Funeral Arranger Review

My role includes taking first call, admin duties, taking care of families that have lost loved ones and all aspects of arranging a funeral, from booking in at the Crem/Cemetery, booking a celebrant, ordering flowers and an Order of Service and catering for all aspects of viewings and transfers of the deceased. Once in chapel we will book in and arrange chapel visits and make sure that the building is safe and clean for people to enter.

I have learned a lot about grief and the ability to remain calm under pressure with dealing with all sorts of families. I have learned how to use new software and how build good working relationships within the community, with local churches, crematoriums, the cemetery office and celebrants. I have also learned how to be understanding of people dealing with grief, in their own way. I have developed my ICT skills and telephone manner and I now type lot quicker.

I have enjoyed the programme and especially enjoyed the days that we had training to do and when we were able to meet with other people ion the training course from other areas. It really gave us chance to build our support network and work with like minded people that were going through a similar stage in their apprenticeship.

The induction day and training days were well structured and thought out. There were chances to mix it up a little with group work and tasks that were set after the training days. I always found that my coach was very supportive and was a great mentor. I was able to take time out of my working day to complete my studies and complete the off the job training.

I had no issues with asking or receiving the support I needed. Off the job hours were easily reached as any new experience was classed as off the job. My manager was always supportive and always gave me words of encouragement. My coach and mentor was approachable and very knowledgeable in this subject area.

The training provider worked closely with us during the training days and then remotely during the pandemic. The tutors were very knowledgeable and supportive. they would offer support if needed after the training day and we would have copies of the training day slides if we needed to revert back to them for support/guidance.

I believe that my qualification in funeral care has allowed me to gain the additional knowledge, skills and behaviours that maybe I didn't realise I needed before working in funeral care. Having these qualities and a qualification in this area has given me the confidence to provide a higher level of service to my families.

I completed this during a pandemic, so social activities were stopped, but before this happened we had a monthly team meeting to share ideas and experiences and to offer support to our colleagues, social events around Christmas where we had an after work social where we would invite the local crematorium staff, churches, celebrants, ministers and florists etc. We also had annual memorial events, which now have moved to an online celebration.

Yes

Since i started to work for the Co Op, I have found that there is an excellent level of support and encouragement for each other as friends and as colleagues. I was welcomed into the funeral care family with open arms and have been taught so much in a short space of time.

Get to know the Co Op values. Do what matters most, Be yourself always, Show you care and Succeed together. These are the ways of being Co op and if you work with these ways of working at the forefront of your mind then you will always be doing your best.