JOB DESCRIPTION:
AREA OF WORK: /

Hospice of the Good Shepherd

JOB TITLE: /

Children’s Bereavement Counsellor(Community Schools based)

HOSPICE PAY BAND: / 11
ACCOUNTABLE TO: /

Director of Clinical Services

REPORTS TO: /

Head of Family Support (Senior Social Worker)

HOURS OF WORK: /

7.5 hours per week Term time only

SALARY: /

£25,021 - £28,224 (based on 37.5 hours FTE)

JOB SUMMARY:
  • To be responsible for offering support and therapy to children and young people affected by bereavement.
  • To provide assessments and interventions for children, young people and families who have been referred to the service.
  • To advise and support their parents/carers.
  • To maintain up to date records for client work.
  • Travel to schools and Children Centres in Western Cheshire

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Key Function 1
Clinical
  • To assess the needs of children, young people and their families referred to the service and provide appropriate support, in conjunction with the children’s bereavement team.
  • To provide individual therapy and group support to children and young people that is consistent with the child/young person’s needs, age, gender and ethnicity.
  • To organise own caseload taking professional responsibility and exercising autonomous judgement with regard professional practice.
  • To liaise with and offer support to staff and other agencies as appropriate.
  • To undertake duty of care decisions as appropriate to circumstance
  • Ensure ethical and legal standards are maintained including client confidentiality.
Key Function 2
Supervision and Training
  • To maintain competence and promote quality in the provision of psychological services.
  • To receive regular supervision of clinical work from an appropriate senior practitioner in accordance with the BACP guidelines.
Key Function 3
Research and Service Evaluation
  • To carry out where appropriate audit relevant to service development and evaluation.
  • To promote quality measures within the Bereavement Service in accordance with the Hospice’s policies and practices.
  • To participate in relevant Clinical Governance activities within the Hospice.
Key Function 4
Professional
  • To keep up to date with professional developments.
  • To participate in annual personal professional review and development, ensuring objectives are set and achieved and a personal development plan is agreed.
  • To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external training and development programmes, in consultation with the post-holder’s professional and service manager.
  • To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice in counselling therapy across the service. Taking part in regular professional supervision and appraisal and maintaining an active engagement with current evidence-based developments in the specialist field and other relevant areas.
  • To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health.
  • To work within the Code of Ethics and relevant professional practice guidelines of the BACP (or other appropriate professional body) and professional guidance framework of the Hospice.
  • To participate fully in supporting the activities of the Bereavement Services within the Hospice including attending relevant meetings.
Administrative
  • To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording, report writing and the responsible exercise of professional self-governance in accordance with professional codes of practice of the BACP (or other appropriate professional body) and with the Hospice policies and procedures.
Confidentiality and Security of Information
  • Within your position you will be expected to adhere to the Security of Information Policy that concerns your job role within the Hospice.
  • You will be expected to attend security and confidentiality training as and when required.
  • Should you have any matters of concern you are encouraged to raise these with your line manager.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ATTRIBUTE/
SKILL / ESSENTIAL / DESIRABLE / METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Qualifications / Diploma in counselling
Membership of the BACP or willingness to apply for accreditation. / Educated to degree level
Accredited membership of the BACP
A qualification in child based therapy
Evidence of attendance of group therapy training. / Application form/Interview
Knowledge and expertise / Knowledge of psychological development of children, young people and family dynamics.
Knowledge of child care legislation
An understanding of the principles of Clinical Governance
IT literate / Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and relating to mental health.
Knowledge of equality and diversity legislation and its application
An understanding of Specialist Palliative Care / Application form/Interview
Experience / Minimum one year relevant experience post qualification working directly with children, young people and families both as individuals and groups.
Experience of working with individuals/families who are facing serious illness and/or are bereaved. / Experience of teaching/training and facilitating groups
Experience of working with a multi-professional team
Experience of working with volunteers / Application form/Interview
Analytical and judgmental skills / Ability to identify and employ mechanisms of Clinical Governance as appropriate, to support and maintain practice in the face of exposure to highly emotive material.
Ability to apply guidance for screening for risk with appropriate sensibility to client / Interview
Skills / Excellent interpersonal skills and administrative skills.
Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner.
Ability to work with shared objectives as part of a team.
Ability to work collaboratively with the wider multi-professional team
Appreciation of the interface between our personal and professional lives, high level of self awareness and knowledge of the principle of self care / Personal experience of coping with bereavement. / Interview/Application form
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
REQUIREMENT / DESIRABLE / ESSENTIAL / METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Health Screening – Paper screening / Yes / Occupational Health Department
Immunisations Required / Yes / Occupational Health Nurse

HEALTH AND SAFETY

As an employee of the Hospice of The Good Shepherd, the postholder has a duty, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, to:-

  • take reasonable care of the health and safety of themselves and all other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.
  • co-operate with their employer to ensure compliance with Health and Safety legislation and the Health and Safety policies and procedures of the Hospice of The Good Shepherd, not intentionally or recklessly interfere with, or misuse, anything provided in the interests of health, safety or welfare, in pursuance of any of the relevant statutory provisions.

DIVERSITY AND EQUALITY

All staff will be treated with respect by management, colleagues, patients and visitors and equally staff will treat management, colleagues, patients and visitors with the same level of respect.

Staff will be supported to challenge any discriminatory behaviour that may be based on differences in race, disability, language, culture, religion, sexuality, age, gender or employment status.

REF: JOBDESCRIPTION/CHILDREN’SBEREAVEMENTCOUNSELLOR/FEB 15