Bereavement Services Shift Manager

The On Demand Shift Manager provides operational leadership, clinical oversight and shift coordination for the On Demand bereavement support services which operate Mondays through Fridays 8am to 8pm. The role ensures that children, young people, and adults receive timely, safe and compassionate responses to bereavement needs through digital and on-demand channels. In addition to line managing the On Demand Bereavement Specialists, the post holder also works on shift as part of the delivery rota to support the team directly, provide real-time guidance, and cover frontline services gaps. This blended role combines hands-on leadership, active service participation, and quality assurance, promoting excellent clinical standards, safeguarding practice, and a culture of learning and care. The post holder will work closely with the Head of On Demand Services to ensure that On Demand Services remain responsive, trauma-informed and aligned with best practice and organisational priorities.

Main Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate daily On Demand service operations to ensure timely and effective response to live support requests.
• Manage team rotas, shift allocations, and cover arrangements to maintain consistent staffing and service continuity.
• Provide real-time oversight during active service hours, offering guidance on case complexity, prioritisation and risk management.
• Work on shift as part of service delivery to provide direct bereavement support, model best practice and ensure adequate cover during periods of high demand or staff absence.
• Ensure service efficiency through proactive communication, timely handovers, and smooth transitions between shifts.
• Support the Head of On Demand Services in monitoring resourcing, workflows and performance metrics.
• Offer live, on-shift supervision and mentorship to On Demand Bereavement Specialists, ensuring quality and consistency of interventions.
• Support staff in making safe, informed, and trauma-sensitive decisions in line with organisational safeguarding policies.
• Provide clinical leadership for the On Demand Bereavement Specialists on shift, offering case consultation and decision-making support particularly in high-risk, ethically complex or emotionally intense presentations.
• Hold clinical responsibility for the most complex service users on shift, supporting staff to formulate risk, decide on interventions, and coordinate onward referrals or emergency responses in line with organisational policies and professional codes of ethics.
• Model high standards of clinical thinking, boundaries and self-care, supporting staff and volunteers to manage vicarious trauma, moral distress and the emotional impact of working on an On Demand service.
• Facilitate reflective debriefing following challenging or traumatic cases to maintain staff wellbeing and service stability.
• Ensure all support aligns with the NICE (2004) Level 2 psychological intervention framework and current evidence-based practice.
• Foster a compassionate, psychologically safe team culture that prioritises practitioner wellbeing, resilience, vicarious trauma awareness and continuous learning from service delivery.
• Collaborate with the Head of On Demand Services on workforce planning, recruitment, induction and succession to maintain service resilience and capacity.

Communication and Relationships

• Communicate clearly and sensitively within the organisation and with external partners, including parents, carers and professionals across social care, education, health and mental health services.
• Provide clear, supportive and trauma-informed communication to bereaved children, young people and adults during live shifts, adapting approach to age, crisis level and digital medium.
• Offer real-time guidance, debriefing and constructive feedback to On Demand Bereavement Specialists during shifts, promoting consistent standards and shared learning.
• Build collaborative relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders to support integrated care pathways.
• Communicate effectively with the Head of On Demand Services and senior leadership on shift incidents, risks, service pressures and quality improvements, escalating appropriately.
• Handle sensitive feedback, complaints and critical incidents with empathy, transparency and solution focus, maintaining trust with internal and external stakeholders.
• Adapt communication style and approach to suit the needs, preferences, and emotional states of children, young people and adults, including those with neurodiverse profiles or communication difficulties.
• Provide clear, compassionate explanations of support options, safeguarding procedures, and next steps to children, young people, adults and families.
• Maintain professional boundaries while fostering a safe and supportive environment for children, young people and adults.
• Respond to challenging or emotionally charged situations with sensitivity, professionalism, and a focus on empathy and support.
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation of communications and decisions in line with organisational policies and data protection regulations.

Knowledge, Training and Experience

• Assess and engage in interventions with children, young people and/or adults in accordance with best practice.
• Complete comprehensive psychosocial assessments which include assessments of risk and determining appropriate level of response/intervention.
• Deliver targeted pre/post bereavement support and interventions utilising a range of therapeutic and psychosocial techniques, working within level 2 of the NICE (2004) psychological framework.
• Advanced understanding of grief, loss, trauma, child development, and the psychological and social impact of bereavement on children, young people, families and adults.
• Apply sound clinical judgment and maintain professional accountability for practice in line with national standards, organisational policies, and personal relevant professional Code of Conduct.
• Maintain knowledge about current, evidence-based practice.
• To maintain a personal profile of professional development in accordance with professional requirements/governing bodies.
• Demonstrate knowledge of all relevant policies and procedures.
• Adhere to legislation and statutory guidance related to Safeguarding Children and Young People, Safeguarding Adults, and the Mental Capacity Act, providing advice and guidance to colleagues and partner agencies where appropriate.
• Participate actively in clinical supervision and reflective practice to ensure safe, ethical, and effective service delivery.
• Contribute to the development and sharing of knowledge within the team by supporting training, mentoring, and peer learning opportunities.

Analytical and Judgment Skills

• Strong ability to make rapid, sound clinical and safeguarding judgments during live shifts, assessing risk, prioritising cases and deciding on immediate interventions or escalations.
• Analyse real-time service data to optimise shift deployment, identify trends and recommend operational improvements.
• Critically evaluate team performance, recordings, transcripts and audits to provide targeted service or staff development, mitigate practice drift and uphold clinical governance standards.
• Exercise exceptional professional judgment in assessing the emotional, psychological, and social needs of children, young people, and adults pre and post bereavement and in the delivery of immediate on demand support.
• Analyse complex information gathered through assessment, observation, and communication to identify individual needs, risks, and strengths.
• Recognise and manage situations that involve ambiguity, uncertainty, or emotional intensity, drawing on supervision and established frameworks for professional support.
• Apply a trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate lens to clinical decision-making, ensuring sensitivity to cultural, social, and contextual factors influencing grief.
• Contribute actively to meetings, clinical supervision, peer supervision, case discussions, and service reviews to plan, coordinate, and evaluate strategies of care and support.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and meaningful data recording and reporting to inform clinical practice, service evaluation, and organisational performance monitoring.

Planning and Organisational Skills

• Strong shift and staff coordination.
• Plan and organise work autonomously while engaging collaboratively with colleagues and volunteers to support coordinated care and seamless service delivery.
• Support in the organisation of comprehensive quality assurance processes including shift audits, case sampling, outcome tracking and compliance monitoring.
• Plan and deliver team training, drills and simulations for crisis scenarios, digital tool proficiency and new protocols, ensuring readiness for peaks in bereavement demand.
• Provide cover and support for On Demand Support Service staff during periods of absence or high demand.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date documentation in accordance with confidentiality, data protection, and statutory requirements.
• Demonstrate self-awareness and reflective capacity, using supervision and peer support to sustain personal wellbeing and professional effectiveness.
• Contribute to the development of efficient, evidence-based practices by supporting team planning, service evaluation, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Person Specification

• Level 4 qualification (or above) in counselling, psychotherapy, clinical psychology, counselling psychology or arts psychotherapy.
• Current registration with a professional body (ie. HCPC, BACP, UKCP, NCPS).
• Evidence of relevant continuing professional development.
• Experience of leading a team, ideally in bereavement, palliative care, mental health or closely related fields.
• Experience with digital platforms.
• Proven track record of successfully managing multidisciplinary teams delivering services to complex service users and complex safeguarding and risk issues involving children and adults.
• Proven skills in managing teams and change successfully.
• Experience of working therapeutically with children and young people.
• Experience of working therapeutically with adults.
• Robust knowledge of the emotional and psychological impact of bereavement and the needs of bereaved children, young people, families and adults.
• Strong understanding of grief, loss and trauma across the life course, and of evidence-based bereavement interventions for children, young people and adults.
• Deep understanding and knowledge of psychological theories, therapeutic interventions and models of grief work for children, young people and adults, and their effective application in practice.
• Able to make clear psychological assessments inclusive of risk, safeguarding and mental health needs for children, young people and adults.
• Expert knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Strong leadership, communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels and work collaboratively across teams and organisations.
• Strong understanding of change management and how best to implement change.
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
• Attention to detail and produces reports and information to a consistently high standard.
• Ability to manage time effectively, meeting deadlines while maintaining quality and accuracy.
• Ability to successfully work collaboratively with colleagues, demonstrating strong interpersonal skills and the ability to influence and engage others positively.
• Ability to deliver effective support, supervision, and line management to staff and volunteers, fostering professional growth and accountability.
• Model high levels of personal integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct.
• Bring passion and enthusiasm for delivering high quality digital first bereavement services to children, young people, families and adults.

Benefits

• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays (pro rata if applicable) with increase for long service.
• TOIL for our hours work.
• Contributory pension scheme.
• Company sick pay.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Life assurance.
• Training loans.
• Enhanced family friendly policies.

Recruitment Timetable

• Application deadline: 17th June 2026 at midnight.
• We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications for the role before the closing date.