Lead Counsellor inMayfield inMayfield PUBLISHED THU 21 NOV 2024

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Lead Counsellor at Hospice in the Weald. This role is for three days a week (22.5 hours), leading a team of staff and volunteer counsellors who are responsible for providing bereavement and pre-bereavement support to individuals accessing our services.

We require a highly organised, skilled, caring and compassionate,individual to provide specialist support for our Counselling and Support Service Team.

Carrying your own caseload, you will be working as part of a dedicated, hardworking and responsive team to deliver much needed support to patients, relatives andcarers, including bereaved loved ones. You will also be part of the wider Hospice Team working collaboratively across the services to bring exceptional support to those accessing our services.

We offer excellent training and development opportunities in addition to four CPD days a year, which you will lead on, with the opportunity of bringing in external trainers in line with budget.

We are a BACP accredited service,this accreditation demonstrates our ongoing commitment to provision of an ethical and professional service.You being an accredited member of BACP is critical as part of the role is responsibility for theannual renewal for our accredited service.

Managing competing demands on on our services can be challenging, but the opportunity in helping individuals at what is probably one of the most, if notthe most difficult times in their lives can be validating.

Benefits include an excellent pension scheme, free parking and a generous holiday allowance with the ability to buy and sell additional holiday.

About us

To coordinate, manage and lead on the provision of a safe, professional and accessible counselling service, to the highest possible standard, in line with both professional and Hospice guidelines and policies.

To provide line management, mentoring and support to the team of Staff and Volunteer Counsellors.

To work with the Head of Service and the Counselling and Support Service Coordinator to analyse, develop and expand the existing service reflecting the needs of service users in accordance with organisational strategy.

To make sure that the needs of all of those who come into contact with the Service are addressed in line with the core values of the Hospice.

Deliverables/Outcomes

Provide face to face specialist counselling and psychological support to Hospice patients, carers, families and friends in line with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling & Psychotherapy.

Maintaining the BACP accreditation status of the service.

To assist in leading the multidisciplinary team (MDT) in the consideration of patients, families and carers psychosocial needs (including those with complex psychological needs).

Assess the psychological needs of patients and their carers, providing specific advice, support and counselling as appropriate.

To manage and allocate referrals for service users to staff and volunteer counsellors in a timely and appropriate way.

To manage competing demands on the counselling service, ensuring the service maintains clear boundaries by working within the capacity as set by the service standards.

To lead the recruitment, induction and ongoing support of counselling staff and volunteer counsellors (VCs), VC recruitment is normally biannually (twice a year).

To liaise with local training providers regarding student counselling placements and to lead on initial screening, recruitment and induction and mentoring of student counsellors in placement.

Ensure regular feedback to managers identifying any shortfalls in service provision and offer flexibility in adapting services to meet identified need.

Support a culture of evidence-based practice within the service and mechanisms for auditing psychosocial interventions within the service.

To provide a professional counselling service to Hospice patients and their families by carrying a personal caseload within the Counselling and Support Service.

Management and Leadership

Lead and inspire counsellors, and volunteers to make real the Hospice core values in all they do and to advance the mission, aims and objectives of the organisation.

Provide daily operational management to the staff and volunteers.

Meet regularly with the volunteer counsellors both individually and as a group and to perform annual reviews.

Manage the allocating of service users to staff counsellors and volunteer counsellors, ensuring that they receive an appropriate caseload relevant to their level of experience and competence

Championing the most effective use of EMIS (Egton Medical Information Systems) for CSS

Develop and deliver provision of data, Management information and Outcome Measure data, on a regular basis, to evidence, monitor and inform performance of the team on a regular basis.

To support the Head of Counselling and Support Service in providing leadership to the team and to deputise for the Head of CSS during periods of absence.

To attend meetings to represent CSS.

Encourage and support all counsellors, staff and volunteers, in the accreditation process.

Recruit, interview and co-ordinate the training of new staff and volunteer counsellors.

Communications and Teamwork

Collaborate with other health and social care professionals and relevant agencies locally and local system partners, in order to provide planned co-ordinated care which is both safe and effective and responds to the needs of each individual and the communities we serve.

Work as an integral part of the MDT, ensuring that the needs of the patients, carers and family members are identified within a holistic framework, attending MDT meetings and undertaking joint work with other staff where appropriate.

Act as the point of liaison for mental health services for patients where necessary, building on external relationships to enable this.

In conjunction with colleagues, participate in the development of multidisciplinary audit and outcome measurements and participate in the implementation of changing practice as a result.

Act as a role model and mentor to staff and partnership agencies, providing informal education and support in their provision of psychosocial services.

Working with due diligence

To work in line with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling & Psychotherapy.

Maintain full, accurate and contemporaneous records of all service user contacts in accordance with GDPR, confidentiality policy and procedures, and ensure that the team comply with best practice.

Attend team meetings, multidisciplinary meetings, sharing and disseminating information as required within the boundaries of confidentiality.

Regularly review accuracy and effectiveness of CSS and Hospice documentation as required.

Undertake and develop evidence gathering practices and audits as appropriate.

Training and Development

Assist in the development and delivery of training programmes to meet assessed service and Hospice needs including training volunteers and staff in psychological and bereavement support.

Maintain personal development through the Hospice Annual Review process, continuously updating and improving knowledge and skills and applying that knowledge.

Undertake Mandatory Training as required by Hospice in the Weald and participate in additional required training and development activities.

Facilitate the provision of a range of study opportunities at the Hospice on counselling skills and psychological theory in a palliative care setting.

Take responsibility for own learning and continuous personal development (CPD), participating in training and development activities including attending relevant courses, reading journals and maintaining professional memberships.

Support the development of therapeutic intervention needs awareness across the whole Hospice team.

Participate in regular one to one supervision.

Take responsibility for setting own goals and achieving them.

General

Maintain professionalism through adherence to recognised professional codes and guidelines and work within the boundaries of Hospice in the Weald policies.

Engage in the use of information and communication technology (ICT) and achieve the required level of competence.

Recognise the growing need for 24/7 working patterns and flexibility.

Demonstrate our values through day-to-day interactions between colleagues as well as patients and those important to them.

Strive for excellence at all times.

Any other duties that may be reasonably requested.