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- Tasks: Provide emotional support and education to families dealing with grief and loss.
- Company: Join a compassionate hospice charity making a real difference in children's lives.
- Benefits: Part-time hours, competitive salary, and clinical supervision for personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on families during their most challenging times.
- Qualifications: Relevant qualifications in counselling or nursing, with experience in bereavement support.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and opportunities for professional development.
The predicted salary is between 27600 - 32300 £ per year.
Hours: part-time - 18 hours per week, worked over 3 days
Location: Helen House, Oxford
Salary: HDH Band 5 £33,636 - £40,483 per annum (pro rata), depending on experience
Closing date: 9th December 2025 at 12 noon
Interview date: 17th December 2025
We have an exciting opportunity, due to retirement of the current post holder, to join our Family and Bereavement Support Team.
Family and Bereavement Counsellor and Support Workers provide emotional and psychological support to parents of babies and children living with a life-threatening illness, or life limiting condition; and provide grief education, emotional and psychological support to parents and grandparents for up to 2 years following the death of a baby or child. Family and Bereavement Counsellor and Support Workers help parents and grandparents with managing their emotions and coping with grief, building their resilience and empowering them at level 1-2 of the Bereavement Network Europe Model. We help clients to access level 3 intervention if they require this.
Main duties of the job
Applicants will have experience of working therapeutically with individuals experiencing loss and change, you'll be compassionate, sensitive, creative and a great communicator. A relevant qualification is essential and this may be a Diploma in Counselling, Registered Nurse, or Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker with counselling experience or with significant experience of working with grief and loss. Ideally, you'll have experience of working with bereaved parents and have experience of running peer-to-peer bereavement support groups. The post holder will work onsite at Helen & Douglas House Children's Hospice, in hospital settings and in parents' own homes. It is therefore vital to be able to drive and to have a car as the hospice covers 6 surrounding counties.
Clinical supervision is provided in line with British Association of Psychology and Counselling standards which will also complement your resilience and self-care skills. The hours in client facing work count as counselling hours.
About us
Helen & Douglas House is a registered hospice charity based in Oxford, providing palliative, respite, end-of-life and bereavement care to life-limited children and their families. We foster a climate where team members feel able to openly question, debate and appropriately challenge their own and the practice of others; as such, we welcome new ideas and strive to constantly improve our delivery of care to our patients.
Ready to bring your skills to a role that matters? Applications will be reviewed and invited to interview as received. We reserve the right to close the advert at any time, therefore we encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible.
Please note that everyone working for Helen & Douglas House are required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check. Helen & Douglas House is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We are an equal opportunities employer and value the benefits of a diverse workforce. We positively encourage applications from all areas of the community.
Job responsibilities
Summary of the Roles Main Purpose: For family support, the counsellor and support worker will provide education, emotional support and facilitate practical support via the wider multi-disciplinary team to parents of children who have been referred to Helen & Douglas House for palliative and end of life care. The role will contribute to the delivery of integrated, well-communicated care to parents through their child's illness and death. The role provides bereavement support for parents where the child has died at Helen & Douglas House, in their own home, and local hospitals, including parents whose child died suddenly. The role provides emotional and psychological support level 1-2 (European Association of Bereavement Network) and works with GPs and mental health services to provide level 3 support for those clients requiring this.
For the full job description, please see the supporting documents.
Person Specification
Qualifications: Diploma in Counselling, Registered Mental Nurse or other relevant qualification with extensive relevant experience. Willingness to complete counselling registration in the future if not held. Educated to degree level.
Experience: Experience of working with bereaved parents beyond the child's actual time of death. Good team player and experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team. Ability to work independently. Up to date with current research on child and adult bereavement. Therapeutic interventions in grief work. Knowledge of working in the voluntary sector and statutory services. Experience of working with people with complex needs.
Additional Criteria: Excellent listening and communication skills (written and verbal), and ability to contain emotional distress. Good time management and organisation skills. Competent information technology skills. Flexible approach to work and working hours as job requires some weekend work. Commitment to participating in clinical supervision. Hold a current driving licence and be able to travel as a regular part of the role. Presentation skills for a variety of audiences.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Family & Bereavement Counsellor and Support Worker in Oxford employer: Helen & Douglas House
Contact Detail:
Helen & Douglas House Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Family & Bereavement Counsellor and Support Worker in Oxford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the counselling and support field. Attend local events or workshops related to bereavement support. You never know who might have a lead on a job or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research common questions for Family & Bereavement Counsellor roles and practice your responses. Think about your experiences and how they relate to the job description, especially your work with bereaved parents.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion! When you get the chance to speak with potential employers, let your genuine care for supporting families shine through. Share stories that highlight your compassion and resilience in challenging situations.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our mission at Helen & Douglas House.
We think you need these skills to ace Family & Bereavement Counsellor and Support Worker in Oxford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Compassion: When writing your application, let your compassion shine through. We want to see how you connect with the emotional aspects of this role, so share any relevant experiences that highlight your sensitivity and understanding.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Family & Bereavement Counsellor position. Highlight your qualifications and experience in grief support, and don’t forget to mention any relevant training or workshops you've attended.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see why you’re a great fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it helps us keep everything organised on our end.
How to prepare for a job interview at Helen & Douglas House
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re familiar with the key aspects of bereavement support and the specific needs of parents dealing with loss. Brush up on the Bereavement Network Europe Model and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their approach.
✨Show Your Compassion
This role requires a lot of empathy and sensitivity. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you’ve successfully supported someone through grief or loss. Highlight your ability to connect with people on an emotional level.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills in sensitive situations. Think about how you would handle various scenarios involving bereaved parents and be prepared to articulate your thought process.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask insightful questions about the team dynamics, the support provided to staff, and how they measure success in this role. This shows your genuine interest and helps you gauge if it’s the right fit for you.
