Business Support Officer – Bereavement Services

About the job

Key information

• 25 days annual leave pro rata, excluding bank holidays.
• Permanent, Part-time (22.5 hours) role.
• Based at Taunton Crematorium.
• The salary for this role is £15,804 to £17,113 per annum for 22.5 hours per week.

What will I be doing?

We are seeking a committed and compassionate individual to join the Bereavement Services team. The Bereavement Services Officer provides essential operational and administrative support across the crematorium and cemetery service. The role ensures legal compliance, high-quality customer service, and the dignified delivery of funeral and memorial services.

We’re working to improve the lives of people in Somerset – and you’ll be a key part of that. Your day-to-day work will involve:

Chapel and Cremation Operations

• Support the delivery and smooth running of Chapel services, including operation of media, music, and webcasting systems.
• Ensure all legal documentation relating to cremations is completed accurately and in accordance with statutory requirements.
• Responsible for meeting all legal requirements relating to the crematory service, ensuring all statutory checks, processes, and compliance tasks are completed, recorded, and auditable.
• Upload, check, and schedule visual and musical tributes, liaising with external media providers to ensure accuracy and timely preparation.

Administration and Record Keeping

• Input, process, and maintain cremation and cemetery records with a high degree of accuracy.
• Maintain statutory registers and produce required reports, including ash‑holding and stock‑level reports.
• Support financial and procurement processes, including raising requisitions, invoicing, cash handling, and compliance with governance procedures.
• Undertake regular reviews of leased memorials, ensuring accurate records and timely communication with service users.

Customer Care and Service User Support

• Act as the first point of contact for service users, funeral directors, celebrants, and visitors, providing clear information and assistance.
• Handle sensitive and confidential matters with professionalism, empathy, and discretion, ensuring appropriate follow‑up and resolution.
• Engage respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds, faiths, beliefs, and cultures, upholding the service’s values of equality and inclusivity.

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be. But it will really help if you have:

• Strong communication and organisational skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in documentation and data handling.
• The ability to remain calm, professional, and supportive in emotionally sensitive situations.
• Confidence using IT systems and digital platforms.
• A commitment to equality, inclusion, and high‑quality customer service.

Previous experience within Bereavement services is welcome but not essential, as full training will be provided.

The successful candidate will receive:

• Training in legal and statutory requirements relating to cremation and burial services.
• Instruction on the use of Chapel media systems, including tribute management and webcast platforms.
• Customer care and communication training appropriate for bereavement environments.
• Ongoing professional development opportunities, including access to ICCM qualifications and internal training.

We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.

We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there’s anything you want to talk about before you apply.

What is in it for me?

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:

• We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
• Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave.
• Staff discounts in gyms.
• Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
• Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
• A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
• My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more…

Supporting documents and information

The salary for this role is £15,804 to £17,113 per annum for 22.5 hours per week.

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact John Ranger on john.ranger@somerset.gov.uk.

If you have everything you need, just hit the apply button. We can’t wait to hear from you.

Apply on the Somerset Council website

Apply now