Apprentice - Bereavement Services Officer – Find an apprenticeship

Summary

To play a part in supporting the local community and making a difference by experiencing the varied services provided at the crematorium. You will develop a range of highly transferable business administration skills, as well as learning to carry out front-of-house duties in the chapels and assist with the maintenance of the Garden of Remembrance.

Wage

£17,846 a year

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Local Government Pension Scheme

Training course

Business administrator (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Friday, (7 hours 24 minutes per day). Times to be confirmed.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

2 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Carry out administrative duties, including: data input, processing of cremation and burial legislative documents, processing Garden of Remembrance memorial applications, and assisting in maintaining crematorium / cemetery registers and maps.

Carry out reception duties (including taking funeral bookings and instructions from Funeral Directors / the public by telephone and face to face, search the registers as required, assist colleagues in the provision of assisted funerals and the associated administration and assist users of our services at all times.

Following coaching / training / shadowing and always under supervision of a trained Technician, carry out coffin checks against paperwork and undertake cremations, ashes preparation and casketing for ashes removal.

Learn how to undertake front-of-house duties in the chapels, including: operating the music and video tribute systems, preparing the chapel before each service by checking temperature, facilities and cleaning / clearing the chapel, waiting rooms, public lavatories, vestries to a high standard.

Maintain front of house areas, including watering plants, leaf / debris removal, place funeral information up for that day and any other relevant signage, welcoming funeral parties onto the site.

Monitor services and support Funeral Directors and officiants to ensure services run smoothly and efficiently, compliant with legislation and good practice guidelines and our policies.

With supervision, prepare ashes burial sites and shadow the officiating of ashes burials, to ensure dignity and compliance with current legislation, good practice guidelines and our policies, with bereaved families in attendance, as required.

Provide accurate information to Funeral Directors, officiants, bereaved persons and members of the public in an appropriate and sensitive manner.

Assist with maintenance of the Garden of Remembrance and with monitoring grounds maintenance to ensure all areas are safe, attractive, accessible, clean and free of litter and detritus at all times.

Following coaching / training / shadowing and always under supervision of a trained Gardener, carry out mowing, strimming, hedgecutting and pond-clearing duties.

Pay particular attention to Health & Safety in every task carried out and in every area of the buildings and grounds to ensure you, your work colleagues, members of the public, Funeral Directors, officiants and any other visitors are kept as safe as possible at all times.

Comply with our Data Protection policies and procedures, to ensure that personal data is handled in an appropriate manner – safely and securely.

Be proactive and passionate about giving an excellent service to all ‘customers’ and service users, aiming to deliver a quality service that is right first time.

Ensure we deliver all our services and treat all our customers equally and be flexible / adaptive and sensitive to the needs of all disabled people and those with specialist or religious needs.

Comply with our Safeguarding policies with regard to children and vulnerable adults.

Where you'll work

North Devon Crematorium
Old Torrington Road
Barnstaple
EX31 3NW

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

PETROC

Your training course

Business administrator (level 3)

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What you'll learn

Course contents

Skilled in the use of multiple IT packages and systems relevant to the organisation in order to: write letters or emails, create proposals, perform financial processes, record and analyse data. Examples include MS Office or equivalent packages. Able to choose the most appropriate IT solution to suit the business problem. Able to update and review databases, record information and produce data analysis where required.
Produces accurate records and documents including: emails, letters, files, payments, reports and proposals. Makes recommendations for improvements and present solutions to management. Drafts correspondence, writes reports and able to review others' work. Maintains records and files, handles confidential information in compliance with the organisation's procedures. Coaches others in the processes required to complete these tasks.
Exercises proactivity and good judgement. Makes effective decisions based on sound reasoning and is able to deal with challenges in a mature way. Seeks advice of more experienced team members when appropriate.
Builds and maintains positive relationships within their own team and across the organisation. Demonstrates ability to influence and challenge appropriately. Becomes a role model to peers and team members, developing coaching skills as they gain area knowledge.
Demonstrates good communication skills, whether face-to-face, on the telephone, in writing or on digital platforms. Uses the most appropriate channels to communicate effectively. Demonstrates agility and confidence in communications, carrying authority appropriately. Understands and applies social media solutions appropriately. Answers questions from inside and outside of the organisation, representing the organisation or department.
Completes tasks to a high standard. Demonstrates the necessary level of expertise required to complete tasks and applies themself to continuously improve their work. Is able to review processes autonomously and make suggestions for improvements. Shares administrative best-practice across the organisation e.g. coaches others to perform tasks correctly. Applies problem-solving skills to resolve challenging or complex complaints and is a key point of contact for addressing issues.
Takes responsibility for initiating and completing tasks, manages priorities and time in order to successfully meet deadlines. Positively manages the expectations of colleagues at all levels and sets a positive example for others in the workplace. Makes suggestions for improvements to working practice, showing understanding of implications beyond the immediate environment (e.g. impact on clients, suppliers, other parts of the organisation). Manages resources e.g. equipment or facilities. Organises meetings and events, takes minutes during meetings and creates action logs as appropriate. Takes responsibility for logistics e.g. travel and accommodation.
Uses relevant project management principles and tools to scope, plan, monitor and report. Plans required resources to successfully deliver projects. Undertakes and leads projects as and when required.

Your training plan

Business Administrator, Level 3
Training provider is Petroc and you will study 1 day per week at their site in Barnstaple

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4)
Maths (grade 4)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Administrative skills
Logical
Team working
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Emotional resilience
Tactfulness

About this company

North Devon has 419 square miles of some of Britain's finest countryside and coastline including 66 square miles of outstanding natural beauty. Sandy beaches provide some of the best surfing in the UK. Our Mission - to improve the quality of life for everyone in North Devon Our Vision - we will provide value for money and seek to improve the efficiency of everything we do

http://www.northdevon.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Opportunity to apply for a permanent position

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

North Devon Council

Jo Teasdale

jo.teasdale@northdevon.gov.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000332364.

Apply now

Closes in 17 days (Sunday 3 August 2025)

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

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Apprentice - Bereavement Services Officer

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