Counsellor inSheffield inSheffield PUBLISHED THU 14 NOV 2024

At Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice, we care for children and young people whose lives are just too short. Our aim is to reach every family that needs our help and to offer them the very best choice of care. Did you know that every year we need to raise £6.5m to keep our doors open and only around 16% of our income comes from government sources, the rest has to be raised through fundraising activity.

Our services include short overnight stays and community breaks at home or in the hospice. We also support the whole family from diagnosis with our multi-disciplinary Family Support team who provide counselling, sibling support groups, music therapy and much more. Our care team support these families in our modern, purpose-built building. All our rooms bedrooms have a homely feel. We have a sensory room, spa pool, cinema room and six acres of gardens.

We support families from a large geographical area, including South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire, North Derbyshire and parts of North Lincolnshire. The hospice is easily accessible from Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster, Sheffield and North Notts. We have free secure on-site parking for families and staff to use.

The role:

To work as part of our thriving Family Support Team providing counselling for children and adults experiencing trauma, bereavement, and anticipatory grief, in line with ethical and professional codes of conduct. You will make a difference to the lives of young people and their families, providing crucial psychological support to families affected by life-shortening and life-threatening conditions.

The requirements:

To fulfil the role effectively you will be professional and resilient and able to work collaboratively with the Care Services Team. You will have experience of multi-agency team working and be able to advocate for children and their families.

You will have experience of working with children and families who have complex needs, offering holistic support to meet their individual requirements.

About us

JOB TITLE: Counsellor

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Psychological Therapies Manager

LOCATION: Hybrid

JOB PURPOSE: The post holder has the responsibility for provision of counselling services for both children and adults, experiencing trauma, bereavement, and anticipatory grief, due to life shortening, palliative or end of life care, at Bluebell Wood to ensure that they are delivered in line with the ethical and professional codes of conduct pertaining to the relevant registered body.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Key Responsibilities

Provide professional, competent, and ethical bereavement counselling in line with BACP requirements.

To work alongside the Head of Family Support, Psychological Therapies Manager and Lead Counsellor to provide a robust service delivery.

To provide data and reports on services provided as required.

Maintain records in confidence and in line with the Data Protection Act 1998 and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations).

Seek out and engage in regular clinical supervision.

Continue life-long professional learning.

To support colleagues in helping to ascertain the correct level of support based on client need and referring/signposting to the most appropriate service.

Key Tasks:

Provide data and reports on the services provided as required.

Maintain accurate notes and appointment schedules using The Care Database, monitoring attendance and cancellations of clients.

Raise concerns to the appropriate member of management or Safeguarding Lead in a timely manner to ensure effective intervention if necessary.

Facilitate therapy sessions either in person or remotely according to client need.

Therapy

Hold a small caseload of clients, offering therapeutic intervention in line with professional registered body, (BACP).

Work autonomously as a competent practitioner within national, organisational, and local policies and procedures maintaining British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) or equivalent accreditation, working within the professional framework for ethical practice.

Make recommendations for referral on where psychological difficulties are more complex and require specialist services/interventions.

Work in partnership with other professionals and agencies where necessary, signposting appropriately in situations where the core individual need is not bereavement or anticipatory grief.

Maintain a professional level of clinical practice through participation in individual monthly clinical supervision, placing a high value on self-care.

Maintain ongoing professional CPD in line with BACP or equivalent requirements for reaccreditation, setting realistic personal development objectives.

Taking responsibility for own development and maintaining a professionally relevant development portfolio.

Communication

Develop and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with children, young people and their families who use the counselling services via their preferred method of contact.

Establish and maintain effective communication with relevant individuals and groups to support children, young people, siblings, and family members; including key members of the hospice; volunteers; service users; statutory and voluntary organisations.

Develop and maintain effective communication links and relationships with external stakeholders, multi-disciplinary services and agencies, individuals, and organisations, to enable effective signposting where required.

• Understand the importance of, and maintain, the need for confidentiality in all individual and hospice matters.

Service Development:

Engage in research and development opportunities.

Network with other professionals both locally, regionally, and nationally who offer specialised bereavement services to children and families.

Guide Family Support and wider hospice colleagues on theories around trauma, bereavement, and anticipatory grief to support their individual roles; providing specific training sessions where necessary.

General

All Bluebell Wood employees are required to:

• Abide by the Health & Safety at Work Act
• Adhere to policy and procedures around safeguarding children and young adults
• Respect confidentiality applying to all Hospice areas
• Work within Hospice policies and procedures
• Comply with the Hospice no smoking policy
• Participate in and contribute to team meetings
• Co-operate and liaise with colleagues
• Always behave in a professional manner, reflecting and maintaining the values and ethos of Bluebell Wood

All Bluebell Wood employees are expected to:

Demonstrate a commitment to their own development, to take advantage of education and training opportunities and develop their own competence.

Support and encourage harmonious internal and external working relationships.

Make a positive contribution to fundraising and raising the profile of the Hospice.

This job description is not exhaustive. It will be subject to periodic review and may be amended following discussion between the post-holder and employer.