Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to work within our vibrant Bereavement support team, working with bereaved relatives through telephone and face to face communication. We work closely with our colleagues in the "Learning from Deaths" team, so as to give the bereaved a seamless and supportive journey at the most difficult of times.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be working with the Lead Nurse to deliver and evaluate the Bereavement Support Service (BSS). The BSS is a key point of contact for patients' bereaved relatives, carers and significant others and offer an opportunity to talk about their bereavement, receive or be signposted to appropriate support organisations, discuss any unanswered questions about the patient's end of life experience and liaisewith clinical colleagues accordingly.
This is a challenging role which involves supporting the bereaved relatives of both adults and children (excluding Neonatal or Maternity Services) who have died either whilst under the care of UHL or having been recently discharged from one of our hospitals.
About us
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).
We have four primary goals:
- high-quality care for all,
- being a great place to work,
- partnerships for impact, and
- research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.
Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
- we are compassionate,
- we are proud,
- we are inclusive, and
- we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
http://www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/aboutus/work-for-us/current-vacancies/
Job description
Job responsibilities
To manage a caseload of bereaved relatives providing individualised support and advice;
Provision of preliminary contact, assessment and subsequent follow up, to include facilitation of face to face meetings with clinical teams, of relative/carers/relevant other of patients who have died within UHL
Provision of bereavement information and advice and general support to bereaved relatives, carers and significant others patients who have died in Leicesters hospitals, in close liaison with the clinical teams, Medical Examiner and the Bereavement Services team.
Assessment and recognition where relative, carers and significant others are struggling with their bereavement or loss in order to direct them to appropriate services.
Assist in establishing data collection processes for monitoring and evaluation of the Bereavement Support Service and ensure data collected is timely and accurate and meets appropriate information governance requirements;
Provision of data analysis, information and service outcome reports to support service review and development.
Delivery of education and awareness-raising of nursing, therapy and medical staff about the Bereavement Support Service, in order to comply with local requirements.
Be a role model and resource to clinical staff , through continued personal development and updating of knowledge and by consistently demonstrating empathyand compassion.
In collaboration with nursing and medical leads, assist the band 7 in leading on standardisation of bereavement follow up care across all 3 sites of UHL
Development of additional bereavement related information and guidance, as required, and make available across the trust;
Excellent communication, liaison and leadership skills are essential to ensure that the team consistently provide a compassionate and personalised service, in close liaison with the clinical teams, Bereavement Services and Medical Examiners Offices, Maternity and Neonatal bereavement support teams, and allied UHL and Community multi professional teams. Collecting and reporting feedback theming to support clinical practice, and act as role model and resource to clinical staff.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To manage a caseload of bereaved relatives providing individualised support and advice;
Provision of preliminary contact, assessment and subsequent follow up, to include facilitation of face to face meetings with clinical teams, of relative/carers/relevant other of patients who have died within UHL
Provision of bereavement information and advice and general support to bereaved relatives, carers and significant others patients who have died in Leicesters hospitals, in close liaison with the clinical teams, Medical Examiner and the Bereavement Services team.
Assessment and recognition where relative, carers and significant others are struggling with their bereavement or loss in order to direct them to appropriate services.
Assist in establishing data collection processes for monitoring and evaluation of the Bereavement Support Service and ensure data collected is timely and accurate and meets appropriate information governance requirements;
Provision of data analysis, information and service outcome reports to support service review and development.
Delivery of education and awareness-raising of nursing, therapy and medical staff about the Bereavement Support Service, in order to comply with local requirements.
Be a role model and resource to clinical staff , through continued personal development and updating of knowledge and by consistently demonstrating empathyand compassion.
In collaboration with nursing and medical leads, assist the band 7 in leading on standardisation of bereavement follow up care across all 3 sites of UHL
Development of additional bereavement related information and guidance, as required, and make available across the trust;
Excellent communication, liaison and leadership skills are essential to ensure that the team consistently provide a compassionate and personalised service, in close liaison with the clinical teams, Bereavement Services and Medical Examiners Offices, Maternity and Neonatal bereavement support teams, and allied UHL and Community multi professional teams. Collecting and reporting feedback theming to support clinical practice, and act as role model and resource to clinical staff.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Educated to degree level in a health care profession and Postgraduate qualification with postgraduate study, or working towards, evidence of ongoing CPD in a specialist clinical area
- Experience of working in a health care setting with multi-disciplinary teams across organisational boundaries
- To have an extensive understanding of medical terminology that enables interpretation of clinical information and informed discussions about causes/circumstances of death with bereaved families, clinicians, coroner and registration service staff.
Desirable
- Nursing Registration (Adults/General)
- Ward or Clinical Department Deputy Manager or Community Health Services Team Leader (or equivalent) or Clinical Nurse Specialist (or Allied Health Professional Equivalent)
Communication and relationship skills
Essential
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage at all levels including senior clinicians/coroners etc about sensitive issues.
- Highly evolved empathetic and self-awareness skills to deal with bereaved families who may have barriers to understanding information due to their grief or disability
- To have qualifications/skills in day-to-day operational/process management of a customer-facing service where users may have unpredictable and emotionally charged needs.
- Highly evolved telephone communication skills for dealing with emotionally charged and sensitive conversations with the bereaved, with the ability to pick up on verbal cues as to their current state of mind. The ability to engage in "active listening."
Desirable
- Practical experience of working with the bereaved or families at 'end of life.'
- Experience of clinical 'advice and guidance' or 'triaging'
- Experience of engaging with patients / families in difficult and sensitive conversations; face to face and via telephone. Ability to show active listening skills.
Analytical and Judgement skills
Essential
- Ability to review and interpret clinical records (to include diagnostic tests, medication charts and clinical assessments/observations) and judge which information relevant to supporting the bereaved when they have questions.
Desirable
- Experience of facilitating / attending meetings with patients and their significant others.
Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Computer literate to use multiple IT software (To include Microsoft Word, Excel), for accurately updating confidential information in relation to contact with the bereaved and where necessary to assist in the production of reports related to feedback from the bereaved
- The ability to engage with patients and relatives where end of Life care is being delivered, in a sensitive and empathetic manner.
Desirable
- Involvement in multi-disciplinary / multi-agency working.
- Practical experience of working with the bereaved or families at 'end of life.'
Planning and Organisation
Essential
- Experience of planning a broad programme of activities and prioritising work to meet deadlines.
- Ability to organise work around changeable competing demands and fluctuating workloads.
- Ability to maintain a calm manner in a range of challenging and emotive circumstances
Desirable
- The ability to work in a highly pressurised, unpredictable environment where bereavement care is central to the service delivery.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Educated to degree level in a health care profession and Postgraduate qualification with postgraduate study, or working towards, evidence of ongoing CPD in a specialist clinical area
- Experience of working in a health care setting with multi-disciplinary teams across organisational boundaries
- To have an extensive understanding of medical terminology that enables interpretation of clinical information and informed discussions about causes/circumstances of death with bereaved families, clinicians, coroner and registration service staff.
Desirable
- Nursing Registration (Adults/General)
- Ward or Clinical Department Deputy Manager or Community Health Services Team Leader (or equivalent) or Clinical Nurse Specialist (or Allied Health Professional Equivalent)
Communication and relationship skills
Essential
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage at all levels including senior clinicians/coroners etc about sensitive issues.
- Highly evolved empathetic and self-awareness skills to deal with bereaved families who may have barriers to understanding information due to their grief or disability
- To have qualifications/skills in day-to-day operational/process management of a customer-facing service where users may have unpredictable and emotionally charged needs.
- Highly evolved telephone communication skills for dealing with emotionally charged and sensitive conversations with the bereaved, with the ability to pick up on verbal cues as to their current state of mind. The ability to engage in "active listening."
Desirable
- Practical experience of working with the bereaved or families at 'end of life.'
- Experience of clinical 'advice and guidance' or 'triaging'
- Experience of engaging with patients / families in difficult and sensitive conversations; face to face and via telephone. Ability to show active listening skills.
Analytical and Judgement skills
Essential
- Ability to review and interpret clinical records (to include diagnostic tests, medication charts and clinical assessments/observations) and judge which information relevant to supporting the bereaved when they have questions.
Desirable
- Experience of facilitating / attending meetings with patients and their significant others.
Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Computer literate to use multiple IT software (To include Microsoft Word, Excel), for accurately updating confidential information in relation to contact with the bereaved and where necessary to assist in the production of reports related to feedback from the bereaved
- The ability to engage with patients and relatives where end of Life care is being delivered, in a sensitive and empathetic manner.
Desirable
- Involvement in multi-disciplinary / multi-agency working.
- Practical experience of working with the bereaved or families at 'end of life.'
Planning and Organisation
Essential
- Experience of planning a broad programme of activities and prioritising work to meet deadlines.
- Ability to organise work around changeable competing demands and fluctuating workloads.
- Ability to maintain a calm manner in a range of challenging and emotive circumstances
Desirable
- The ability to work in a highly pressurised, unpredictable environment where bereavement care is central to the service delivery.
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).
