Job summary
The Child Bereavement Specialist will work within the Meerkats Team, which is managed by the Child Bereavement Manager, who is responsible to the Child Bereavement Lead. The role is based at Rowans Hospice, Purbrook.
The Child Bereavement Specialist provides specialist pre and post bereavement support to children and young people up to the age of 18 who have a significant adult with a life limiting illness or who have died.
The role will continue development and delivery of the Meerkats service at Rowans Hospice, delivering high quality, developmentally appropriate psychosocial assessments and therapeutic interventions within the adult hospice setting, recognising the unique impact of life limiting illness and bereavement on children and families. You will work collaboratively with hospice colleagues and external partners to ensure childrens needs are identified early and responded to appropriately.
Main duties of the job
Key Responsibilitiesinclude (but not limited to see Job Description for further information)
- Undertake specialist psychosocial assessments of children, young people and families affected by serious illness or bereavement, demonstratingrespectfor each childs developmental stage and lived experience
- Identify emotional and psychosocial needs and support families in responding to these withhonestyand clarity
- Provide developmentally appropriate pre and post bereavement support through individual sessions, family guidance and group work
- Provide guidance to parents, carers and other adults supporting children through illness and bereavement, ensuring they feelvaluedand informed
- Maintain an active clinical caseload and prioritise referrals according to clinical need and service capacity
- Support children experiencing anticipatory grief when a significant adult has a life limiting illness
- Provide post bereavement support to children and families following the death of a significant adult
- Facilitate group support programmes for children and young people where appropriate
- Respond to crisis situations involving families when required, acting withTrustand calm professionalism.
About us
Rowans Hospice is a charity that provides free care and support to adults and their families living in the Portsmouth and South-East Hampshire region who have a life-limiting illness. Established in 1994, our income is generated by ongoing support of the local community, donations, legacies, fundraising and through our retail shops.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Undertake specialist psychosocial assessments of children, young people and families affected by serious illness or bereavement, demonstratingrespectfor each childs developmental stage and lived experience
- Identify emotional and psychosocial needs and support families in responding to these withhonestyand clarity
- Provide developmentally appropriate pre and post bereavement support through individual sessions, family guidance and group work
- Provide guidance to parents, carers and other adults supporting children through illness and bereavement, ensuring they feelvaluedand informed
- Maintain an active clinical caseload and prioritise referrals according to clinical need and service capacity
- Support children experiencing anticipatory grief when a significant adult has a life limiting illness
- Provide post bereavement support to children and families following the death of a significant adult
- Facilitate group support programmes for children and young people where appropriate
- Respond to crisis situations involving families when required, acting withTrustand calm professionalism.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Undertake specialist psychosocial assessments of children, young people and families affected by serious illness or bereavement, demonstratingrespectfor each childs developmental stage and lived experience
- Identify emotional and psychosocial needs and support families in responding to these withhonestyand clarity
- Provide developmentally appropriate pre and post bereavement support through individual sessions, family guidance and group work
- Provide guidance to parents, carers and other adults supporting children through illness and bereavement, ensuring they feelvaluedand informed
- Maintain an active clinical caseload and prioritise referrals according to clinical need and service capacity
- Support children experiencing anticipatory grief when a significant adult has a life limiting illness
- Provide post bereavement support to children and families following the death of a significant adult
- Facilitate group support programmes for children and young people where appropriate
- Respond to crisis situations involving families when required, acting withTrustand calm professionalism.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional qualification at Diploma or Degree level in Social Work, Nursing, Counselling, Psychotherapy or a related discipline.
- Relevant professional registration where applicable.
Desirable
- Post qualifying training in bereavement, trauma or child mental health.
Experience
Essential
- Post qualifying experience working therapeutically with children, young people and families.
- Experience of managing an independent caseload.
- Experience of multi-agency working.
- Ability to work autonomously within professional boundaries
Desirable
- Experience working within palliative care, hospice or bereavement services.
- Experience delivering group work with children and young people.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional qualification at Diploma or Degree level in Social Work, Nursing, Counselling, Psychotherapy or a related discipline.
- Relevant professional registration where applicable.
Desirable
- Post qualifying training in bereavement, trauma or child mental health.
Experience
Essential
- Post qualifying experience working therapeutically with children, young people and families.
- Experience of managing an independent caseload.
- Experience of multi-agency working.
- Ability to work autonomously within professional boundaries
Desirable
- Experience working within palliative care, hospice or bereavement services.
- Experience delivering group work with children and young people.
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.
