Funeral Arranger Review

I am a funeral arranger within the Coop. My day to day follows a vague routine and begins with opening up my funeral home, checking on any deceased in my care and any new arrivals. I then check my emails and work computer for any new calls/contact. From there, I may do administrative work such as completing paperwork or submitting forms to crematoriums/cemeteries or my colleagues/management. I may speak with families who have just lost a loved one, I always offer my condolences and arrange appointments for them to come in to my branch and discuss their wishes in relation to organising a funeral, an important part of my role is to ensure clients are aware of all of the options available to them and affordability of the financial costs associated with said funeral wishes. Some days, I may be greeting family members for chapel visits to see their loved ones in our funeral home, sometimes it's just to have a chat and a catch up over a coffee. I maintain a clean and tidy branch and always make sure I am well turned out. I spend a lot of time listening to various life stories, it's not always an easy job but it is very rewarding.

I have learnt many new skills and developed on many existing skills! On a personal level, I have developed on active listening skills, a huge part of my job is listening to clients and their experiences and wishes. I have also developed on - am continually developing on - my existing communication skills too, sometimes I may have to be the bearer of bad news, sometimes things didn't go how we'd hoped they could and clients are dissatisfied with the outcome, by learning to manage client expectations, I can be sure clients are able to make full informed decisions and thus, I can minimise unpleasant experiences and prevent them from becoming complaints. I have learnt how to prioritise workloads and organise my time effectively and also, how to improve myself as a person, the work I deliver and ultimately my career through regular one to one meetings and mentorship.

I thoroughly enjoy my programme, it provides me with a forum to discuss my job role, my strengths and weaknesses and enables me to continually build on my knowledge and experience. This programme is massively going to improve my employability and increase the number of opportunities available to me to advance my career. My colleagues and mentor are always available for support too, my job isn't always easy and some times we have deaths that occur with particularly upsetting circumstances. My mentor ensures my wellbeing is safe, and also, offers an open and honest environment where I can reflect and improve on myself and my work without pressure.

This programme is very well organised and structured. In the start, I had a one to one induction with my Mentor who explained the process from start to finish and what to expect. I have monthly check ins with my Mentor and I know my Manager and my Mentor are always available when I need them and they always offer further training or support should I require. I attend regular cohorts and meetings with colleagues both in person and online and I have a very well structured timetable, calendar and online task system. The programme is very clear and easy to follow.

I receive excellent and unconditional support from both my Manager and my Mentor. I feel confident that I can discuss openly any issues or problem I encounter without pressure or repercussions. Both my Manager and Mentor are always available and only a telephone call away, I regularly meet with them both face to face as well. The Coop and it's team as a whole are very supportive and encouraging about continual development and learning. The industry is coming into regulation and we are experiencing changes. This programme ensures I can keep up with any new ways of working and fully explains the reasoning behind them.

The training provider and it's platform is pretty straightforward and easy to navigate and so I haven't actually required any support from my training provider but I know that they are available! Accessibility to support is straight forward and easy and I am confident if I did require their help for any problems, they'd be able to assist me.

My qualification definitely assists me in performing my role better. On a day to day basis, I understand what is expected of me and why. Since we are becoming a regulated industry, it is really important that how I work adheres to the regulatory standards and I don't fall short of them for my own protection and that of the business. Also, since the Co-op is a large business, it's also important that we are standardised and all on the same page, so that you receive the same high quality of care be that in Manchester or London. I have learnt all sorts of of new skills, even though I have already been working my role for 2 years, within the last week I have been able to put newly acquired knowledge into practice.

Absolutely, the company provides various opportunities to get involved. Be that professional or social. Voluntary work and community outreach is a huge part of our business and we are actively encouraged to get involved. This could be joining a local litter pick, stall or event to raising funds and sponsorship. The Co-op also offers the opportunity to join music festivals and various events up and down the country. On a professional level, they offer endless events and classes. We have an entire online catalogue of CPD and short courses to choose from and we regularly receive invites to various sessions surrounding things like wellbeing, health, financial advice, work related support etc.)

Yes

It's a brilliant company to work for, their ethics and ethos are clear and commendable. We have various channels to feedback through, such as Colleague Voice, we have an online forum to catch up with colleagues and see what else is going on with the business. Learning is encouraged and support is freely available. I feel appreciated as both an employee and a colleague. We have access to many benefits and what is expected of me is very clear, it's a good environment.

Don't be put off by the application process. It's difficult to get through the first stage and there are plenty of reasons for this, just don't give up. Myself and many of my colleagues have attempted numerous times until we were finally successful. Funeralcare is an industry that demands a special kind of person, and the Co-op is strict about its standards and ethics, so it's important that new applicants are thoroughly screened and up to the job. If it's something you are passionate about, keep trying. Once you pass the initial checks, the interviews and assessments are a breeze. My advice would be, be yourself!