Complementary Therapist

Job responsibilities

Communication

To provide one-to-one complementary therapy with family members affected by the death of a child. This will take place within The Alder Centre in the dedicated holistic therapy room.

Provide clients with a clear outline of the assessment process and treatment plan including aftercare advice.

Use empathy, tact, sensitivity and discretion when working with clients.

Close communication with recently bereaved individuals, requiring an emotional robustness and sensitivity.

Communicate with other professionals internally within The Alder Centre.

Awareness of the effects of bereavement.

Analytical skills

Initial assessment of clients and continued assessment over an agreed period of therapy.

Formulate and implement treatment plans, based on evidence of their efficacy; with a particular therapeutic focus on, for example, reducing anxiety, stress and insomnia, enabling relaxation, a feeling of wellbeing and overall quality of life.

To participate in regular caseload and performance management review.

To participate in regular clinical supervision (provided by the Alder Centre).

Planning and organising skills

Manage ongoing caseload of clients and participate positively in using time efficiently to minimise waiting times.

Plan and manage own time and maintain awareness of daily team commitments, exercising good personal time management, punctuality, appearance and consistent reliable attendance.

Physical skills

Listening skills

Keyboard skills.

Physical skills relevant to the type of therapy used, i.e. massage.

Responsibility for patient/client care

Deliver therapy to meet the needs of individual clients.

Contribute towards an appropriate therapeutic environment within the Alder Centre. This requires individual therapists to support and assist colleagues and participate as a committed team member.

Responsibility for policy/service development

Follow national and organisational policies applicable to their role including those implemented as a result of legislative changes.

To comment on changes in administration procedures.

Adhere to the Trusts Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Responsibility for financial and physical resources

Careful use of Centre facilities and equipment.

Ensure that infection control measures are followed in relation to your role.

Monitor and maintain stock levels and seek approval prior to ordering stock/equipment in keeping with departmental processes.

Responsibility for human resources

Demonstrates own duties.

To be flexible in working hours, practices and attitude. This may include some evening and weekend working according to the pattern of the Centre's activities and service user needs.

Responsibility for information resources

To keep appropriate client records and observe associated Trust and Alder Centre administrative and clerical systems and procedures.

Write up client notes following therapy sessions.

Microsoft packages...

Basic IT skills.

Ability to keep confidential written documentation in line with GDPR.

Responsibility for research and development

Keep up to date with new developments by reading, attending professional meetings and conferences on matters related to loss and bereavement and other areas of complimentary therapies applicable to development as a member of the Alder Centre Team and observance to professional status as per professional bodys requirements.

Complete regular waiting list audits and caseload statistics.

Attendance at team events.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

Freedom to act

Work with clients independently within policies and codes of conduct.

Physical efforts

Accompany clients to and from reception area.

Ability to sit for the duration of complimentary therapy sessions.

Use of the body for applying massage techniques.

Mental effort

Proactive mental attention in client assessment and during therapy sessions.

Emotional effort

Self-awareness: an understanding of own grief reactions and how they might impact on the therapeutic relationship.

Providing therapy to individuals who are dealing with challenging family situations.

Providing therapy for individuals with multiple presenting problems, e.g. bereavement, depression and anxiety.

Management and Leadership

To be able to work as an effective, integrated team member.

Able to work under own initiative and under difficult situations.

Management of own caseload is essential.

Education and Training

Essential

• Diploma level qualification in at least three complementary therapies (massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, reiki).
• Registration with the Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT) or equivalent accredited professional body.
• Evidence of professional Development.

Desirable

• Degree level professional qualification in at least three complementary therapies.

Experience

Essential

• Considerable post qualification experience of assessment and provision of complementary therapy to individuals with a range of physical and emotional needs.
• Working in a time-limited way.
• Identifying assessing and managing risk.
• Provision of informal/formal education.

Desirable

• Working with child bereaved clients.
• Evaluating complementary therapy treatments / service provision. Audit / evaluation of practice.

Knowledge

Essential

• Benefits of an extended range of complementary therapies.
• Code of ethics relevant to own professional body
• Confidentiality and consent.
• Impact of child death on an individual's wellbeing.
• Safe use of equipment and supplies necessary to deliver a complementary therapy service.

Desirable

• Issues facing child-bereaved clients and their families.

Skills

Essential

• Accurate assessment of clients including risks to enable delivery of the most appropriate evidenced based treatment to meet need.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to quickly develop a good therapeutic relationship to enhance the clients experience.
• High degree of professionalism in the face of highly emotive and distressing issues.
• Able to establish and maintain professional boundaries.
• IT skills including use of MS365.
• Ability to evaluate the impact of therapies.
• Able to complete accurate and legible records in accordance with Trust policies and own professional body.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• High level of work organisation, self-motivation, drive for performance and improvement, and flexibility in approach and attitude.
• Strong sense of commitment to openness, honesty and integrity in undertaking the role.
• Robust strategies for personal resilience.
• Value the contribution of others at all levels of the organisation.
• Punctuality and reliability.
• Willingness to provide and accept feedback to develop and improve self, the service and the organisation.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).