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- Tasks: Collect and transport deceased individuals with care and dignity across Berkshire.
- Company: Join Reading Borough Council's compassionate team serving the community.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, pension scheme, life assurance, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Supportive environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives during challenging times.
- Qualifications: Full UK driving licence and emotional resilience required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
As a Body Collection Operative, you will be responsible for the collection, care, removal and transportation of deceased individuals following community deaths, ensuring their safe and dignified transfer to designated mortuaries across Berkshire and sometimes outside of Berkshire. The body removal team is within the wider coroners' team. Based at Reading Cemetery and Crematorium in hours and at home for out of hours.
You will also respond to requests from Thames Valley Police, often in challenging or distressing circumstances, safely drive council vehicles and attend locations within agreed response times, maintain accurate documentation and full chain of custody, support coronial operations across multiple mortuary sites, assist with Public Health Funerals, including property searches, encoffining duties and acting as funeral director where required, provide a professional, compassionate presence for bereaved families and members of the public, support the operation of a new body storage facility due to go live in 2027. This role operates on a 24/7 rota, with on-call duties outside normal working hours. You must be able to reach any location within Berkshire within one hour when on call.
Responsibilities
- Respond to requests from Thames Valley Police in challenging or distressing circumstances.
- Safely drive council vehicles and attend locations within agreed response times.
- Maintain accurate documentation and full chain of custody.
- Support coronial operations across multiple mortuary sites.
- Assist with Public Health Funerals, including property searches, encoffining duties and acting as funeral director where required.
- Provide a professional, compassionate presence for bereaved families and members of the public.
- Support the operation of a new body storage facility due to go live in 2027.
Qualifications
- Full UK driving licence.
- Basic IT skills for completing documentation.
- Calm, compassionate and professional with an understanding of dignity, respect and sensitivity when working with the deceased and supporting the bereaved.
- Clear, empathetic communication in challenging or emotionally charged situations, maintaining confidentiality and professional boundaries at all times.
- Emotional resilience to cope with distressing scenes and practical ability to carry out the physical aspects of the role, including lifting and moving.
- Confidence driving in a range of conditions and understanding of safe working practices, accurate record-keeping and maintaining high standards of care and presentation.
- Reliable team player with a flexible approach to work, willing to take part in a rota that includes evenings, weekends, bank holidays and on-call duties.
- Commitment to delivering a high-quality public service that truly makes a difference.
Benefits
- Generous holiday entitlement – 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays – rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave.
- Wide range of flexible working opportunities.
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
- Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS).
- On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted.
- Season Ticket Loan – a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work.
- Lease car salary sacrifice scheme – allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.
Reading Borough Council hosts the Berkshire Coroners Service on behalf of six unitary authorities. We are now looking for a Body Collection Operative to join our dedicated team, providing a vital, professional and compassionate service on behalf of HM Senior Coroner. This is a unique and meaningful role for someone who is calm under pressure, emotionally resilient and committed to treating the deceased and the bereaved with dignity and respect at all times.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this: Work Together as one team – work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do. Drive Efficiency – show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential. Be Ambitious – be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way. Make a Difference to Reading – maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you'll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
Body Collection Operative in Reading employer: Reading Borough Council
Contact Detail:
Reading Borough Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Body Collection Operative in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend local events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your interview skills! Mock interviews with friends or family can help you feel more confident. Focus on articulating your experience and how it aligns with the compassionate and professional nature of the Body Collection Operative role.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready for anything! The role involves responding to challenging situations, so prepare yourself mentally for tough questions during interviews. Show that you can handle pressure while maintaining dignity and respect for the deceased and their families.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team and making a difference in the community.
We think you need these skills to ace Body Collection Operative in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Compassion: In your written application, make sure to highlight your ability to handle sensitive situations with empathy. We want to see how you can provide a professional and compassionate presence for bereaved families.
Be Clear and Concise: When filling out your application, keep your language straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, especially when it comes to your qualifications and experiences relevant to the role.
Demonstrate Your Resilience: This role can be emotionally challenging, so share any experiences that showcase your emotional resilience. We’re looking for candidates who can stay calm under pressure and maintain professionalism in tough situations.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this meaningful role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Reading Borough Council
✨Understand the Role Deeply
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of a Body Collection Operative. Familiarise yourself with the key tasks such as responding to police requests and maintaining documentation. This will help you articulate how your skills align with the role.
✨Showcase Your Compassionate Side
This role requires a calm and compassionate presence, especially when dealing with bereaved families. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've demonstrated empathy and professionalism in challenging situations. This will highlight your suitability for the role.
✨Demonstrate Emotional Resilience
Be ready to discuss how you cope with distressing scenes and maintain your composure under pressure. Share specific instances where you've had to manage your emotions effectively, as this is crucial for the role's demands.
✨Highlight Your Teamwork Skills
As a Body Collection Operative, you'll be part of a team that works collaboratively. Think of examples where you've successfully worked as part of a team, showing your flexibility and commitment to delivering high-quality service. This will resonate well with the values of the organisation.