial but is not essential.
WHAT WILL I NEED?
You will need NVQ Level 2 in Business Administration, or equivalent, in a relevant subject. Please refer to the attached Person Specification for the full criteria.
INTERVIEWS
Interviews will be held on week commencing 31st August 2026. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.
OUR OFFER TO YOU
We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website. Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.
Support Services Officer Bereavement in North East employer: Kirklees Metropolitan Council
North Yorkshire Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth. As a Strategic Occupational Health Partner, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on workforce health while benefiting from ongoing development opportunities in a collaborative environment dedicated to public health.
Contact Details:
Kirklees Metropolitan Council Recruitment Team
