Adult Counsellor

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical

To act as a role model and provide exceptional Counselling skill and expertise across The Shakespeare Hospice Adult Community Care Services.

To manage an active caseload of clients dealing with complex psychological emotional issues as a consequence of a life limiting diagnosis or bereavement.

To provide specialist one to one intervention via a range of delivery modes, including in person at the Shottery site, via videoconferencing, telephone consultations and on rare occasions (and with direction from the Lead Counsellor) in a persons own home.

To ensure that all necessary and recommended infection control precautions are taken at all times when meeting with clients face to face.

To holistically assess, plan, implement and evaluate an individuals requirement for, and response to, counselling practice. Continuously reviewing outcomes by undertaking client focused assessments throughout an episode of support.

To confidently identify and respond to the changing needs of the client, adjusting intervention accordingly and with the knowledge of the Lead Counsellor.

To identify risk or safeguarding concerns for vulnerable clients and report immediately to the Lead Counsellor/Safeguarding Lead.

To respond appropriately in managing a crisis or emotional/psychological deterioration and to ensure that an effective plan of support and care is put in place.

To confidently liaise with other relevant professionals and statutory/voluntary organisations, as necessary, to facilitate appropriate additional support and/or signposting.

To prioritise workload accordingly and to work flexibly to meet the changing needs of clients and the organisation.

To be able to work both autonomously and within close partnership with the Hospice team.

To utilise the electronic clinical database to record all active cases, supporting the volunteer counsellors where necessary and appropriate.

To complete contemporaneous and accurate records in accordance with professional counselling requirements/standards and Hospice practice.

To ensure that all patient and sensitive information will be treated confidentially and in line with local Hospice and national policies/legislation.

Participate in the Counselling team meetings and one to one meetings with the Lead Counsellor.

To actively participate in relevant Hospice multi-disciplinary team meetings, to ensure optimal patient/carer/client care.

To be an educational resource to the overall Hospice team and to be able to organise training sessions as requested, for example, at the monthly Counselling Team meetings or Day Hospice/Hospice at Home Team meetings.

To be a source of expertise and an advocate for hospice care.

To undertake regular clinical supervision in accordance with organisational requirements and standards set out by BACP.

To maintain and update current knowledge of evidence based best practice and guidelines from the National Bereavement Alliance.

To work in accordance with NICE guidelines and national standards for palliative and end of life care, bereavement, emotional and psychological support.

Management

To work alongside the Lead Adult Counsellor to manage and organise the daily running of the Counselling caseload.

To be actively involved in caseload management and patient flow from point of referral to discharge.

To work alongside the Lead Adult Counsellor to support and supervise the team of volunteer Adult Counsellors on a day to day basis, being an accessible point of contact.

To support other members of the wider Hospice team, including both staff and volunteers, enhancing morale.

To work and support the Lead Adult Counsellor with the planning and organisation of various events for bereaved families, which may involve working outside normal working hours, for example the Celebration of Life service.

To demonstrate proficient IT skills in order to maintain and develop data collection and reporting.

To support local audit and evaluation of the counselling and bereavement service, assisting with any improvement plans that might be identified.

To take a proactive approach towards service development, using initiative and creativity to implement new ideas and ways of working, where agreed with the Lead Counsellor and deemed to be of benefit to patients, staff and the organisation.

To cover/deputise for the Lead Counsellor during periods of absence

Organisational

To demonstrate on a day to day basis the organisational values of the Hospice, acting as a role model to others.

To work in accordance with all Hospice policies and procedures.

To maintain confidentiality and safe data handling at all times. The unauthorised use of, or disclosure of client, staff or other personal information is a dismissible offence.

Employees and volunteers have a duty to protect and safeguard the health and well being of children and vulnerable adults at all times, adhering to Hospice policy and undertaking all required training at a frequency outlined by the Human Resources department.

To support the organisation to ensure that all clinical staff and clinical volunteers are appropriately supported and equipped to provide emotional support to those in need.

To undertake administrative tasks for the purpose of your role and utilise volunteer support as appropriate.

To work in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework or other appropriate/relevant regulatory bodies Professional Code of Conduct, maintaining professional requirements to comply with registration requirements.

To participate in the Hospice appraisal process, responsible for complying with mutually agreed personal objectives.

To raise any areas of risk or concern in accordance with hospice policy, including incident reporting.

To be involved with the wider organisational aspects of the hospice, such as promotion of the charity and its services. This may include representing the hospice at certain key events, where support may be required.

Educational:

To adhere to all statutory and mandatory training requirements as designated by the organisation.

To be responsible for your own Continuous Professional Development (CPD).

To attend and participate in learning and development opportunities as deemed mutually beneficial for both yourself and the organisation.

To keep abreast of current policy and key developments in palliative, end of life and bereavement care, both locally and nationally.

To be prepared to teach and share knowledge with the wider teams, within own scope of confidence and competence, and with support from other team members.

To be involved in the induction programmes for new volunteers and staff members.

General:

To maintain Registered Membership of, and act within the legal, statutory and ethical rules of the BACP or other affiliated professional body.

To undertake any other duties commensurate with the post and as requested by the Lead Counsellor & Head of Clinical Services.

• To participate in the annual appraisal programme.
• Adhere to all Hospice policies and procedures.
• Maintain high professional standards and continuing professional development.
• Complete mandatory and relevant training as identified with the line manager.
• Promote the work of the Hospice, reflecting the vision and values.
• To undertake any other duties commensurate with the post and as requested by the line manager or Head of Clinical Services.

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of 1 year post qualification experience in counselling adults
• Minimum of 100 supervised hours post qualification
• Participation in ongoing supervision on a monthly basis.
• Good IT skills, including Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Ability to organise work working both autonomously and part of a team. Experience of having worked as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to plan and develop programmes of emotional care and interventions.
• Ability to reflect and adapt practice to suit the individual clients needs.
• To advocate professionally on behalf of patients
• Ability to support other members of staff and volunteers.
• Some experience of having provided training.
• Ability to identify risks and risk management
• Ability and willingness to participate within service development.
• Ability to motivate others
• Effective time management skills

Desirable

• Experience of working within a voluntary organisation
• Experience of facilitating small groups
• Experience of working with those affected by life limiting/terminal illnesses and experiencing loss, whether patients directly, their carers or loved ones, providing counselling input.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in Counselling or equivalent, such as Level 5 Diploma in Counselling recognised by BACP/UKCP
• Evidence of ongoing CPD
• Registered member of BACP or other relevant/recognised body

Desirable

• Relevant recognised professional/clinical qualifications relating to bereavement and psychological and emotional care

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding and awareness of a range of therapeutic interventions and techniques
• Understanding of the theories and best practice relating to loss and bereavement
• Understanding of trauma and how it affects bereavement
• Excellent understanding and application of caseload management skills.
• Excellent knowledge surrounding the safeguarding of patients.
• Ability and confidence to apply and use own initiative
• An ethos of being committed to the teaching and support of others.
• An ability to understand, interpret and put into practice policies and relevant frameworks in day to day practice

Desirable

• Specialist training in loss and bereavement interventions and techniques
• Training in the effects and risk of trauma in bereavement responses.

Communication Skills

Essential

• Excellent listening and communication skills across all therapeutic forms, including verbal and non verbal.
• Ability to work empathetically, interpret and work sensitively with a range of potentially complex and stressful issues.
• Ability and confident to communicate information and risk effectively with MDT staff, across all levels as appropriate and required.
• To demonstrate an enthusiastic, approachable and friendly manner.
• Excellent and effective written communication.
• Good presentation and teaching skills

Personal Qualities

Essential

• To be motivated, self-driven and enthusiastic
• To be a team player whilst also confident to work autonomously
• To be able to work under pressure, demonstrating a problem solving approach with creativity and employing initiative
• An ability to understand and work with conflict.
• To adopt an enabling and empowering approach.
• An ability to appreciate, understand and value diversity in a non-judgemental manner
• To be organised and reliable
• Ability to identify own learning needs and interests. To develop ones self and the counselling role utilising supervision, training and other forms of professional development.
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance.
• Demonstrate personal insight and the ability to cope with personal emotions in distressing situations
• Willingness to develop collaborative working with other provider groups
• Commitment to the work and values of The Shakespeare Hospice
• Current Driving License and use of car for business purposes.
• To have some flexibility towards service requirements which on occasion may require working outside of standard hours.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).