Level 2 - Apprentice Bereavement Services Assistant

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

Liverpool (L23 1TP)

Closes in 29 days (Thursday 3 September 2026)

Posted on 5 August 2026

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Contents

Summary

Sefton Council Bereavement Services are looking to appoint an Apprentice Bereavement services Assistant. The successful candidate must be patient, empathetic and professional, showing excellent customer service skills. The post will be based at Thornton Crematorium, Thornton Garden of Rest, Lydiate Lane, Thornton, L23 1TP.

Wage

£14,976 to £23,793.12, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Hours - 36 hours per week & Fixed term for 15 months • Age 16-17 (£7.55 per hour) • Age 18-20 (£10.00 per hour) • Age 21+ (£12.21 per hour)

Training course
Customer service practitioner (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.

36 hours a week

Start date

Thursday 1 October 2026

Duration

1 year 3 months

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

You would be the first point of contact for all bereavement related enquiries at Thornton Crematoria from Funeral Directors, Clergy, bereaved families and the general public.

To ensure that all burial and cremation documents are processed in line with all statutory legislation in a timely manner. Provide further administrative support for the service for all aspects of service delivery and customer care to the bereaved and other service users

To undertake the cremation process of deceased persons under the direction of the Bereavement Services Manager, in accordance with the codes of practice, ethics and all relevant to date legislation.

To provide a caring, sensitive, and high-quality service to the bereaved and members of the public attending the cremation service. To undertake all chapel duties in the crematorium in readiness for service provision and all associated work in the environment within the crematorium.

Where you'll work

Lydiate Lane
Thornton
Liverpool
L23 1TP

Training

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

Training provider

WIRRAL METROPOLITAN COLLEGE

Training course

Customer service practitioner (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Use a range of questioning skills, including listening and responding in a way that builds rapport, determines customer needs and expectations and achieves positive engagement and delivery.
  • Depending on your job role and work environment: Use appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication skills, along with summarising language during face-to-face communications; and/or
  • Depending on your job role and work environment: Use appropriate communication skills, along with reinforcement techniques (to confirm understanding) during non-facing customer interactions.
  • Depending on your job role and work environment: Use an appropriate ‘tone of voice’ in all communications, including written and digital, that reflect the organisation’s brand.
  • Provide clear explanations and offer options in order to help customers make choices that are mutually beneficial to both the customer and your organisation.
  • Be able to organise yourself, prioritise your own workload/activity and work to meet deadlines.
  • Demonstrate patience and calmness.
  • Show you understand the customer’s point of view.
  • Use appropriate sign-posting or resolution to meet your customers needs and manage expectations.
  • Maintain informative communication during service recovery.

Training schedule

Qualification - Level 2 Customer Services Practitioner

Apprentices without Level 1 or above English and maths will need to achieve this level and take the test for Level 2 English and maths prior to taking the end-point assessment.

On and off-the-job training and location to be confirmed.

More training information

It is a requirement that upon entering the service, the post holder must undertake the training, if not already held, of the FBCA crematorium Technician Training to formally hold a certificate of Proficiency in accordance with the Cremation Regulations.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 3 and above)
  • Maths (grade 3 and above)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Empathy

Other requirements

This role is working outdoors, all year round.

About this employer

Sefton Council is a local authority within the Liverpool City Region. Sefton is a diverse and exciting borough and is a great place to live and work. As an employer we can offer a diverse range of job roles across a variety of settings. We offer attractive conditions of service which allow for a good work life balance and invest in our staff through our learning and development programme.

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

Disability Confident

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

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

Support towards the end of a fixed-term contract is provided by a dedicated Apprenticeship Team, which includes eligibility for redeployment in the last 2 months of the contract.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council

Apprenticeship Team, Sefton Council

Apprenticeships@sefton.gov.uk

0151 934 3207

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000046497.

Apply now

Closes in 29 days (Thursday 3 September 2026)

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