Job summary
We are seeking a qualified counsellor to be part of an established Counselling & Emotional Support Service, based within the Wellbeing Centre at the Dougie Mac Adults site.
Hours: Monday - Friday 9.00 am -5.00pm, flexible working and some evening work required
Salary: £30,000 - £35,000 (depending on skills, experience & knowledge)
The role will require a professional affiliation to a membership body (e.g. BACP, NCPS). The role will require a DBS check - which would be processed and paid for by the Hospice. Full driving licence and access to own vehicle is desirable.
Main duties of the job
Working within an established Counselling and Emotional Support Service, the role involves providing counselling and emotional support to clients that can include patients, carers and relatives including children and young people supported by the Douglas Macmillan Hospice. These activities include assessment, formulation, and the delivery of therapies, alongside the provision of consultation and training to the wider hospice team.
The post-holder will plan and organise their work schedule and tasks, having responsibility for managerial and clerical duties as the role demands.
The post-holder will be responsible for their own professional actions and decision-making and for working within professional ethical framework and Hospice policies. In common with all counsellors the post-holder will receive regular external clinical supervision in accordance with good practice guidelines.
Due to the nature of the post and our close work with the issues of death and dying, personal resilience and an understanding of your capacity to engage, and to create a therapeutic relationship with clients is key in the sustainability of the work required for this post.
About us
Dougie Mac is an open-culture organisation, underpinned by clear strategic aims, vision and values. By joining Dougie Mac, you will be part of a dedicated team of professionals who are committed to delivering person-led, responsive and cost effective services of the highest quality. Staff at Dougie Mac are well-motivated, with professional development pathways, and given opportunities to be reflective in their roles through supervision and reflective practice.
Dougie Mac has been named one of the UKs Best Charities to Work For compiled by independent employee engagement specialists, Best Companies.
The prestigious title was awarded by the Best Companies 2024 Accreditation which also gave Dougie Mac a three star rating the highest possible ranking meaning that the hospice is now classed as a World-Class Organisation to work for.
The Hospice offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including a contributory pension scheme, generous holiday allowance, funded study, free parking, Paycare and much more.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
1. To provide a counselling service in palliative and bereavement care to clients.
2. To carry an independent caseload of clients and deliver counselling to individuals, couples and groups who are experiencing emotional distress as a result of life events and experiences.
3. To provide the initial assessments of clients presenting with multiple and complex difficulties, referring on to more specialist services where appropriate.
4. To formulate the clients issues based on the information and perspectives gathered during the assessment and drawing on psychological theory and research and select appropriate counselling interventions/strategies to support clients.
5. To communicate directly with clients and other healthcare professionals, complex and potentially emotive information regarding the patients difficulties and treatment, subject to ethical boundaries of confidentiality.
6. To undertake continual risk assessment and risk management for all clients and to provide support to volunteer counsellors and student counsellors when risk is identified.
7. To be responsible for making complex clinical judgements in the management of waiting lists, including the allocation of individual cases for assessment.
8. To collaborate and consult with the wider multi-disciplinary team with regards to the care and treatment of patients and their families, and to provide advice to such staff on a consultancy basis regarding the treatment of patients.
9. To utilise counselling skills across a broad range of mental health problems and to adapt therapeutic input accordingly.
10. To plan, develop and coordinate therapeutic group programmes and support groups within the Hospice setting.
11. To communicate psychological assessments and advice to clients and staff in a skilled and sensitive manner.
12. To provide timely written assessment/notes on all clients seen and other relevant reports as appropriate.
13. To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients.
14. To have awareness of NICE guidelines and appropriate advances in research and outcome data of counselling and therapeutic approaches.
15. To display and maintain personal and emotional resilience in carrying out difficult/multiple complex duties and demands of the post.
16. To undertake regular clinical supervision.
17. To plan and deliver bi-monthly training reflective practice workshops for volunteer counsellors and student counsellors in collaboration with counselling team.
18. To coordinate and deliver training to staff on a variety of topics relating to psychological support and interventions. Requiring pre-planning, organisational skills and the delivery of training to varied audiences both internally and externally.
19. To contribute to the teaching of psychological interventions, personal and professional development and reflective practice to volunteer counsellors and student counsellors.
20. To develop and effectively manage professional relationships with local universities and counselling programmes to enhance the volunteer contribution within the Hospice.
21. To provide training and ongoing advice and guidance to both the volunteer counsellors and student counsellors of the Counselling and Emotional Support service.
22. Management, Recruitment, Policy and Service Development.
23. To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the teams operational policies and services, using professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit.
24. To participate in multidisciplinary meetings concerned with the delivery and development of clinical services.
25. To participate as appropriate in staff recruitment, both in the short-listing process and as a member of interview panel for student counsellors.
26. To support the day to day running and management of the service by identifying service gaps and developing strategies to improve service delivery and outcomes.
27. In consultation with the Wellbeing Team Manager, to be a member of appropriate committees.
Professional Development
28. To receive regular clinical supervision from an accredited supervisor/therapist and where appropriate, other senior professional colleagues.
29. To partake and identify activities related to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and to gain wider post-qualification experience.
30. To participate in regular appraisals with the Wellbeing Team Manager, including the operation of a Personal Development Plan.
31. To undertake CPD activities as are required to maintain and enhance clinical skills necessary for the delivery of high quality counselling services.
General
32. To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues that are relevant to working in palliative care.
33. To adhere at all times to the ethical standards laid down by the BACP or equivalent appropriate professional body. Clinical practice will then be initiated and developed within these guidelines.
34. To exercise the highest standards of client record keeping and the practice of professional self-governance in accordance with the professional code of practice in one or more of the appropriate registering body alongside awareness of and adherence to Douglas Macmillan Hospice policies and procedures.
35. To work in an autonomous manner, being responsible for managing and prioritising own workload while having recourse to other professionals for guidance. This may involve initiating and implementing a range of activities at any one time, some of which will be complex and entail liaising with other professionals.
36. To appropriately manage clinical risk (e.g. direct verbal/physical aggression) and to have appropriate knowledge to take action regarding safeguarding adults and children when and if it arises during clinical practice.
37. In consultation with the Wellbeing Team Manager, to provide guidance and support to the volunteer counsellors and student counsellors when client risk is identified.
38. To conduct home visits if required, as part of clinical work.
39. Some out of hours working will be necessary in carrying out the duties of the post.
40. To provide client-centred, enablement-focused support to each individual, supporting them to achieve their goals and engage in a treatment/support programme to work towards mutually agreed goals, with particular emphasis on adaptation to illness and developing self-management strategies.
41. To work as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team, ensuring that the needs of patients and carers are identified within a holistic framework, fostering an interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation.
42. Attend mandatory training on principles and core elements of Rehabilitative Palliative Care.
43. Provide evidence of Rehabilitative Palliative Care practice in appraisal, relevant to role and responsibilities.
44. The post holder is expected to foster excellent working relationships with all service recipients, staff, visitors, volunteers and donors.
45. To act at all times in a professional manner, respecting the needs of colleagues and co-operating to maintain a harmonious working environment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
1. To provide a counselling service in palliative and bereavement care to clients.
2. To carry an independent caseload of clients and deliver counselling to individuals, couples and groups who are experiencing emotional distress as a result of life events and experiences.
3. To provide the initial assessments of clients presenting with multiple and complex difficulties, referring on to more specialist services where appropriate.
4. To formulate the clients issues based on the information and perspectives gathered during the assessment and drawing on psychological theory and research and select appropriate counselling interventions/strategies to support clients.
5. To communicate directly with clients and other healthcare professionals, complex and potentially emotive information regarding the patients difficulties and treatment, subject to ethical boundaries of confidentiality.
6. To undertake continual risk assessment and risk management for all clients and to provide support to volunteer counsellors and student counsellors when risk is identified.
7. To be responsible for making complex clinical judgements in the management of waiting lists, including the allocation of individual cases for assessment.
8. To collaborate and consult with the wider multi-disciplinary team with regards to the care and treatment of patients and their families, and to provide advice to such staff on a consultancy basis regarding the treatment of patients.
9. To utilise counselling skills across a broad range of mental health problems and to adapt therapeutic input accordingly.
10. To plan, develop and coordinate therapeutic group programmes and support groups within the Hospice setting.
11. To communicate psychological assessments and advice to clients and staff in a skilled and sensitive manner.
12. To provide timely written assessment/notes on all clients seen and other relevant reports as appropriate.
13. To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients.
14. To have awareness of NICE guidelines and appropriate advances in research and outcome data of counselling and therapeutic approaches.
15. To display and maintain personal and emotional resilience in carrying out difficult/multiple complex duties and demands of the post.
16. To undertake regular clinical supervision.
17. To plan and deliver bi-monthly training reflective practice workshops for volunteer counsellors and student counsellors in collaboration with counselling team.
18. To coordinate and deliver training to staff on a variety of topics relating to psychological support and interventions. Requiring pre-planning, organisational skills and the delivery of training to varied audiences both internally and externally.
19. To contribute to the teaching of psychological interventions, personal and professional development and reflective practice to volunteer counsellors and student counsellors.
20. To develop and effectively manage professional relationships with local universities and counselling programmes to enhance the volunteer contribution within the Hospice.
21. To provide training and ongoing advice and guidance to both the volunteer counsellors and student counsellors of the Counselling and Emotional Support service.
22. Management, Recruitment, Policy and Service Development.
23. To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the teams operational policies and services, using professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit.
24. To participate in multidisciplinary meetings concerned with the delivery and development of clinical services.
25. To participate as appropriate in staff recruitment, both in the short-listing process and as a member of interview panel for student counsellors.
26. To support the day to day running and management of the service by identifying service gaps and developing strategies to improve service delivery and outcomes.
27. In consultation with the Wellbeing Team Manager, to be a member of appropriate committees.
Professional Development
28. To receive regular clinical supervision from an accredited supervisor/therapist and where appropriate, other senior professional colleagues.
29. To partake and identify activities related to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and to gain wider post-qualification experience.
30. To participate in regular appraisals with the Wellbeing Team Manager, including the operation of a Personal Development Plan.
31. To undertake CPD activities as are required to maintain and enhance clinical skills necessary for the delivery of high quality counselling services.
General
32. To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues that are relevant to working in palliative care.
33. To adhere at all times to the ethical standards laid down by the BACP or equivalent appropriate professional body. Clinical practice will then be initiated and developed within these guidelines.
34. To exercise the highest standards of client record keeping and the practice of professional self-governance in accordance with the professional code of practice in one or more of the appropriate registering body alongside awareness of and adherence to Douglas Macmillan Hospice policies and procedures.
35. To work in an autonomous manner, being responsible for managing and prioritising own workload while having recourse to other professionals for guidance. This may involve initiating and implementing a range of activities at any one time, some of which will be complex and entail liaising with other professionals.
36. To appropriately manage clinical risk (e.g. direct verbal/physical aggression) and to have appropriate knowledge to take action regarding safeguarding adults and children when and if it arises during clinical practice.
37. In consultation with the Wellbeing Team Manager, to provide guidance and support to the volunteer counsellors and student counsellors when client risk is identified.
38. To conduct home visits if required, as part of clinical work.
39. Some out of hours working will be necessary in carrying out the duties of the post.
40. To provide client-centred, enablement-focused support to each individual, supporting them to achieve their goals and engage in a treatment/support programme to work towards mutually agreed goals, with particular emphasis on adaptation to illness and developing self-management strategies.
41. To work as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team, ensuring that the needs of patients and carers are identified within a holistic framework, fostering an interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation.
42. Attend mandatory training on principles and core elements of Rehabilitative Palliative Care.
43. Provide evidence of Rehabilitative Palliative Care practice in appraisal, relevant to role and responsibilities.
44. The post holder is expected to foster excellent working relationships with all service recipients, staff, visitors, volunteers and donors.
45. To act at all times in a professional manner, respecting the needs of colleagues and co-operating to maintain a harmonious working environment.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post-graduate diploma/advanced diploma in a recognised and appropriate psychological therapy
- Registered with a recognised and appropriate therapy organisation, e.g. BABCP, BACP, UKCP
- Training in Integrative psychological interventions, e.g. person centred, CBT, Mindfulness
Desirable
- Masters level qualification in Counselling Psychology/Clinical Psychology
Experience
Essential
- Experience of delivery of complex initial client assessments
- Experience and understanding social and systemic issues
- Experience of working in family dynamics and addressing complex issues through the use of assessment tools
- Experience of the use of outcome measures to enhance service delivery
- An awareness of delivering psychological therapy from an integrative and multi-modal approach
Desirable
- Experience of working in a generic mental health setting working with a wide range of mental health issues including loss
- Experience of working with children and young people
- Experience of psychometric measures and the ability to relay these to clients to build on the formulation
- Previous experience of working in a Palliative Care setting
- Experience in working with bereavement and loss
- Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
- Experience in standard setting and audit
- Experience of working with volunteers
- Experience of signposting and awareness of other agencies that are available to refer on to and/or that may be appropriate to enhance/ contribute to the support of the client
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Sound knowledge of current legislation and guidelines extending to working with vulnerable adults, child protection issues, safeguarding and evidence based interventions
- Ability to demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Demonstrate the ability to integrate into existing established team
- IT skills including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint)
- Ability to provide training, emotional support and general guidance to the wider multi-disciplinary team
- Ability to work effectively on own initiative and also to engage actively in a multi-disciplinary team environment
- Must be committed to teaching
- Able and willing to work flexibly at such times as needed to meet the requirements of the service
- Needs to possess a full driving licence and have access to a car
- Dress in a manner that conforms to accepted formal codes of business dress
Desirable
- Broad knowledge of research techniques and ability to incorporate this into the service
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post-graduate diploma/advanced diploma in a recognised and appropriate psychological therapy
- Registered with a recognised and appropriate therapy organisation, e.g. BABCP, BACP, UKCP
- Training in Integrative psychological interventions, e.g. person centred, CBT, Mindfulness
Desirable
- Masters level qualification in Counselling Psychology/Clinical Psychology
Experience
Essential
- Experience of delivery of complex initial client assessments
- Experience and understanding social and systemic issues
- Experience of working in family dynamics and addressing complex issues through the use of assessment tools
- Experience of the use of outcome measures to enhance service delivery
- An awareness of delivering psychological therapy from an integrative and multi-modal approach
Desirable
- Experience of working in a generic mental health setting working with a wide range of mental health issues including loss
- Experience of working with children and young people
- Experience of psychometric measures and the ability to relay these to clients to build on the formulation
- Previous experience of working in a Palliative Care setting
- Experience in working with bereavement and loss
- Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team
- Experience in standard setting and audit
- Experience of working with volunteers
- Experience of signposting and awareness of other agencies that are available to refer on to and/or that may be appropriate to enhance/ contribute to the support of the client
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Sound knowledge of current legislation and guidelines extending to working with vulnerable adults, child protection issues, safeguarding and evidence based interventions
- Ability to demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Demonstrate the ability to integrate into existing established team
- IT skills including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint)
- Ability to provide training, emotional support and general guidance to the wider multi-disciplinary team
- Ability to work effectively on own initiative and also to engage actively in a multi-disciplinary team environment
- Must be committed to teaching
- Able and willing to work flexibly at such times as needed to meet the requirements of the service
- Needs to possess a full driving licence and have access to a car
- Dress in a manner that conforms to accepted formal codes of business dress
Desirable
- Broad knowledge of research techniques and ability to incorporate this into the service
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).
Additional information
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).
