Cabinet member praises council’s ‘sensitive and supportive’ staff

Councillor Jill Rhodes, who is responsible for corporate services, including registration services for births, marriages and deaths, paid tribute to council staff who continue to support families and couples during these difficult times. 

She said: “Cheshire East Council staff are continuing to work sensitively around registering deaths and supporting families at a time of grief and suffering. They are also working sensitively with couples who have sadly had to postpone their weddings.

“The council is reassuring bereaved families that they will be supported through their difficult time, taking account of new measures implemented by the government and the new Coronavirus Act.

“During the current pandemic, new measures are in place for registering deaths and for funerals in order to reduce the risks associated with the virus, for funeral service staff and mourners.

“For the first time in our history, deaths are currently being registered by phone. This has meant we’ve had to very quickly develop extra back-office support to enable us to work in a new way to reduce social contact and the need to travel.

“The council is also following new guidelines regarding mourners attending funerals, who should be members of the person’s household, close family members or if these people are unable to attend, close friends and a celebrant of choice should attend if the bereaved family request this.

“We understand that any bereavement is an extremely difficult time for family and close friends and now we are facing the added challenging circumstances that the coronavirus outbreak brings.

“We are working with Orbitas Bereavement Services, the council’s wholly-owned company, to do all we can within current government guidelines to ensure we can continue to give loved ones a fitting final send off.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff within our registration and bereavement services teams and the funeral directors, who are working so hard to serve families across Cheshire East during this especially difficult time.

“Both I and all my cabinet colleagues are full of admiration for the hard work and sensitive dedication shown by our staff at this challenging time. We are all proud of the way our officers have responded and the work they do.”