Bereavement Services E-Conference - 1st Oct 2024
Bereavement Services E-Conference
When: 1st October 2024 | 10:30am – 12:00pm
Location: Online via Livestorm
Cost: FREE
PHFIS, in collaboration with our CPD partner, Finders International, is delighted to announce the second Bereavement Services E-Conference of 2024. Hosted by PHFIS in collaboration with our CPD partner, Finders International, our inaugural Bereavement Services E-Conference of 2023 will feature a line-up of outstanding speakers from reputable organizations and charities. Their talks will be pertinent to individuals working in and collaborating with bereavement services. The event seeks to boost the confidence of bereavement staff in effectively guiding the bereaved towards support agencies, sharing the best practices in bereavement services across different contexts, and discussing hot topics in the field.
This event is a FREE resource for those working with the bereaved, primarily in the public sector. Alongside our speakers, we are sure you will find the event useful to your professional development. We will hopefully provide you with a better understanding of the industry and will better equip you to deal with the bereaved in your line of work.
Sign-up for this event:
Register now to receive event updates and reminders on this event. This event is on-demand, so if you are unavailable on the day, you can watch this event at a time most convenient. Please still register to receive your join link via email, allowing you to watch the event entirely and download any resources you may find useful after the event has gone live.
Speakers to be confirmed…
Stephanie Prior
Head of Medical Negligence
Osbornes Law
Stephanie is Head of Medical Negligence at Osbornes, with a particular focus on child and adult brain injury cases, fatal cases, obstetric and gynaecological cases, Brachial Plexus injuries, ophthalmology and complex spinal injury cases. Stephanie is experienced in inquests and advising client’s on Fatal Accident’s Act and the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. Stephanie’s caseload is mainly complex and complicated cases.
Prior to qualifying as a solicitor in 1997, Stephanie was a registered general nurse. Stephanie has a Diploma in Forensic Medical Science and is the Legal Editor of and contributor to the publication ‘Medicine Science and the Law’. She is a member of the British Academy of Forensic Sciences. Stephanie is also a specialist child abuse lawyer having specialised in this area of law for 25 years.
Stephanie is often interviewed by the BBC on TV and radio on issues relating to clinical negligence. She has been interviewed live on Sky News. She has a specialist interest in maternity claims, birth injuries and fatal claims. Stephanie is a recipient of the Clinical Negligence Lawyer of the Year at the PI awards in November 2019. Stephanie is ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners directories as a specialist in her field.
John Adams
First Vice President | Funeral Director
NAFD | Perry & Phillips Funeral Directors
John Adams (DIPFAA, DIPFD, CERT ED) is a highly accomplished funeral industry professional with a rich legacy in the field. As a Funeral Director at Perry and Phillips Funeral Directors, a reputable the fourth-generation firm in Shropshire, John brings a wealth of expertise and experience to his role.
A past President, John is now serving as the First Vice President of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) and also holds the distinguished positions of Approved Tutor, and chair of the NAFD’s Membership Committee. In addition to his commitments with the NAFD, John serves as a Funeral Industry Advisor for Child Bereavement UK.
Liz Gleeson
Director
Shapes of Grief
Liz is an Irish Psychotherapist living on the East Coast of Ireland. In her early years, she experienced a series of profound losses which she couldn’t cope with very well – she didn’t know how to and nobody knew how to support her.
After working in marketing for a decade, she did a career pivot and threw herself into the world of psychology.
Liz pursued several Masters degrees in Dramatherapy, Loss & Bereavement and Counselling & Psychotherapy and was soon running a busy clinical practice specialising in loss and grief.
In 2019, Liz launched the podcast Shapes Of Grief which quickly garnered the appreciation and respect of grievers worldwide.
Liz also designed and launched an Online Grief Training Programme. The result is a multi-award-winning online Grief Training Programme, offering 40+ hours of evidence-based grief training delivered by 30+ grief, loss and psychology professionals from around the world.
Vicky Wilson
Co-Founder & CEO
Settld.
Vicky Wilson is the CEO and co-founder of Settld, a pioneering company she has led for over 3 years. Settld addresses a crucial need: simplifying the arduous process of handling accounts and services after a loved one passes away. Wilson’s personal experience with loss inspired the creation of Settld, fueled by the frustration of navigating bureaucratic red tape during bereavement. Settld’s mission is clear: streamline the process, automate tasks, and alleviate stress for grieving families. Recognized as one of the top startups in the UK for 2024, Settld continues to revolutionize how we manage life’s most challenging transitions.
Our host for this session…
ELAINE RIDLEY
Public Sector Development Manager
Finders International
Elaine Ridley is our Public Sector Development Manager for Hospitals and Coroners, having extensive experience of working for and managing public services. Formerly employed by a local authority as a Coroner’s Service Manager, she has 14 years’ experience in this high-intensity field in England and Northern Ireland. While working in Ireland, she also trained and subsequently volunteered with Cruse Bereavement Care,
providing bereavement support for six years.
Prior to this post, Elaine was the Family Liaison in a large physical and mental health NHS Foundation Trust. Providing a consistently high standard of support to families, carers and service users through Serious Incident or Complaint Investigations, she also developed training and presented locally and nationally on the importance of engaging effectively with families.
NOTICES
Finders International are CPD members
Member of the CPD Certification Service, Finders International provide accredited training, workshops & events suitable for continuing Professional Development.
View our member profile and our past CPD accredited events via the CPD website here.
This event is Carbon Neutral!
For 2023, Finders have pledged to offset the carbon usage of all our online event activities. To do so, we will be planting 1 tree for each virtual event we host.
You can be rest assured that tuning into this webinar will contribute to your individual and firms goal towards reducing your carbon footprint! Read more about our Carbon Footprint pledge here.
Help us, help you, help others…
If you have watched this event, we would love your feedback! Please click here to leave us feedback on what you thought about this event.
For every feedback form filled, we will donate £1 to our chosen charities for 2023 – Keep Britain Tidy. Read more about our chosen charities here.
If you have any queries regarding this event or are interested in sponsorship, please do not hesitate to contact us at HERE
Social Worker Webinar 25th June 2024
Social Worker Webinar
When: 25th June 2024 | 10:30am – 11:30am
Location: Online via Livestorm
Cost: FREE
Finders International are hosting a free event adapted exclusively for those working within and in association with the social care sector in the UK. Whilst social workers are devoted to helping their vulnerable clients and communities work through challenges they face in everyday life, we hope to assist and support those working within this vital sector by providing free tailored training, insights and advice within a bite-sized online event.
Join us for our next webinar ‘The Court of Protection – What does it mean for a Social Worker?,’ This event will uncover the vital role it plays in safeguarding the rights and well-being of individuals who lack capacity. We will explore the intricacies of the Court’s responsibilities, including decisions related to Health and Welfare (H&W) and Property and Affairs (P&A), and why these two distinct strands exist. By understanding the five key principles of the Mental Capacity Act, we can better appreciate the critical nature of capacity assessments, who is authorised to conduct them, and why they must be decision-specific.
Additionally, we will discuss who is responsible for making applications to the Court of Protection, highlighting the involvement of Local Authority Teams, safeguarding considerations, and the role of solicitors and the COP Panel. We will also examine the importance of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) in the process, particularly when selling property or ensuring the least restrictive action for the individual’s care.
David Lockwood will be hosting this session and will be joined by Samantha Hamilton, Panel Deputy from Mullis and Peake Solicitors. Together, they will provide tailored insights and advice on the role social workers play in Court of Protection applications, emphasising why their involvement is essential and how they can facilitate smoother proceedings, especially where the local authority has no capacity to deal with the case due to internal conditions.
The objective of this webinar is to enhance knowledge and understanding of this complex procedure, offering social workers practical guidance on assisting clients with managing both their property and affairs and their health and welfare, ensuring comprehensive and compassionate care.
Register now to receive event updates and reminders on this event. This event is on-demand, so if you are unavailable on the day, you can watch this event at a time most convenient. Please still register to receive your join link via email, allowing you to watch the event entirely and download any resources you may find useful after the event has gone live.
We will be joined by…
Samantha Hamilton
Solicitor, Member and Head of Court of Protection
Team | Mullis & Peake
Samantha acts as Deputy and Attorney for a large number of individuals, managing a wide range of issues including Lasting Powers of Attorney, Deputyships and other orders of the Court of Protection; she also heads the Court of Protection department, overseeing the Probate, Wills and Court of Protection teams. She joined Mullis and Peake in May 2006 and specialises in acting for clients under Court of Protection orders, where she is often appointed as a result of being a Panel Deputy.
Samantha is pleased to have been appointed to the Office of the Public Guardian’s Guardianship Panel from 1st February 2020. A Guardian can be appointed under the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act 2017 to manage the financial and property affairs of someone who has gone missing as a result of financial problems, mental health issue or relationship breakdown. It also applies to people who are missing as a result of being held hostage or who are detained by a foreign government and no contact can be made for them to appoint an attorney to act for them.
Samantha is often approached by fellow professionals in the private and public sectors for advice due to her expertise in her field. Her qualifications include LLB (Hons), SFE Older Client Care in Practice Award and a law degree from Queen Mary & Westfield, University of London.
Samantha also took part in two interviews for The Law Society of England and Wales. She gave expert advice on why making a will matters and tips for making a will.
Our host for this session…
David Lockwood
Senior Business Development Manager
Finders International
Dave is a former Deputy Decision Maker appointed by the Court of Protection in England
and Wales. Dave’s experience comes from working in four diverse local authorities across
London and the South East, dealing with varied services, ongoing legislation changes and
increased workloads with decreasing resources; managing expectations from both the public and internal colleagues.
Not only does Dave have experience of acting as a Deputy under the Court of Protection, he is also well versed in the complexities of dealing with the statutory obligation of providing funerals under the Public Health Act. Dave is also one of the founding members and former chair of APAD (The Association of Public Authority Deputies).
NOTICES
Finders International are CPD members
Member of the CPD Certification Service, Finders International provide accredited training, workshops & events suitable for continuing Professional Development.
View our member profile and our past CPD accredited events via the CPD website here.
For 2024, Finders have pledged to offset the carbon usage of all our online event activities. To do so, we will be planting 1 tree for each webinar we host.
You can be rest assured that tuning into this webinar will contribute to your individual and firms goal towards reducing your carbon footprint! Read more about our Carbon Footprint pledge here.
Help us, help you, help others…
If you have watched this event, we would love your feedback! Please click here to leave us feedback on what you thought about this event.
For every feedback form filled, we will donate £1 to our chosen charity for 2024 – Mind. Read more about our chosen charity and feedback initiative here.
If you have any queries regarding this event or are interested in sponsorship, please do not hesitate to contact us at HERE
Bereavement Services E-Conference 14th May 2024
Bereavement Services E-Conference
When: 14th May 2024 | 10:30am – 12:00pm | 10:30am – 12:00pm
Location: Online via Livestorm
Cost: FREE
PHFIS, in collaboration with our CPD partner, Finders International, is delighted to announce the inaugural Bereavement Services E-Conference of 2024. Hosted by PHFIS in collaboration with our CPD partner, Finders International, our inaugural Bereavement Services E-Conference of 2023 will feature a line-up of outstanding speakers from reputable organizations and charities. Their talks will be pertinent to individuals working in and collaborating with bereavement services. The event seeks to boost the confidence of bereavement staff in effectively guiding the bereaved towards support agencies, sharing the best practices in bereavement services across different contexts, and discussing hot topics in the field.
This event is a FREE resource for those working with the bereaved, primarily in the public sector. Alongside our speakers, we are sure you will find the event useful to your professional development. We will hopefully provide you with a better understanding of the industry and will better equip you to deal with the bereaved in your line of work.
Sign-up for this event:
Register now to receive event updates and reminders on this event. This event is on-demand, so if you are unavailable on the day, you can watch this event at a time most convenient. Please still register to receive your join link via email, allowing you to watch the event entirely and download any resources you may find useful after the event has gone live.
We will be joined by…
Stephanie Prior
Head of Medical Negligence
Osbornes Law
Stephanie is Head of Medical Negligence at Osbornes, with a particular focus on child and adult brain injury cases, fatal cases, obstetric and gynaecological cases, Brachial Plexus injuries, ophthalmology and complex spinal injury cases. Stephanie is experienced in inquests and advising client’s on Fatal Accident’s Act and the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. Stephanie’s caseload is mainly complex and complicated cases.
Prior to qualifying as a solicitor in 1997, Stephanie was a registered general nurse. Stephanie has a Diploma in Forensic Medical Science and is the Legal Editor of and contributor to the publication ‘Medicine Science and the Law’. She is a member of the British Academy of Forensic Sciences. Stephanie is also a specialist child abuse lawyer having specialised in this area of law for 25 years.
Stephanie is often interviewed by the BBC on TV and radio on issues relating to clinical negligence. She has been interviewed live on Sky News. She has a specialist interest in maternity claims, birth injuries and fatal claims. Stephanie is a recipient of the Clinical Negligence Lawyer of the Year at the PI awards in November 2019. Stephanie is ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners directories as a specialist in her field.
John Adams
First Vice President | Funeral Director
NAFD | Perry & Phillips Funeral Directors
John Adams (DIPFAA, DIPFD, CERT ED) is a highly accomplished funeral industry professional with a rich legacy in the field. As a Funeral Director at Perry and Phillips Funeral Directors, a reputable the fourth-generation firm in Shropshire, John brings a wealth of expertise and experience to his role.
A past President, John is now serving as the First Vice President of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) and also holds the distinguished positions of Approved Tutor, and chair of the NAFD’s Membership Committee. In addition to his commitments with the NAFD, John serves as a Funeral Industry Advisor for Child Bereavement UK.
Liz Gleeson
Director
Shapes of Grief
Liz is an Irish Psychotherapist living on the East Coast of Ireland. In her early years, she experienced a series of profound losses which she couldn’t cope with very well – she didn’t know how to and nobody knew how to support her.
After working in marketing for a decade, she did a career pivot and threw herself into the world of psychology.
Liz pursued several Masters degrees in Dramatherapy, Loss & Bereavement and Counselling & Psychotherapy and was soon running a busy clinical practice specialising in loss and grief.
In 2019, Liz launched the podcast Shapes Of Grief which quickly garnered the appreciation and respect of grievers worldwide.
Liz also designed and launched an Online Grief Training Programme. The result is a multi-award-winning online Grief Training Programme, offering 40+ hours of evidence-based grief training delivered by 30+ grief, loss and psychology professionals from around the world.
Vicky Wilson
Co-Founder & CEO
Settld.
Vicky Wilson is the CEO and co-founder of Settld, a pioneering company she has led for over 3 years. Settld addresses a crucial need: simplifying the arduous process of handling accounts and services after a loved one passes away. Wilson’s personal experience with loss inspired the creation of Settld, fueled by the frustration of navigating bureaucratic red tape during bereavement. Settld’s mission is clear: streamline the process, automate tasks, and alleviate stress for grieving families. Recognized as one of the top startups in the UK for 2024, Settld continues to revolutionize how we manage life’s most challenging transitions.
Our host for this session…
ELAINE RIDLEY
Public Sector Development Manager
Finders International
Elaine Ridley is our Public Sector Development Manager for Hospitals and Coroners, having extensive experience of working for and managing public services. Formerly employed by a local authority as a Coroner’s Service Manager, she has 14 years’ experience in this high-intensity field in England and Northern Ireland. While working in Ireland, she also trained and subsequently volunteered with Cruse Bereavement Care,
providing bereavement support for six years.
Prior to this post, Elaine was the Family Liaison in a large physical and mental health NHS Foundation Trust. Providing a consistently high standard of support to families, carers and service users through Serious Incident or Complaint Investigations, she also developed training and presented locally and nationally on the importance of engaging effectively with families.
NOTICES
Finders International are CPD members
Member of the CPD Certification Service, Finders International provide accredited training, workshops & events suitable for continuing Professional Development.
View our member profile and our past CPD accredited events via the CPD website here.
This event is Carbon Neutral!
For 2023, Finders have pledged to offset the carbon usage of all our online event activities. To do so, we will be planting 1 tree for each virtual event we host.
You can be rest assured that tuning into this webinar will contribute to your individual and firms goal towards reducing your carbon footprint! Read more about our Carbon Footprint pledge here.
Help us, help you, help others…
If you have watched this event, we would love your feedback! Please click here to leave us feedback on what you thought about this event.
For every feedback form filled, we will donate £1 to our chosen charities for 2023 – Keep Britain Tidy. Read more about our chosen charities here.
If you have any queries regarding this event or are interested in sponsorship, please do not hesitate to contact us at HERE
Bereavement Services E-Conference
Bereavement Services E-Conference
When: 26th October 2023 | 10:30am – 12:00pm
Location: Online via Livestorm
Cost: FREE
Hosted by PHFIS in collaboration with our CPD partner, Finders International, our final Bereavement Services E-Conference of 2023 will feature a line-up of outstanding speakers from reputable organizations and charities. Their talks will be pertinent to individuals working in and collaborating with bereavement services. The event seeks to boost the confidence of bereavement staff in effectively guiding the bereaved towards support agencies, sharing the best practices in bereavement services across different contexts, and discussing hot topics in the field.
This event is a FREE resource for those working with the bereaved in the public sector. Alongside our speakers, we are sure you will find the event useful to your professional development. We will hopefully provide you with a better understanding of the industry and will better equip you to deal with the bereaved in your line of work. If you have any questions regarding the event, please get in touch with us at: [email protected].
Register now to receive event updates and reminders. This event is on-demand, so if you are unavailable on the day, you can watch this event at a time most convenient. Please still register to receive your join link via email, allowing you to watch the event entirely and download any resources you may find useful after the event has gone live.
We will be joined by…
Howard Pickard
Managing Director
Resomation Limited
Howard holds a B.Tech (Hons) degree in Manufacturing Engineering from Loughborough University and an MBA from Leeds University. He has over 30 years’ experience of engineering and became Managing Director of his 5th generation family business in 1995 taking over from his Father, David.
Resomation Limited, established in 2007, is a company dedicated to the global introduction of a sustainable alternative to burial and flame cremation. Resomation Ltd became part of LBBC Group in 2016 as the key equipment for a system is supplied within divisions of LBBC Group. As our impact on the world’s precious resources becomes ever more apparent, the need to act increases, the bereavement sector should also respond and adopt more sustainable activities.
Resomation is an alternative to flame cremation, it has a lower Carbon footprint (GWP) and no harmful air emissions. The adoption of Resomation in other countries is growing and is recognised as a significant way that the funeral sector can reduce its CO2 emissions, thus enabling it to meet the 2050 net zero carbon emissions target.
Sam Langford
Founder and Director
Gaia Workplace Wellbeing Ltd
Sam has a background of twenty years’ experience in public service, working for the police, immigration, prisons, and civil service, including 10 years as a Crime Scene Investigator.
Sam’s elder brother died by auto-erotic asphyxiation aged 21, when she was 16. Her entire working career has involved navigating the taboo of not only death, but the nature of that death. Over this time, she has experienced the very best, and the very worst responses and support for bereaved individuals in the workplace.
Sam’s work and personal experience has evolved into a strong ethos to support others, particularly regarding the effects of exposure to potentially traumatic work, and grief, loss, and bereavement. She is a Trauma Risk Management (TRiM) Manager and Trainer with March on Stress, holds the NEBOSH National Certificate in the Management of Workplace Health and Wellbeing, and a Masters degree in Workplace Health and Wellbeing.
Sam is also a member of the Leadership Team of the Let’s Improve Workplace Wellbeing CIC, where she is the lead on Bereavement in the workplace.
Michelle Smith
Founder and Director
National Grief and Bereavement Association
Michelle has over 20 years experience of working in specialist palliative care and oncology as a clinical nurse specialist.
During that time, she has worked with people of all ages as they begin to comprehend the news of a life limiting diagnosis and alongside those people, she has supported their family and friends as they have moved from anticipatory grief to bereavement.
In her more recent career, Michelle has held senior leadership positions in large third sector organisations including lead UK mobile cancer information specialist for Macmillan Cancer Support.
To build on this experience, Michelle also holds NLP and Compassion Fatigue qualifications and this year, established the National Grief and Bereavement Association.
Helen Chandler
General Manager
Kindly Earth
Helen holds a BA (Hons) degree in English and History and is a highly experienced funeral professional, having worked in the funeral sector for more than thirty years, primarily with Coop Funeralcare where she held a number of senior operational roles. She also spent time in the Life Planning (funeral plans), Commercial and Marketing teams there.
Helen is extremely passionate about offering the best possible care and service for the bereaved and her key motivation at work is in ensuring that everything is done with the needs of the bereaved at heart.
Having been aware of Resomation for many years, she joined Directors, Howard Pickard and Julian Atkinson at Kindly Earth early in 2023, taking the opportunity to develop awareness and understanding of Resomation in the UK, both within the funeral industry and more broadly with the public.
Helen says ‘I truly believe that people in the UK will benefit from Resomation as a credible alternative end-of-life option and one which can also be kinder to the environment.’ She is a proud Northumbrian, where she lives with her partner and her Westie.
Jade Gani
CEO & Head of Private Client
Circe Law
Jade specialises in Wills, Probate, Power of Attorney, Trusts & Estate Planning and Estate Administration and has recently established her own law firm, Circe Law Ltd, based in Taplow and specialising in Private Client matters. Jade is a Director for Solicitors for the Elderly (SFE), Presiding Judge for the STEP PCAs 2023 and a Community Ambassador for Thames Hospice.
Jade is also the Director and Co-Founder of the Wishing Will Foundation – an excellent cause aiming to raise funds to support end-of-life, palliative care and respite hospices in the Thames Valley area, as well as raising additional funds for other incredibly important, local charities supporting the community. Jade has an impressive portfolio of awards and achievements, including ‘Young Practitioner of the Year’, ‘Industry Champion’ and numerous other Private Client team awards to add to her already overflowing mantlepiece of achievements.
Wendy Buchan
Executive Officer & Secretary
The Cremation Society
Wendy joined The Cremation Society in 2018, taking on the role of Executive Officer and Secretary in February 2021.
Wendy’s background is in the legal field where she practised as a Private Client lawyer. Wendy’s Private Client work included wills, probate, powers of attorney, elderly clients’ affairs, trusts and tax planning.
As part of the work of The Cremation Society, Wendy has been involved in a cross-organisation working group looking at the current provision of public health funerals, as well as being involved in a number of other sector working groups. The Cremation Society is also one of the members of the Deceased Management Advisory Group (DMAG) that was formed at the beginning of the pandemic to work closely with government to ensure that funerals continued to be provided and bereaved families’ needs met.
Our host for this session…
ELAINE RIDLEY
Public Sector Development Manager
Finders International
Elaine Ridley is our Public Sector Development Manager for Hospitals and Coroners, having extensive experience of working for and managing public services. Formerly employed by a local authority as a Coroner’s Service Manager, she has 14 years’ experience in this high-intensity field in England and Northern Ireland. While working in Ireland, she also trained and subsequently volunteered with Cruse Bereavement Care,
providing bereavement support for six years.
Prior to this post, Elaine was the Family Liaison in a large physical and mental health NHS Foundation Trust. Providing a consistently high standard of support to families, carers and service users through Serious Incident or Complaint Investigations, she also developed training and presented locally and nationally on the importance of engaging effectively with families.
NOTICES
Finders International are CPD members
Member of the CPD Certification Service, Finders International provide accredited training, workshops & events suitable for continuing Professional Development.
View our member profile and our past CPD accredited events via the CPD website here.
This event is Carbon Neutral!
For 2023, Finders have pledged to offset the carbon usage of all our online event activities. To do so, we will be planting 1 tree for each virtual event we host.
You can be rest assured that tuning into this webinar will contribute to your individual and firms goal towards reducing your carbon footprint! Read more about our Carbon Footprint pledge here.
Help us, help you, help others…
If you have watched this event, we would love your feedback! Please click here to leave us feedback on what you thought about this event.
For every feedback form filled, we will donate £1 to our chosen charities for 2023 – Keep Britain Tidy. Read more about our chosen charities here.
If you have any queries regarding this event or are interested in sponsorship, please do not hesitate to contact us at HERE
Northern Ireland to Review Pauper Funeral Policy
The Mid and East Antrim Borough Council in Northern Ireland is reviewing its policy on public health burials, formerly known as pauper funerals. The review comes after a rise in the costs of burials and demand for the service.
In 2022, the council delivered four public health burials, at a cost of £850 each. The council does not recover the costs of these burials, and the report stated that "no costs have been recovered to date."
The review will look at how to ensure the dignity of the deceased and minimize the cost to the council. The council is also considering whether to change the name of the service from "public health burial" to "indigent burial."
The review is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
Background
Pauper funerals are a type of funeral that is provided for people who have no family or friends to arrange their funeral. The cost of the funeral is typically paid for by the local authority.
In Northern Ireland, the average cost of a funeral is £3,317. This means that pauper funerals are a relatively inexpensive way to bury or cremate a loved one.
The Review
The review of the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council's pauper funeral policy will consider a number of factors, including:
- The cost of burials
- The demand for the service
- The dignity of the deceased
- The cost to the council
The council is also considering whether to change the name of the service from "public health burial" to "indigent burial."
The Impact of the Review
The outcome of the review could have a significant impact on people who need to use the pauper funeral service. If the costs of the service are increased, it could make it more difficult for people to afford a funeral.
However, if the council is able to find ways to reduce the costs of the service, it could make it more affordable for people who need it.
The review is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. In the meantime, people who need to use the pauper funeral service should contact their local authority for more information.
Scotland's Cost-of-Dying Crisis Reveals Financial Struggles Surrounding Funerals
The rising cost of funerals in Scotland has created a significant burden for numerous families, amplifying the challenges of the existing cost-of-living crisis. The situation is further exacerbated by unethical practices such as unnecessary upselling by some unscrupulous funeral directors, leaving grieving families in dire financial circumstances.
The Soaring Costs
According to a report by SunLife, the average cost of a funeral in the UK has surged by a staggering 115% over the past 18 years. In 2004, a basic funeral would cost approximately £1,835, but by 2020, that figure had skyrocketed to £4,184. While prices have slightly decreased since then, with an average cost of £3,953 in 2023 and £3,848 in Scotland, the overall cost of dying continues to rise due to additional expenses like probate fees and send-off costs, including catering and venue hire, resulting in an alarming total cost of £9,200.
Families are left in a distressing financial predicament, ineligible for government support and compelled to take out expensive loans due to the exorbitant charges imposed by funeral directors. These families, often living payday to payday, face immense stress when presented with funeral bills nearing £3,000, without even receiving essential services such as transportation or an order of service.
Addressing the Crisis:
The Scottish Government's Funeral Support Payment offers limited financial support primarily to those on benefits, often falling short of covering the entire cost. Consequently, families are burdened with significant debts and resort to crowdfunding, borrowing, credit card debt, or selling personal belongings to meet expenses. In this situation, Caledonia Cremation provides an affordable alternative through not-for-profit direct cremation services, offering simplicity and cost-effectiveness without traditional ceremonies. The rising cost of funerals in Scotland compounds the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis and necessitates addressing financial hardships. Enhancing pricing transparency, expanding financial assistance, and promoting awareness of alternatives like direct cremation are crucial steps to alleviate the burden and ensure dignified farewells for families in need.
For more information on Scotland's cost-of-dying crisis, please refer to the original article from The National: Read more
Additionally, individuals seeking guidance and support regarding public health funerals and related matters can find valuable assistance through the Public Health Funeral Information service. Contact us at [email protected].
Public Health Act Funerals Clinic: The Laws of Intestacy
Public Health Act Funerals Clinic: The Laws of Intestacy
When: 9th May 2023 | 10:30am – 11:30am
Location: Online via Livestorm
Cost: FREE
PHFIS in association with Finders International, is proud to announce a new line-up of events for 2023. The PHA Funerals Clinics is a series of FREE virtual sessions we are hosting throughout the year, designed to discuss and explore topics relevant to roles of PHA Officers and those working in association with Public Health Act Funerals.
PHA Officers often ask “who is entitled to benefit from an estate?”. For our first session of the series, we will be discussing the lines of Intestacy and what that means, who is more entitled, and what happens if Next of Kin do not want to act. The session will also cover Debts, what has to be paid, and what doesn’t if there are minimal funds. We have invited legal expert Alexandra Gordon, the Private Client Partner and Chartered Tax Adviser at Tassells Solicitors, to provide her invaluable insight on the topic.
Dave Lockwood, a previous Deputy who is well versed in the complexities of dealing with the statutory obligation of providing funerals under the Public Health Act, will host this session and will be putting your burning questions to our expert speakers.
We will be joined by…
Alexandra Gordon TEP CTA
Partner in the Private Client Team
Tassells Solicitors
Alexandra is a Partner in the Private Client Team at Tassells Solicitors, where she specializes in inheritance tax planning, Wills, Trusts, and estate planning. She is particularly interested in the contentious aspects of private client work and tax. Alexandra is the President of the Kent Law Society and a Notary Public.
She has won several awards for her work, including the Kent Law Society Junior Lawyer of the Year award and has been ranked as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ by Legal 500 and in band 3 in the Chambers High Net Worth guide. Alexandra has completed the STEP Diploma in Trusts and Estates and the STEP Advanced Certificates in UK Tax for International Clients and Will Preparation, and is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation and an Associate member of ACTAPS.
Sophie Wallace
Chartered Legal Executive
Tassells Solicitors
Sophie is an award-winning junior lawyer with a particular interest in intestate estates. Sophie qualified as Chartered Legal Executive in January 2022 and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (FILEx) and is currently working towards completing her Solicitors Qualifying Examination and qualifying as a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
Sophie specialises in Private Client Law, including Wills, Trusts and Estates, Probate, and Lasting Power of Attorney and is an Affiliate member of STEP (Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners).
Our host for this session…
David Lockwood
Senior Business Development Manager
Finders International
Dave is a former Deputy Decision Maker appointed by the Court of Protection in England
and Wales. Dave’s experience comes from working in four diverse local authorities across
London and the South East, dealing with varied services, ongoing legislation changes and
increased workloads with decreasing resources; managing expectations from both the public and internal colleagues.
Not only does Dave have experience of acting as a Deputy under the Court of Protection, he is also well versed in the complexities of dealing with the statutory obligation of providing funerals under the Public Health Act. Dave is also one of the founding members and former chair of APAD (The Association of Public Authority Deputies).
NOTICES
Finders International are CPD members
Member of the CPD Certification Service, Finders International provide accredited training, workshops & events suitable for continuing Professional Development.
View our member profile and our past CPD accredited events via the CPD website here.
This event is Carbon Neutral!
For 2023, Finders have pledged to offset the carbon usage of all our online event activities. To do so, we will be planting 1 tree for each virtual event we host.
You can be rest assured that tuning into this webinar will contribute to your individual and firms goal towards reducing your carbon footprint! Read more about our Carbon Footprint pledge here.
Help us, help you, help others…
If you have watched this event, we would love your feedback! Please click here to leave us feedback on what you thought about this event.
For every feedback form filled, we will donate £1 to our chosen charities for 2023 – Keep Britain Tidy. Read more about our chosen charities here.
If you have any queries regarding this event or are interested in sponsorship, please do not hesitate to contact us at HERE
Bereavement Services E-Conference
Bereavement Services E-Conference
When: 13th June 2023 | 10:30am – 12:00am
Location: Online via Livestorm
Cost: FREE
Hosted by PHFIS in collaboration with our CPD partner, Finders International, our inaugural Bereavement Services E-Conference of 2023 will feature a line-up of outstanding speakers from reputable organizations and charities. Their talks will be pertinent to individuals working in and collaborating with bereavement services. The event seeks to boost the confidence of bereavement staff in effectively guiding the bereaved towards support agencies, sharing the best practices in bereavement services across different contexts, and discussing hot topics in the field.
This event is a FREE resource for those working with the bereaved in the public sector. Alongside our speakers, we are sure you will find the event useful to your professional development. We will hopefully provide you with a better understanding of the industry and will better equip you to deal with the bereaved in your line of work. If you have any questions regarding the event, please get in touch with us at: [email protected].
Register now to receive event updates and reminders. This event is on-demand, so if you are unavailable on the day, you can watch this event at a time most convenient. Please still register to receive your join link via email, allowing you to watch the event entirely and download any resources you may find useful after the event has gone live.
We will be joined by…
Clare Bullen
Head of Clinical Services
Child Bereavement UK
Clare graduated from Swansea University in 1991 and worked for MENCAP and later worked in brain injury rehabilitation. She went on to complete a PGCE in 2007 and worked as a primary school teacher for 10 years.
She became interested in bereavement support when her daughter’s dad died and she was appalled at the lack of support available for children. Clare completed Child Bereavement UK’s modular training course; ‘Working with bereaved children and young people’, and we were lucky enough to have Clare join our team in Runcorn in 2014.
In January 2017 Clare joined Child Bereavement UK’s North Development Team on the project in Manchester and in January 2018 became Bereavement Services Regional Lead in the North before becoming Head of Clinical Services in July 2022.
Nicola Payne
Best Practice Manager
MacIntyre Charity
Nicola Payne has worked for MacIntyre for the past 17 years and is lead for family engagement, also leading on the health strategy and vision. Currently, Nicola has just completed over seeing a National Lottery Community-funded pilot project called “Dying to Talk” which empowers people to have choice and control in planning for their future and to support staff teams and families to be able to start these important conversations. Nicola has many years of working alongside people living with a learning disability and a diagnosis of dementia; she is a passionate advocate who supports everyone to have a voice and works in ways that make sense to everyone.
Our vision is for all people with a learning disability and/or autism to live a life that makes sense to them. We are very proud of what we have achieved since we were founded in 1966 and of our distinctive characteristics that have defined everything that we have done during this time.
Claire Goodwin-Fee
Founder & CEO
Frontline19
Frontline19 is a multiple award winning psychological service that supports the NHS and frontlines with free counselling and emotional support. Frontline19 currently supports over 9000 frontline workers every week. Set up by Claire Goodwin-Fee in March 2020 in response to the pandemic as a way of offering psychological support. Claire has been a psychotherapist, trainer and speaker for nearly 20 years and is passionate about supporting others with their wellbeing. She believes that mental health doesn’t have to be depressing but instead empowering and life changing. She comes from a family of frontline workers and has worked in the sector herself. She lives in Kent with her family, including two little people, and 3 dogs
John Adams
First Vice President | Funeral Director
NAFD | Perry & Phillips Funeral Directors
John Adams DIPFAA, DIPFD, CERT ED is a highly accomplished funeral industry professional with a rich legacy in the field. As a Funeral Director at Perry and Phillips Funeral Directors, a reputable the fourth-generation firm in Shropshire, John brings a wealth of expertise and experience to his role. As the immediate past President of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) and also holds the distinguished positions of Approved Tutor, and past chair of the NAFD’s Membership Committee. In addition to his commitments with the NAFD, John serves as a Funeral Industry Advisor for Child Bereavement UK.
Our host for this session…
ELAINE RIDLEY
Public Sector Development Manager
Finders International
Elaine Ridley is our Public Sector Development Manager for Hospitals and Coroners, having extensive experience of working for and managing public services. Formerly employed by a local authority as a Coroner’s Service Manager, she has 14 years’ experience in this high-intensity field in England and Northern Ireland. While working in Ireland, she also trained and subsequently volunteered with Cruse Bereavement Care,
providing bereavement support for six years.
Prior to this post, Elaine was the Family Liaison in a large physical and mental health NHS Foundation Trust. Providing a consistently high standard of support to families, carers and service users through Serious Incident or Complaint Investigations, she also developed training and presented locally and nationally on the importance of engaging effectively with families.
NOTICES
Finders International are CPD members
Member of the CPD Certification Service, Finders International provide accredited training, workshops & events suitable for continuing Professional Development.
View our member profile and our past CPD accredited events via the CPD website here.
This event is Carbon Neutral!
For 2023, Finders have pledged to offset the carbon usage of all our online event activities. To do so, we will be planting 1 tree for each virtual event we host.
You can be rest assured that tuning into this webinar will contribute to your individual and firms goal towards reducing your carbon footprint! Read more about our Carbon Footprint pledge here.
Help us, help you, help others…
If you have watched this event, we would love your feedback! Please click here to leave us feedback on what you thought about this event.
For every feedback form filled, we will donate £1 to our chosen charities for 2023 – Keep Britain Tidy. Read more about our chosen charities here.
If you have any queries regarding this event or are interested in sponsorship, please do not hesitate to contact us at HERE
Finder’s pledge to offset the Carbon Footprint for each webinar in 2023
The research and data collected into the carbon footprint of our daily online activities and uses of streaming services is significantly lower to that of other carbon emitters. We however, do not regard our online uses as totally environmentally friendly and are looking to change this for 2023.
On behalf of Public Health Funerals Information Service (PHFIS), Finders International pledge to offset the estimated carbon emissions for each webinar we host within 2023. To achieve this goal, it required some preparation and research to estimate what the approximate carbon footprint for each webinar is…
According to the Carbon Trust, at an individual level, the carbon footprint of viewing one hour of video-on-demand streaming is approximately 55gCO2e in Europe. This figure considers the energy use of the different components that are involved in the distribution and viewing of video content: data centres and content delivery networks (used for encoding and storage); internet network transmission; home routers; end-user viewing devices (e.g. TVs, laptops, tablets, smartphones); and TV peripherals (e.g. set-top boxes), where relevant.
Based on our 2021 figures, we average a number of 112 attendees per webinar we host, and our average length of webinar is 2 hours. Considering these figures and those supplied but the Carbon Trust, we have estimated…
Each one of our 2023 webinars is estimated to use 0.12 tonnes of CO2
Trees for Life estimates that 1 tree can offset 0.16 tonnes of carbon per year. Because of this, we will be planting 1 tree for each webinar we host in 2023, not only offsetting our carbon emissions for our online event activities, but increasing our contribution by -0.04 tCO2e per webinar.
Rest assured that viewing our webinars will not add to your carbon footprint and help achieve your individual and firms goal towards becoming ‘Net Carbon Zero’. We will be making all tree planting donations to the National Trust in 2023.
Pauper funeral numbers double
A recent report by the New Statesman revealed that the number of so-called pauper’s funerals have doubled since 2019.
Katherine Swindells reports that the cost of living crisis effects are now being felt “beyond life itself” with more people dying without the means to pay for a funeral.
In some of the poorest parts of the UK, people needing a public health funeral has doubled compared to pre-pandemic levels. The public health funeral - sometimes daubed a pauper’s funeral - is paid for by local authorities in cases where people either die without any known next of kin or their family and friends cannot afford the costs.
None of the frills
The funeral is basic – a burial or cremation – with none of the frills.
The New Statesman obtained data from various councils and discovered that in Blackpool, eight people required a public health funeral in October 2022, compared to half that many in October 2019, and between April and October 2022, 26 public health funerals were conducted in total, compared to 12 in the whole of 2019.
Tower Hamlets, another deprived part of the country, had 12 deaths requiring public health funerals between April and September 2022, 50 percent higher than the same time in 2019.
Average cost of dying
The average cost of dying rose to £9,200 in the UK, according to SunLife, 4 percent higher than the previous year and almost 30 percent more than ten years ago.
Burials average £4,800, while cremations are £3,700, although there has been a small decrease in the costs of the most basic funeral, partly due to a ruling by the Competition and Markets Authority where funeral directors were ordered to publicly list their prices.
The main price rises have been in the additional services and the ceremony arrangements. Deborah Smith, speaking on behalf of the National Association of Funeral Directors, told the New Statements that funeral directors were facing the same market forces as everyone else.
Brexit impact
While inflation had affected food and staffing costs, Brexit had an impact on the price of imported coffins and flowers, with floral arrangements increasing in price by 38 percent since 2016, according to SunLife.
Lindsay Mace, co-manager of Down to Earth, a helpline for advice on funeral costs run by the charity Quaker Social Action, told the New Statesmen that even the most basic funeral was still a crushing financial burden for many and that carrying out funeral rituals was “incredibly important” to people, who often went to enormous lengths to do so, getting into debt or borrowing from loan sharks.
While there is government support for people on certain benefits, it barely covers half the cost of a basic funeral and while more and more people try fundraisers for funeral costs, other say that their family and friends can’t afford to donate.
Dan Garrett, chief executive of probate and cremation provider Farewill, told the New Statesman that their research showed that four in ten people who contributed to the funeral of a relative or friend got into debt to do so, and that he thought the situation was going to get a lot worse.
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Dave Lockwood, Senior Business Development Manager, Finders International comments; “When talking to Council Officers I have noticed they all speak about a rise in referrals, not just in the cities but across the country. It’s apparent that Councils are seeing an increase in cases and this puts more pressure on already stretched budgets. Something that Local Authorities are keen to avoid in such bleak economic times.”
Local authorities and NHS trusts can contact the Public Health Funerals Information Service for assistance and advice regarding Public Health funerals. We host a series of free training events for bereavement teams or any professionals dealing with the arrangement of a public health act funeral. Through our founders, Finders International, we also offer a free next of kin tracing service.
Click here for more information.