Job summary
University Hospitals Dorset have an exiting opportunity to join the Patient and Family Support Team at the Macmillan Unit as a counsellor, with a focus on Children and Families.
Base Location: Christchurch Hospital - Macmillan unit
Interview Date: 24th March 2025
Main duties of the job
- The counsellor works as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing support and counselling to patients, their partners, children and families who have been referred to the Specialist Palliative Care Team.
- The counsellor also provides pre and post-bereavement support and counselling.
- The postholder will be part of the implementation of the psychological support service in line with NICE Guidance on Cancer Care Services, Improving Supportive and Palliative Care for Adults.
About us
Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues.
UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme.
This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have about this at interview.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Completed a BACP approved Diploma in Counselling.
- Accreditation with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
Desirable
- Training in Clinical Supervision
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as a qualified counsellor in the NHS or similar setting, with a wide variety of clients including children and young people presenting with mild to moderate levels of distress
- Experience in exercising clinical responsibility for clients' emotional care and treatment including maintaining confidentiality
- Experience of supporting people through loss and bereavement
- Experience of facilitating/leading groups
Desirable
- Experience in working with people diagnosed with cancer, people under palliative care services, and/or their families
- Experience of delivering training
Skills
Essential
- Highly developed interpersonal skills, including listening, empathy and advocacy.
- Good planning and organisational skills
- Ability to manage own caseload and time
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Completed a BACP approved Diploma in Counselling.
- Accreditation with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
Desirable
- Training in Clinical Supervision
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as a qualified counsellor in the NHS or similar setting, with a wide variety of clients including children and young people presenting with mild to moderate levels of distress
- Experience in exercising clinical responsibility for clients' emotional care and treatment including maintaining confidentiality
- Experience of supporting people through loss and bereavement
- Experience of facilitating/leading groups
Desirable
- Experience in working with people diagnosed with cancer, people under palliative care services, and/or their families
- Experience of delivering training
Skills
Essential
- Highly developed interpersonal skills, including listening, empathy and advocacy.
- Good planning and organisational skills
- Ability to manage own caseload and time
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
