Sibling Worker

Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

We are now looking for two Sibling Workers to join our growing Family Services Teams in our Birmingham and Worcester Hospices. The Sibling Worker will work with siblings of children in our care to ensure that they receive therapeutic-based support both before and after the death of their brother or sister. These are new vacancies following an expansion of the service.

As a Sibling Worker, you will spend time with siblings to assess their needs and plan and review the support that they need. Siblings often have worries and concerns that they may not voice, so you will give them a safe space to discuss their feelings. You’ll provide pre and post bereavement support individually or in groups, taking responsibility for co-ordinating and delivering groups, workshops and occasional residential weekends.

The successful candidates will contribute to the development of sibling services, assisting in the delivery of a range of training programmes, participation in outreach work and contribution to service evaluation. You will provide a link between the community and Acorns, positively representing the sibling service to families and other professionals and work with the Marketing Team to promote the work of the team.

Main duties of the job

You will be professionally qualified to degree level in a field such as Social Work, Community Nursing, Counselling or Play Therapy. You will have experience of direct work with children, managing a caseload, providing therapeutic based support and knowledge of family systems.

You’ll need to be able to travel around the Acorns region independently and some evening and weekend work will be required to meet the needs of siblings.

About us

Our Hospice Family Services Teams are growing, so that we can provide much needed support to the families when they need us most. It is estimated that for every child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition, five family members will be directly impacted. Our aim at Acorns is to help families feel equipped to cope at every stage of their child’s life with dedicated teams offering psychological, emotional and practical support.

£28,749 per annum, plus allowances (additional £2,300 per annum)
37.5 hours per week
Hospice-based (B29 6HZ or WR5 3EZ) with travel
Employee discounts from leading retailers
Employee gym discount scheme
Bike-to-Work scheme
Generous contribution to group personal pension plan or continuation of current NHS pension scheme
NHS pension scheme life assurance or Acorns group life assurance scheme

Interviews will be held:

Birmingham: 17/05/2022

Worcester: 13/05/2022

Date posted

03 April 2022

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£28,749 to £31,049 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

B0025-CA-BHM-30

Job locations

Acorns Childrens Hospice Trust

103 Oak Tree Lane

Selly Oak

Birmingham

B29 6HZ

Acorns Childrens Hospice

350 Bath Road

Worcester

WR5 3EZ

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Undertake assessments of siblings’ needs working with both the sibling and their parents and carers, to identify desired outcomes, and planning and reviewing support accordingly in line with organisational policies and procedures.

2. Work to objectives, goals and plans of support as agreed with the Family Services Manager, ensuring these are reviewed in a timely manner.

3. Provide pre and post bereavement support on an individual and group basis according to assessed need.

4. Ensure good case management and keep detailed records on interventions and contacts with siblings and families.

5. Work closely with the other Sibling Workers to ensure the organisational objectives of the service are met.

6. Work closely with the Volunteer Service to identify and support the induction and training of volunteers with the necessary skills and experience.

7. Ensure that volunteers are involved in planning, briefings and evaluation and that they receive supervision as appropriate.

8. Take a lead responsibility for co-ordinating and delivering, closed and open therapeutic based groups, workshops, and on occasion, residential weekends according to the identified needs of the service.

9. Contribute to the development of the Sibling Service, assisting in the delivery of a range of training programmes to employees, volunteers and also through outreach work to other professionals and services as required.

10. Contribute to the evaluation of the service as required by the Family Service Manager.

11. Maintain a high standard of practice, ensuring competence through the acquisition of necessary skills and up-to-date knowledge in paediatric palliative care, loss and bereavement and therapeutic based support.

12. Participate in meetings as determined by the Family Service Manager.

13. Engage and consult service users in the ongoing development and evaluation of the sibling service

14. Work with the Marketing and Communications Department to promote the work of the Sibling Service.

15. Provide a positive link between the community and Acorns, representing the organisation and sibling service as required. This includes maintaining good communication between Acorns, the family and other professionals as appropriate.

16. Develop an awareness of and assist in mapping local and regional, resources and services.

17. Participate in research and development as required and to assist the Family Service Manager in the dissemination of learning throughout the organisation and regionally.

18. Actively participate in regular supervision and debriefs as required.

19. Ensure the Acorns database is correctly maintained with relevant and up-to-date information.

20. Attend Panel meetings on a regular basis or as agreed with the Family Service Manager.