ROLE PURPOSE

As a Burials Officer, you will play a vital role in delivering compassionate, respectful, and lawfully compliant bereavement services, specifically in relation to carrying out burials. You will be responsible for the operational and statutory management of burial services across our cemeteries and crematoria, ensuring that every burial is conducted with dignity, precision, and cultural sensitivity. This role demands a balance of administrative accuracy, physical capability, and emotional intelligence as you oversee the ceremonial service and graveside burial.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Act as a key holder for the cemetery gates, chapels & office spaces, responsible for opening and closing procedures for offices, crematoria, chapels and cemetery gates where applicable.
• Be familiar with, adhere to and lead by example in relation to the current and any subsequent BCP Council Cemetery Rules and Regulations.
• Maintain grave registers and ensure compliance with cemetery layout and grave space allocations.
• Organise and carry grave selections and appointments with bereaved families in a sensitive and timely manner.
• Manage grave allocations and mapping using both internal archive records and Plotbox software.
• Ensure compliance with the Local Authorities’ Cemeteries Order 1977 (LACO 1977).
• Conduct 10-day and 6-month post-burial grave checks & update grave registers accordingly.
• Undertake both machine and hand-dug graves for full body, cremated remains and exhumations.
• Prepare graves for burial, liaising with families, funeral directors, stonemasons and internal colleagues to ensure accuracy and a seamless service on the day of the funeral.
• Oversee burial services in person, including operating the bespoke music systems in place, currently Obitus.
• Work in conjunction with the Cemeteries and Grounds Maintenance Supervisor, supporting best practice for the service industry standards and customer service.
• Carrying out ground’s maintenance works where necessary, including grass cutting, tree works, pathway clearing.
• Support chapel operations and cremation services when required, including Obitus music system operation.
• Provide weekend cover for burials, scatterings, and sanctum vault appointments with prior arrangement, where required.
• Supervise both baby and adult burials with the utmost care and sensitivity.
• Supervise exhumations with the utmost care and sensitivity inline with MOJ or Faculty Licence.
• Issue available graves in line with LACO 1977 and bereavement procedures, ensuring accuracy and cross-referencing records.
• Mark out grave spaces in preparation for burial, in a methodical, accurate manner in line with LACO 1977 and bereavement procedures.
• Physically able to lower coffins using webbing, ensuring safe and respectful handling of the coffin/shroud burial inline with Health & Safety & Safe Operating Procedures.
• Undertake all necessary industry approved training in accordance, but not limited to, ICCM, Gold Charter for the Bereaved and APSE.
• Conduct property searches in support of Public Health Funerals & undertake industry approved training, in line with the Public Health Funeral (Control of Disease) Act, 1984.
• Apply BRAMM/NAMM standards for memorial safety and topple testing.
• Perform health and safety checks and route planning for burial services, prior to, during and after the burial has taken place.
• Liaise with the funeral director prior to burial to confirm arrangements inline with Health and Safety procedures.
• Report and assist in managing anti-social behaviour within cemetery grounds.
• Update burial registers on bespoke diary system daily in a methodical, accurate manner.
• Handle public enquiries, customer calls, and complaints with empathy and professionalism always.
• Liaise with multi-faith groups and demonstrate awareness of diverse religious practices, with respect and dignity always.
• Support in providing team inductions, familiarisation tours and team development for both Burials Officers and the wider Bereavement Team, including but not limited to Crematorium Technicians and Technical Support Officers, where required.
• Support the Bereavement Technical Support Team in maintaining statutory burial registers and public-facing services, including assisting with public walk ins and phone calls to the Bereavement Offices.
• Hold and manage fuel cards for operational rounds.
• Travel across the conurbation to facilitate burials and site inspections, with use of own vehicle and/or BCP vehicle.
• Maintain first aid certification and respond to incidents as required.
• Ensure accurate accident and incident reporting in line with internal procedures.
• Operate in accordance with COTS (Cemetery Operatives Training Scheme) and Health and Safety protocols.
• First Aid Trained, responding to any accidents/incidents/near misses in a calm and professional manner.