We are looking to appoint a Support Services Officer – Bereavement to join our Business Support team, providing a vital, customer-focused service to residents at what can be one of the most difficult times in their lives. This is a permanent, part-time role, working 18.5 hours per week, across Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, based at Meadowfield Depot. WHAT IS INVOLVED? You will be the first point of contact for bereaved families, funeral directors and stonemasons, providing advice, guidance and administrative support across Bereavement Services. Working closely with operational colleagues, you’ll help ensure that services run smoothly, sensitively and efficiently. This role requires a calm, empathetic and professional approach, excellent communication skills and the confidence to handle emotional and sometimes challenging situations with tact and diplomacy. Key responsibilities include: Acting as the main contact point for bereavement-related enquiries Booking interments and managing exclusive rights of burial and transfer of deeds Providing advice on policies, procedures, pricing and relevant legislation Maintaining and updating electronic bereavement databases accurately Processing orders, invoicing and income in line with procedures Working collaboratively with Bereavement Services, Clean and Green and Financial Support teams Supporting service improvement through smarter, leaner ways of working About you You will have experience working in an administrative or support role, with a strong focus on customer service. You’ll be confident working both independently and as part of a team, able to manage sensitive conversations professionally and compassionately. You’ll also bring: Strong communication skills (written and verbal) Attention to detail and accurate record keeping The ability to remain calm and supportive in emotionally charged situations A positive, flexible and customer-focused approach Experience in local government, use of electronic systems, or working with bereavement or frontline services would be beneficial but is not essential. We encourage you to contact Natalie Ellison or Ann Harper via email at natalie.ellison@durham.gov.uk or ann.harper@durham.gov.uk to arrange an informal discussion about the role. WHAT WILL I NEED? You will need NVQ Level 2 in Business Administration, or equivalent, in a relevant subject. Please refer to the attached Person Specification for the full criteria. INTERVIEWS Interviews will be held on week commencing 11th May 2026. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran. OUR OFFER TO YOU We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website. Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions. EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent people and offer support throughout the recruitment process. HOW TO APPLY Please note, we do not accept CVs. All applications must be submitted online via the Northeast Jobs portal. Use the ‘Person Specification’ section of the form to clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential (and where possible, desirable) criteria. Applications that do not evidence the essential requirements will not be shortlisted. Please visit our website to understand our position on using AI to support your application and for guidance on completing your application. If you require assistance when applying for this role, please contact our Recruitment Helpdesk on 03000 26 27 27, or via email Recruitmentresources@durham.gov.uk. All correspondence relating to your application will be sent from donotreply@northeastjobs.org.uk. Kindly check your spam/junk folder regularly to ensure you don’t miss any updates. CONNECT WITH US Follow us on Instagram Like us on Facebook Visit our website VPRS/161