Bereavement Coordinator Job Description, Skills and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a bereavement coordinator. Feel free to use our bereavement coordinator job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a bereavement coordinator.
Who is a Bereavement Coordinator?
Bereavement coordinators help people cope with the death or terminal illness of a friend or family member. Bereavement coordinators, who frequently work in healthcare settings, must divide their time between the logical and the emotional. A bereavement counselor can plan a funeral ceremony, complete the appropriate paperwork, conduct one-on-one grief counseling, and link family members to additional social support programs in a single day’s work. Bereavement coordinators have a comprehensive approach to bereavement, which often necessitates them to perform activities for a variety of organizations and individuals. They are accountable for offering consolation, compassion, and care that displays real concern for the bereaved when advocating for patients and survivors.
A bereavement coordinator assists families and friends who have lost a loved one who is terminally ill or has died tragically. It is their responsibility to coordinate the appropriate services and deliver timely information to the grieving parties. They work with everyone involved, including family, friends, volunteers, medical teams, chaplains, and others, to assess the situation and plan for the future. The bereavement coordinator assists those who cope with illness, loss, death and grieving after a loved one dies away. It’s a physical, emotional, and spiritual struggle that leaves you in a vulnerable state of mind. It’s difficult for folks to know what to do when they’re in this situation. A bereavement coordinator can assist them to find the resources they need. The job could begin while a person is on their deathbed or after they have passed away. This project necessitates a precise balance as well as a unique touch.
Bereavement coordinators work hard to keep a network of resources in place that might assist grieving people in finding peace. They assist people with scheduling appointments, funeral arrangements, memorial services, contacting loved ones, recommending counseling programs, completing the necessary paperwork, and working toward acceptance. Dealing with tragic events is difficult, but a bereavement coordinator is always there to assist. The majority of people who have experienced a catastrophic loss require the assistance of a professional psychotherapist. Bereavement coordinators assist in the coordination of counseling, group therapy, and support groups for bereaved people and everyone affected by the loss. They must be licensed if they also conduct counseling. All of these things, and much more, are made possible by bereavement coordinators. In a moment of need, they are a guiding light.
In summary, the Bereavement Coordinator manages the formulation and implementation of the client’s and family’s preferred care plan. The Bereavement Coordinator conducts bi-psychosocial assessments and offers social work and care coordination services as needed. The Bereavement Coordinator is in charge of overseeing the bereavement and grieving group processes. In a support role, the Bereavement Coordinator is involved in volunteer training and placement, as well as community-based and professional education.
Bereavement Coordinator Job Description
Below are the bereavement coordinator job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a bereavement coordinator job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a bereavement coordinator include the following:
- Keep track of all deceased patients
- Organize, arrange, and explain the untimely situation by communicating with all of these parties.
- Contact a recently dead patient’s friends and family.
- Provide counseling to survivors’ friends and family
- Identify the needs of friends and family who have survived
- Recommend support services to survivors’ friends and relatives
- Assist grieving parties in finding peace and staying organized after a loss.
- Make final preparations (e.g., funeral services, insurance forms, and other paperwork)
- Create care plans for terminally ill individuals with the help of staff and family.
- Collaborate with other spiritual, medical, and counseling experts.
- Provide regular monitoring of the client’s situation to ensure that the plan of care continues to satisfy the individual’s evolving needs so that they can stay in their preferred home and community for as long as possible.
- Assist patients in acquiring access to medical, social, educational, and other programs and services that they require.
- Provide educational presentations and training on a variety of grief and end-of-life topics to both volunteers and the general public.
- Complete a thorough evaluation of a client’s physical, emotional, financial, cognitive, and social needs.
- Complete a client- and family-acceptable plan of care that incorporates home safety and fall prevention.
- Work with volunteers and staff to ensure that grief calls are made as soon as possible and that bereavement mailings are sent to the correct families.
Qualifications
- A social work master’s degree. The LCSW is recommended. If not an LCSW, the possibility to obtain one within four years of starting work. Clinical Director supervision is accessible during working hours.
- A full year of paid work experience providing direct social services is required.
- Knowledge of local and national support services and resources, including entitlement programs, for elders, disability, chronic and acute medical care, housing, long-term care, and other local and national supportive services and resources.
- Understanding of the structure and functions of hospice programs. Knowledge of Hospice’s mission and commitment to it, as well as a willingness to work as part of the Hospice team.
- Working knowledge of the laws, rules, regulations, and precedents that govern Hospice of Anchorage’s services and activities, or the ability to learn them.
- Knowledge of local and national support services and resources, including entitlement programs, for elders, disability, chronic and acute medical care, housing, long-term care, and other local and national support services and resources.
- The ability to evaluate the treatment needs of people with physical, cognitive, and/or intellectual disabilities.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, as well as demonstrated computer proficiency.
- Prior to starting work, a background check with fingerprinting must be completed.
If you’re a professional, you’ll need to keep your license current and present proof of it for your employee file.
- CPR and First Aid training must be kept up to date and documented.
- Must provide personal transportation to and from work, including but not limited to patient homes, health fairs, and off-site meetings.
Essential Skills
- Excellent written and spoken communication abilities, as well as demonstrated computer and phone skills.
- The ability to keep track of one’s own stress levels and take charge of one’s own self-care.
- Ability to operate independently and with self-direction while maintaining excellent time management and organizational abilities.
- Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team in a cooperative manner.
- Continuous self-evaluation and awareness of job knowledge and skills.
- The capacity to set and maintain limits while prioritizing the needs of clients and their families.
- In cases of personal disease, loss, or death, neutrality and understanding are required.
- Understanding of the hospice philosophy and agreement with it.
- Listening abilities include the ability to listen honestly, quietly, and gladly without preaching or imposing any specific spiritual, social, or political ideas or beliefs.
- The ability to accept individuals for who they are and work together with others.
- An optimistic outlook on life is characterized by a sense of humor, a willingness to assist others, patience, compassion, and flexibility.
Compassion and communication are the most critical abilities for a bereavement coordinator. This is important not only when interacting with bereaved families and terminally ill patients, but also when working with volunteers, medical professionals, counselors, insurance agents, and funeral home directors.
How to Become a Bereavement Coordinator
- Obtain a degree:
While there are no set educational qualifications for this position, most bereavement coordinators have a bachelor’s degree in a related subject such as psychology, social work, or counseling. If you want to work as a bereavement counselor, one of the first things you should think about is how much schooling you’ll need. A bachelor’s degree is held by 53.2 percent of Bereavement Counselors, according to our research. In terms of higher education, 36.7 percent of Bereavement Counselors have earned a master’s degree. Even though the majority of Bereavement Counselors have a college degree, becoming one with only a high school diploma or GED is impossible.
- Earn a master’s degree:
When looking into how to become a Bereavement Counselor, picking the correct major is crucial. When we looked into the most frequent majors for Bereavement Counselors, we discovered that they mostly earned Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees. Associate Degrees and Doctoral Degrees are two more degrees that we frequently see on Bereavement Counselor resumes. A master’s degree in social work or counseling is often required to work as a hospice bereavement coordinator. To be completely licensed, social workers and counselors must spend additional time working in the field. Various states, on the other hand, may have different standards and requirements for how much work experience is required. Master’s degrees are becoming more popular, and some bereavement coordinators pursue certification as professional counselors. It’s also feasible to enter this field with a spiritual bent, such as by acquiring a master’s degree in religion. A bereavement counselor, regardless of their training background, must be well-versed in the psychological and sociological processes that follow the bereavement process. Although a foundation in fields such as psychology and social work might help, continued education is essential for learning the intricacies of the industry, and many bereavement coordinators seek out various certification alternatives to do so.
- Obtain a certificate:
Employers may need professional or licensed counselors as bereavement coordinators. Bereavement counselors normally need a master’s degree from an authorized program in counseling, psychology, social work, or a similar profession to receive this title. Applicants must pass any relevant tests for certification after completing a required amount of supervised counseling experience. The National Board of Certified Counselors is in charge of administering certification criteria, which vary by title and state (NBCC).
The American Academy of Grief Counseling (AAGC), which is part of the American Institute of Health Care Professionals, is a good place to check for additional certification (AIHCP).. The American Association of Grief Counselors (AAGC) offers the Certified Grief Counselor designation. While the accreditation is not required to practice, it does reflect knowledge as well as a commitment to lifelong learning. The certificate must be renewed every four years after it has been acquired by completing an additional 50 hours of continuing education (CE). Another voluntary accreditation for bereavement coordinators is the Certified in Thanatology (CT) title offered by the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC). Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant subject, one year of work experience, two letters of recommendation from supervisors or coworkers, and 90 hours of completed coursework relating to thanatology.
- Gain Experiences:
You could find that previous work experience will assist you in becoming a Bereavement Counselor. In fact, many Bereavement Counselor positions require internship experience. Many Bereavement Counselors, on the other hand, have previous work experience as Social Worker or a Chaplain. Candidates who are declared suitable must pass a three-hour, 150-question exam that assesses their foundational knowledge in the discipline. The exam is divided into six sections: dying, end-of-life decision-making, loss, grieving, and mourning, evaluation and intervention, traumatic death, and death education.
Bereavement coordinators, on the other hand, require great listening and interpersonal skills, as well as a high level of empathy for their clients. Other job tasks and duties may necessitate prior hospice experience and a knowledge of theology, biblical study or religion.
Where to Work as a Bereavement Coordinator
Bereavement coordinators are typically employed full-time in a hospital setting. Hospice facilities, home care agencies, hospitals, and nursing homes may hire them. While bereavement counselors would often work from a specific office or department within that setting, they will also be expected to provide referral and outreach services to the general public.
It’s not up to bereavement coordinators to do it all by themselves. They lead a team of volunteers, medical staff, and other experts who support the bereaved as a coordinator. Families, patients, and social support systems will all interact with them. In many cases, the grief coordinator will need to collaborate with nurses, doctors, and other counselors to develop a care plan for hospice patients who are near death. Coordinators of bereavement services can also work for non-governmental organizations (NGOs), charities homes, and in any hospital setting.
Bereavement Coordinator Salary scale
Coordinators of bereavement programs make an average of $22.25 per hour or $46,279 per year. Between 2018 and 2028, this career is expected to grow at a rate of 7%, resulting in 1,400 job openings across the United States. A master’s degree and sharpening of the following essential skills are required for a career as a bereavement program coordinator: the ability to maintain accurate and timely client bereavement services, the ability to offer emotional support and spiritual care to patients, caregivers, or families, and the ability to offer counseling by organizing small groups and interactive workshops.
As of January 27, 2022, the average Bereavement Coordinator pay in Dallas, TX is $63,339, however, the range frequently falls between $54,572 and $71,428. Salary scales can change. Salary ranges variance rely on a variety of important things, including schooling, certifications, supplementary talents, and the number of years you’ve worked in your field.