Job summary
The role involves providing evidence based talking therapy for bereaved families.
The post holder will be involved in supporting the development of bereavement services counselling team, and providing psychotherapy for bereaved families, offering initial consultations, and evaluating the progress.
The post holder will offer advice and consultation in bereavement support to Trust staff in conjunction with the Bereavement service manager and taking part in appropriate training, and implementing of it in the clinical practice.
The post holder will work as part of the existing Bereavement Service establishing and maintaining relevant partner services links.
The post holder will also have an opportunity to gain training in grief work, undergo supervision under BACP guidelines.
Main duties of the job
1. To assist the Bereavement Service Manager in maintaining a professional advice and consultation service, in conjunction with all other relevant professionals, to provide information for patients, carers and professionals on all aspects of bereavement support and best practice in supporting bereaved families.
2. To provide psychotherapy to bereaved family members, which involve 50 minute sessions following BACP guidelines.
3. To participate in meetings within GOSH NHS Trust and contribute to relevant steering committees, groups and organisations outside GOSH, to further good practice in child death review and bereavement issues.
4. When required, to provide triage and assessment to establish needs, risks and safeguarding issues of bereaved families.
5. To signpost to other resources/support or support people with short term therapeutic interventions and facilitate discussions with other services/providers to ensure appropriate service meets their needs.
6. To flexibly deliver talking therapy via various modalities (telephone, video, face to face).
7. To demonstrate assertiveness and ability to maintain and manage professional boundaries.
8. With the Bereavement Service Manager, to facilitate relevant specific training requests within GOSH including contributing to induction for any GOSH staff.
About us
GOSH is committed to recruiting the best person for the job, based solely on their ability and individual merit as measured against the criteria for the role; through a process that is fair, open, consistent and free from bias and discrimination.
We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture where all staff are valued, respected and acknowledged. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability status or length of time spent unemployed.
We particularly welcome applications from BAME communities, people with disabilities and/or long-term health conditions and LGBT+ community members.
We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants and employees are treated fairly and consistently. We are proud to be accredited as a Disability Confident Employer, a member of Business Disability Forum and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.
We have active and Executive supported BAME, LGBT+ and Allies, Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions and Women's staff networks. Staff networks are employee-led groups formed around interests, issues and a common bond or background. Staff network members create a positive and inclusive work environment at Great Ormond Street Hospital by actively contributing to the Trust's mission, values and efforts specific to inclusion. All of our staff networks are open to any employee.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment/s below.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment/s below.
Person Specification
GOSH Culture and Values
Essential
- Our Always values
- Knowledge and understanding of diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
- Understanding of Diversity and Inclusion challenges in the workplace.
- Demonstrable contribution to advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
Academic/Professional Qualification/Training
Essential
- Educated to degree level and Counselling or psychotherapy Level 4 or higher
- Registration and membership of BACP or UKCP
- BACP or UKCP accredited
Desirable
- Continued professional development in trauma informed therapy for bereavement
- Training in counselling bereaved families
- Training in using the Adult Attitude to Grief Scale (AAG)
- Supervision qualification
Experience/Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working within bereavement services.
- A minimum of two years counselling experience within bereavement, using a range of evidence-based psychological techniques.
- Experience of leading groups for patients/carers/staff.
- Demonstrate understanding of psychological issues in bereavement and how these may present.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the impact bereavement can have on psychological/social wellbeing, and daily life activities such as a work and relationships.
- Experience of working with younger people in a counselling/health care setting.
Desirable
- Knowledge/experience of working with bereaved people including undertaking risk assessment.
- Experience of communicating complex psychological issues clearly to bereaved families and professionals.
- Knowledge of best practice and standards and latest evidence base for psychological therapies in bereavement.
- Experience working with the Child Death Review system.
- Experience of working with bereaved parents to use their lived experience in offering feedback and input into the bereavement services.
- Experience of providing bereavement training to other professionals.
- Experience of assisting with research.
Skills/Abilities
Essential
- Good verbal communication
- Ability to manage and contain high levels of emotional distress
- Ability to build relationship with a diverse range of individuals to foster trust
- Ability to maintain appropriate ethical boundaries in accordance with BACP guidelines
- Awareness of own personal issues around dying and bereavement and good self-reflective practice
- Good written communication skills and ability to maintain clear and concise personal process notes
- Good IT skills for word processing and data input.
- Good organisational skills, including ability to organise own time and caseload effectively including the management of referrals/waiting lists
- Ability to use own initiative and work independently
Person Specification
GOSH Culture and Values
Essential
- Our Always values
- Knowledge and understanding of diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
- Understanding of Diversity and Inclusion challenges in the workplace.
- Demonstrable contribution to advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
Academic/Professional Qualification/Training
Essential
- Educated to degree level and Counselling or psychotherapy Level 4 or higher
- Registration and membership of BACP or UKCP
- BACP or UKCP accredited
Desirable
- Continued professional development in trauma informed therapy for bereavement
- Training in counselling bereaved families
- Training in using the Adult Attitude to Grief Scale (AAG)
- Supervision qualification
Experience/Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working within bereavement services.
- A minimum of two years counselling experience within bereavement, using a range of evidence-based psychological techniques.
- Experience of leading groups for patients/carers/staff.
- Demonstrate understanding of psychological issues in bereavement and how these may present.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the impact bereavement can have on psychological/social wellbeing, and daily life activities such as a work and relationships.
- Experience of working with younger people in a counselling/health care setting.
Desirable
- Knowledge/experience of working with bereaved people including undertaking risk assessment.
- Experience of communicating complex psychological issues clearly to bereaved families and professionals.
- Knowledge of best practice and standards and latest evidence base for psychological therapies in bereavement.
- Experience working with the Child Death Review system.
- Experience of working with bereaved parents to use their lived experience in offering feedback and input into the bereavement services.
- Experience of providing bereavement training to other professionals.
- Experience of assisting with research.
Skills/Abilities
Essential
- Good verbal communication
- Ability to manage and contain high levels of emotional distress
- Ability to build relationship with a diverse range of individuals to foster trust
- Ability to maintain appropriate ethical boundaries in accordance with BACP guidelines
- Awareness of own personal issues around dying and bereavement and good self-reflective practice
- Good written communication skills and ability to maintain clear and concise personal process notes
- Good IT skills for word processing and data input.
- Good organisational skills, including ability to organise own time and caseload effectively including the management of referrals/waiting lists
- Ability to use own initiative and work independently
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Great Ormond Street
London
WC1N 3BH
Employer's website
https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
