Bereavement Counsellor

Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY PRIORITIES

To provide bereavement counselling, support and information for individuals, families and carers

To work across all St Helena directorates and primarily within a community setting

To work with external health, social care services, other professional and voluntary organisations where required

Identify and provide supervision, support and training to volunteers (Bereavement Visitors), students and St Helena staff

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical

To initially assess individuals, families and carers who present with complex needs.

Assess and interpret the impact of loss and grief on individuals, and facilitate the appropriate use of support, counselling or group work

To provide bereavement counselling to individuals, families and carers

To provide support and information to individuals, families and carers

Refer individuals, families and carers on to services both within St Helena and external organisations as required.

To identify risk to vulnerable clients and report concerns to line manager

To therapeutically explore beliefs and values which underlie family systems and actions

To help individuals, families and carers resolve difficulties in communication

To use reflective practice and counselling supervision to examine client case load, therapeutic work and implications

To use reflective practice and counselling supervision to examine self in the work place, counsellor wellbeing and effective practice

Develop, participate in and lead group work as appropriate

Staff are encouraged to participate in the Grief support Programme including leading groups where applicable

Identify and provide supervision, support and training to volunteers (Bereavement Visitors), students and St Helena staff

To take part in and provide specialist training programmes and education courses for both St Helena and external groups as required

Facilitate meetings where required

Ensure you follow all policies and procedures in relation to prevention and infection control

1. All of the above activities are governed by the operational policies, Standing Financial Instructions, policies and procedures and standards of St Helena as well as legislation and professional standards and guidelines.

2. All employees must comply with St Helenas Equal Opportunity Policy and must not discriminate on the grounds of sex, colour, race, ethnic, or national origins, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

3. Employees have a responsibility to themselves and others in relation to managing risk, health and safety and will be required to work within the policies and procedures laid down by St Helena. All staff have a responsibility to access occupational health, other staff support services and/or any relevant others in times of need and advice.

4. All employees have the right to work in an environment which is safe and to be protected from all forms of abuse, violence, harassment and undue stress. All employees are responsible for helping to ensure that individuals do not suffer harassment or bullying in any form. All employees will be personally accountable for their actions and behaviour in cases of complaint of harassment or bullying.

5. St Helena is a smoke free organisation. Smoking is not allowed in any St Helena premises. If you would like help to give up smoking you should contact your GP or call the NHS Stop Smoking Help Line.

Be aware of own development needs and take appropriate action.

Keep updated of evidence based practice and government policies related to care. Act as an effective role model at all times.

To maintain personal professional status, ensuring that the requirements laid down by the relevant professional body for registration are compliant.

Exercise professional accountability as guided by the relevant professional body and maintained in accordance with the policies of the department and St Helena.

The post holder will be appraised on an annual basis and the process will include a review of the past years performance, setting of aims and objectives for the coming year and identification of educational needs.

All staff will undertake such training as is necessary to perform the duties allocated and any mandatory requirements of St Helena. This will include mandatory training in line with your job role

St Helena aims towards maintaining the goodwill and confidence of its own staff and of the general public. To assist in achieving the objective it is essential that at all times, employees carry out their duties in a courteous and sympathetic manner.

Your attention is drawn to the confidential nature of information collected and used throughout the NHS. The unauthorised use or disclosure of patient, staff or other personal information is a dismissible offence. The unauthorised disclosure of information could also result in a prosecution for an offence, or action for civil damaged, under GDPR.

All St Helena employees are required to act in such a way that at all times safeguards (and promotes) the health and well-being of children and vulnerable adults. Familiarisation with and adherence to St Helena safeguarding policies is an essential requirement of all employees as is participation in related mandatory/statutory training.

St Helenas core values and behaviours will be embedded in our recruitment, training and development review and decision making process

Value

Behaviour

Respect

Always considering others

Working together

Finding strength in teamwork

Being passionate about hospice care

Caring in all that we do and provide

Showing appreciation for all

A thank you matters

Valuing conversation

Taking the time to be excellent communicators

This job description is not an exhaustive document but is a reflection of the current position. Details and emphasis may change in line with service needs and after consultation with the post holder.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ATTIRIBUTE

ESSENTIAL

DESIRABLE

Qualifications

Diploma in counselling plus significant post qualification experience.

Having achieved or working towards B.A.C.P. or other professional body

accreditation

Supervision qualification

Experience

Experience of working within a bereavement setting.

Participation in ongoing clinical supervision to the appropriate level outlined by

your professional body.

Experience of supervising

Experience of training

Skills & Knowledge

Understanding and awareness of a range of therapeutic interventions and techniques.

Understanding of the theories relating to loss and bereavement

Specialist training in loss and bereavement interventions and techniques

Communication

Ability to communicate information and risk to other health professionals, team members, families and carers.

Ability to work empathically, interpret and work sensitively with a range of complex and painful issues.

Ability to work with a potentially hostile client, families and carers.

Ability to communicate both verbally and written at all

levels

Qualities

Confidence to participate in inter agency and inter disciplinary team meetings.

Ability to utilise and develop themselves and their counselling role using clinical supervision, training and other forms of professional development.

Ability to provide training, support and supervision to volunteers, staff and external agencies.

Ability to work autonomously and manage own caseload.

Car owner and driver.

Ability to appreciate, understand and value diversity in a non judgmental manner.

Ability to maintain confidential

and ethical boundaries at all times.

A problem solver and decision maker.

Ability to work under pressure.

Ability to work autonomously but also a team player who recognises the value of inter- disciplinary team working.

Ability to understand and work with conflict.

Ability to work creatively,

flexibly and with initiative at different times.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Diploma in counselling plus significant post qualification experience.
• Having achieved or working towards B.A.C.P. or other professional body
• accreditation

Desirable

• Supervision qualification

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working within a bereavement setting.
• Participation in ongoing clinical supervision to the appropriate level outlined by
• your professional body.

Desirable

• Experience of supervising
• Experience of training

UK Registration

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

Employer details

Employer name

St Helena Hospice

Address

Myland Hall

Barncroft Close

Colchester

Essex

CO4 9JU

Employer's website

https://www.sthelena.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)