Counsellor #1019inStoke-on-TrentinStoke-on-TrentPUBLISHED TUE 12 NOV 2024

We are seeking a qualified counsellor to be part of an established Counselling & Emotional Support Service, based within the Wellbeing Centre at the Dougie Mac Adults site. Hours: Monday - Friday 9.00 am -5.00pm, flexible working and some evening work required Salary: £30,000 - £35,000 (depending on skills, experience & knowledge) The role will require a professional affiliation to a membership body (e.g. BACP, NCPS). The role will require a DBS check - which would be processed and paid for by the Hospice. Full driving licence and access to own vehicle is desirable.

Working within an established Counselling and Emotional Support Service, the role involves providing counselling and emotional support to clients that can include patients, carers and relatives including children and young people supported by the Douglas Macmillan Hospice. These activities include assessment, formulation, and the delivery of therapies, alongside the provision of consultation and training to the wider hospice team. The post-holder will plan and organise their work schedule and tasks, having responsibility for managerial and clerical duties as the role demands. The post-holder will be responsible for their own professional actions and decision-making and for working within professional ethical framework and Hospice policies. In common with all counsellors the post-holder will receive regular external clinical supervision in accordance with good practice guidelines. Due to the nature of the post and our close work with the issues of death and dying, personal resilience and an understanding of your capacity to engage, and to create a therapeutic relationship with clients is key in the sustainability of the work required for this post.

About us

Clinical 1. To provide a counselling service in palliative and bereavement care to clients. 2. To carry an independent caseload of clients and deliver counselling to individuals, couples and groups who are experiencing emotional distress as a result of life events and experiences. 3. To provide the initial assessments of clients presenting with multiple and complex difficulties, referring on to more specialist services where appropriate. 4. To formulate the clients issues based on the information and perspectives gathered during the assessment and drawing on psychological theory and research and select appropriate counselling interventions/strategies to support clients. 5. To communicate directly with clients and other healthcare professionals, complex and potentially emotive information regarding the patients difficulties and treatment, subject to ethical boundaries of confidentiality. 6. To undertake continual risk assessment and risk management for all clients and to provide support to volunteer counsellors and student counsellors when risk is identified. 7. To be responsible for making complex clinical judgements in the management of waiting lists, including the allocation of individual cases for assessment. 8. To collaborate and consult with the wider multi-disciplinary team with regards to the care and treatment of patients and their families, and to provide advice to such staff on a consultancy basis regarding the treatment of patients. 9. To utilise counselling skills across a broad range of mental health problems and to adapt therapeutic input accordingly. 10. To plan, develop and coordinate therapeutic group programmes and support groups within the Hospice setting. 11. To communicate psychological assessments and advice to clients and staff in a skilled and sensitive manner. 12. To provide timely written assessment/notes on all clients seen and other relevant reports as appropriate. 13. To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients. 14. To have awareness of NICE guidelines and appropriate advances in research and outcome data of counselling and therapeutic approaches. 15. To display and maintain personal and emotional resilience in carrying out difficult/multiple complex duties and demands of the post. 16. To undertake regular clinical supervision. 17. To plan and deliver bi-monthly training reflective practice workshops for volunteer counsellors and student counsellors in collaboration with counselling team. 18. To coordinate and deliver training to staff on a variety of topics relating to psychological support and interventions. Requiring pre-planning, organisational skills and the delivery of training to varied audiences both internally and externally. 19. To contribute to the teaching of psychological interventions, personal and professional development and reflective practice to volunteer counsellors and student counsellors. 20. To develop and effectively manage professional relationships with local universities and counselling programmes to enhance the volunteer contribution within the Hospice. 21. To provide training and ongoing advice and guidance to both the volunteer counsellors and student counsellors of the Counselling and Emotional Support service. 22. Management, Recruitment, Policy and Service Development. 23. To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the teams operational policies and services, using professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit. 24. To participate in multidisciplinary meetings concerned with the delivery and development of clinical services. 25. To participate as appropriate in staff recruitment, both in the short-listing process and as a member of interview panel for student counsellors. 26. To support the day to day running and management of the service by identifying service gaps and developing strategies to improve service delivery and outcomes. 27. In consultation with the Wellbeing Team Manager, to be a member of appropriate committees. Professional Development 28. To receive regular clinical supervision from an accredited supervisor/therapist and where appropriate, other senior professional colleagues. 29. To partake and identify activities related to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and to gain wider post-qualification experience. 30. To participate in regular appraisals with the Wellbeing Team Manager, including the operation of a Personal Development Plan. 31. To undertake CPD activities as are required to maintain and enhance clinical skills necessary for the delivery of high quality counselling services. General 32. To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues that are relevant to working in palliative care. 33. To adhere at all times to the ethical standards laid down by the BACP or equivalent appropriate professional body. Clinical practice will then be initiated and developed within these guidelines. 34. To exercise the highest standards of client record keeping and the practice of professional self-governance in accordance with the professional code of practice in one or more of the appropriate registering body alongside awareness of and adherence to Douglas Macmillan Hospice policies and procedures. 35. To work in an autonomous manner, being responsible for managing and prioritising own workload while having recourse to other professionals for guidance. This may involve initiating and implementing a range of activities at any one time, some of which will be complex and entail liaising with other professionals. 36. To appropriately manage clinical risk (e.g. direct verbal/physical aggression) and to have appropriate knowledge to take action regarding safeguarding adults and children when and if it arises during clinical practice. 37. In consultation with the Wellbeing Team Manager, to provide guidance and support to the volunteer counsellors and student counsellors when client risk is identified. 38. To conduct home visits if required, as part of clinical work. 39. Some out of hours working will be necessary in carrying out the duties of the post. 40. To provide client-centred, enablement-focused support to each individual, supporting them to achieve their goals and engage in a treatment/support programme to work towards mutually agreed goals, with particular emphasis on adaptation to illness and developing self-management strategies. 41. To work as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team, ensuring that the needs of patients and carers are identified within a holistic framework, fostering an interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation. 42. Attend mandatory training on principles and core elements of Rehabilitative Palliative Care. 43. Provide evidence of Rehabilitative Palliative Care practice in appraisal, relevant to role and responsibilities. 44. The post holder is expected to foster excellent working relationships with all service recipients, staff, visitors, volunteers and donors. 45. To act at all times in a professional manner, respecting the needs of colleagues and co-operating to maintain a harmonious working environment.