Caring and Sharing—the changing roles and responsibilities of Bereavement Services Managers

APSE Cemeteries and Crematoria Online Seminar 

19 November 2020 10:00 – 13:00 PM

Kindly sponsored by:

View the programme here

About the Seminar

Bereavement Services is a high profile council service which, as well as meeting the needs of the bereaved, is under increasing pressure to become commercially self-sustaining whilst ensuring value for money. 

The service area is also facing changing cultural requirements as well as being held responsible for caring for the natural environments in which they work. The service has played a central role in dealing with the impact of the current pandemic - being referred to as the 4th emergency service by many. 

Whilst these challenges have to be met, the heart of the service is still to ensure it considers its customers’ needs at the most vulnerable time in their lives.

In a time of austerity, local authorities continue to find their budgets shrinking and, as such, managers and staff alike are having to look for ways to compensate against these losses, either through service efficiencies, generating new sources of income, or innovative service delivery methodologies such as partnership working.

Service delivery is, therefore, having to change. APSE recognises this need and, through the provision of this seminar and its wider networking services, APSE can help elected members, managers and officers hear examples of how these changes can be brought about. 

Therefore, the aim of the seminar is to highlight best practice and innovation, which, together, will prove invaluable to the development of future Bereavement Services.

APSE State of the Market results 2020

Wayne Priestley, Principal Advisor, APSE

Public/Private Partnerships - developing partnership approaches with the private sector

Paul Wright, Open Space Services - Divisional Manager, Halton Borough Council

Bringing Nature and Biodiversity back Into Cemeteries

Adrian Pickersgill Bereavement Services Manager, Doncaster Council

Cremations and burials in an age of climate change worries

Justin Smith, Director, The CDS Group

Norwich Natural cemeteries

Susan Moore, Area Management Team Leader, Norwich Council

How well did UK bereavement services cope with the Coronavirus pandemic

Lee Snashfold, APSE Associate