Counsellor

As Hospice Counsellor you will be responsible for the delivery and development of the Hospice’s counselling service, this includes providing a counselling service for those who are referred needing bereavement and/or counselling. You will be responsible for a complex pre and post bereavement caseload, and you will act in an advisory capacity within the organisation and to local partners. You will be responsible for leading a team of volunteers providing ongoing support and training for those involved in the delivery of the services, as well as supporting and providing student counselling placements. You will need to demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills and have the ability to work in highly emotive environments.

Main duties of the job

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Be responsible for the delivery of a high standard of cost-effective pre and post bereavement counselling as part of the Wellbeing Team for Hospice patients and families.
2. Assess and interpret the impact of ill health, loss and grief on individuals, and facilitate the appropriate use of support and counselling for adults, and where appropriate, young people and children.
3. Ensure clients receive a safe, individualised and effective service by assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating their care.
4. To assess clients risk factors and directly or indirectly offer appropriate support and/or referral; evaluate their clinical needs and appropriateness of offering structured therapy, together with identifying and managing risk and safeguarding concerns.
5. To undertake effective caseload management including ending the episode of care and actively respecting client autonomy which addresses their needs with the aim of empowering them to be able to support themselves going forward.
6. To make appropriate referrals to other professionals and work collaboratively with a wide range of local, regional and national services.
7. Provide accurate information tailored to individual need and understanding clients regarding the pre and post bereavement process.
8. To work as an expert practitioner and within the policies, procedures and guidelines of The Prince of Wales Hospice and the Ethical Framework for Counselling and Psychotherapy Professionals.
9. To recognise the importance of people’s rights and beliefs and act in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures.
10. To be the initial and primary contact for all issues relating to bereavement and counselling, assessing all referrals and deciding on appropriate action.
11. To maintain accurate and comprehensive records for the service both computer and paper based.
12. Attending and contributing to Wellbeing team meetings and multi-disciplinary team meetings, where necessary.
13. Manage highly complex and/or sensitive information or situations using a high level of communication and negotiation skills and personal resource.
14. To develop, plan and deliver the service to further enhance provision in accordance with NICE Guidance and National Bereavement Care Standards.
15. To use reflective practice and counselling supervision to examine self in the work place, counsellor well-being and effective practice.
16. Evaluate the effectiveness of the services, acknowledging and promoting best practice, whilst recognising and reporting appropriately unsafe practice.
17. To lead on identifying gaps in the service and make recommendations regarding service delivery and development.
18. The ability to work with clients face to face, online through video link, telephone and thorough understanding of the clinical, legal and ethical issues relating to delivering therapy in this way.
19. Ability to collect, apply and evaluate clinical patient outcome data, and able to present this data when required.
20. Champion, innovate and educate on bereavement and the Hospice services to wider partners and organisations across the district.

Managerial

1. To undertake day to day management of service as part of wider Wellbeing provision.
2. Access and utilise evidence-based practice in the day-to-day delivery of the service.
3. Participate in the monitoring, review and evaluation of the service through agreed standards of care, audit and other quality procedures.
4. To collect, collate and analyse statistical data as required by the Hospice.
5. Identify priorities, manage time and manage competing demands within a changing environment.
6. To attend meetings as required and to ensure effective communication with all members of the multidisciplinary team and external partners.
7. Participate in disseminating, implementing and applying to practice, evidence and outcomes of best practice, research, audit and other quality indicators.
8. Management and supervision of support workers/volunteers/students.
9. Lead on the recruitment and induction of volunteers and students.
10. Lead on the development of policies and procedures for the bereavement services.

Educational

1. To develop, implement and evaluate an in person and online training programme to be accessed by professionals and volunteers.
2. To participate in the orientation, development and induction programmes of newly appointed staff and volunteers.
3. To promote an understanding of bereavement and counselling care within the specialist palliative care service and general health and social care services, through education and training in line with the education/training strategy of the hospice.
4. To maintain expert clinical knowledge and skills, using evidence-based practice to promote professional and service development, to revise protocols and procedures accordingly.
5. To keep abreast of current research developments.
6. Propose or take part in research opportunities to contribute to service and sector knowledge.
7. To attend Association of Bereavement Coordinators (ABSCO) meetings to increase knowledge and experience by networking with other co-ordinators from other hospices.
8. To keep up to date with current practice and legislation.

About us

The Prince of Wales Hospice has been providing care to people with a life-limiting illness since 1989. Our services are available to any adult from the Five Towns area of the Wakefield District.

Job responsibilities

Counsellor

Up to 37.5 Hours per week

Salary £35,572 to £39,722

We have an exciting and rewarding opportunity to join us as our Hospice Counsellor.

As Hospice Counsellor you will be responsible for the delivery and development of the Hospice’s counselling service, this includes providing a counselling service for those who are referred needing bereavement and/or counselling. You will be responsible for a complex pre and post bereavement caseload, and you will act in an advisory capacity within the organisation and to local partners. You will be responsible for leading a team of volunteers providing ongoing support and training for those involved in the delivery of the services, as well as supporting and providing student counselling placements. You will need to demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills and have the ability to work in highly emotive environments.

To apply for this position, you must have a BACP Approved Counselling Diploma/Degree or relevant experience. Accreditation to practice with regulatory authority (BACP/UKCP) and Evidence of continuing professional development.

This role also requires an Enhanced DBS Check. Following an initial DBS check, successful recruits will be required to subscribe to the DBS Update Service at their own cost (currently £13 annual payment).

Person Specification

Qualifications

• BACP Approved Counselling Diploma/Degree or relevant experience
• Accreditation to practice with regulatory authority (BACP/UKCP)
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Recognised Leadership & Management Qualification Teaching or training qualification
• Qualification in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Knowledge

• Knowledge of and commitment to the philosophy of palliative care
• Knowledge and understanding of Ethical Framework for Counselling and Psychotherapy Professionals
• Sound theoretical background knowledge of grief and bereavement theory and practices
• Knowledge of legislation and its implications for clinical practice

Skills/ Abilities

• Able to demonstrate excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Ability to make clinical decisions around complex and emotive issues relating to

Experience

• Experience of Counselling in End of Life and bereavement care
• Experience of working with families
• Experience of working in a health or social care setting
• Experience of group work to include health care professionals
• Experience of effective caseload and workload management
• Ability to provide training and development for staff in the delivery of quality bereavement care before and after death of a patient
• Experience of managing a team
• Experience of networking and partnership working
• Experience of working in a hospice, working with children and volunteers

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.