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Asa funeral professional continued professional development (CPD) is important as this can help you keep your skills and knowledge up to date as well as strengthen your professional credibility and help you become creative in tackling new challenges. Therefore, as a SAIF member why not register to attend one of SAIF’s webinars - an easy way to learn and discover without having to travel. As a SAIF member you will also have access to pre-recorded webinars.

To see what is currently available to attend please visit https://saif.org.uk/events/ a reassuring backstop for the extremely small number of families who find themselves in dispute with their funeral director at the end of the complaints process.

“I would like to thank the team at SAIF Business Centre who have worked so hard to secure this approval - they really are the backbone of the independent funeral profession.”

Terry added that the approval reinforced the importance of choosing a funeral director in membership of a trade association with recognised consumer protection systems.

SAIF’s status as a CTSI-approved ADR body places it alongside respected organisations such as the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) and Ombudsman Services.

SAIF’s quality management systems received ISO 9001:2015 standard certification from the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) in 2022. The standard is based on a range of quality management principles including a strong customer focus, the motivation and implication of top management, a process-driven approach and continual improvement.

Dr Patrick Stirling from Carryduff Surgery, Co. Down, and his colleagues have recently started successfully offering a regional service for Part II (C) cremation papers to make life easier and forms quicker for funeral directors and their teams.

During Covid, it became increasingly difficult for doctors to visit funeral homes, so Dr Stirling and his team, put their new service in place.

Since it’s introduction, they have been getting exceptional feedback for their ability to help - performing assessments and returning forms digitally often within 30 minutes of first contact.

The GP’s now want to offer both an inperson and region wide digital service to help with completion of Part II (C) paper for funeral directors and their teams.

The service is primarily designed to facilitate assistance by using secure endto-end encrypted video consultation and so can offer coverage across Northern Ireland. Dr Stirling says, “I’ve been a longstanding admirer of funeral directors, embalmers and their teams for the work that they do to serve and support people and families at a really important and sensitive time.

As part of this, I understand the nature of the time pressures and tight logistics that the teams work under and so have always enjoyed helping them with a fast, efficient service to ensure preparations for the deceased and their family are not delayed”.

When the legislation changed, then reverted back in March 2023, my team and I realised there was an opportunity to help funeral directors with a digital service, where it is not possible to attend a mortuary or funeral directors premises in person.

We’ve been blown away by the positive feedback we’ve had for the service. For all those teams that have used us, we say, thank you for trusting in us”.

If you would like to find out more information on this service or to have a chat with Patrick, T: +44(0)7445 631602 or email: paddystirling.gp@gmail.com