Counsellor or Psychotherapist - Bereavement in Taunton

Counsellor or Psychotherapist - Bereavement

We are seeking an experienced counsellor or psychotherapist to provide specialist assessment and support to bereaved individuals, including those with more complex needs, identifying and responding appropriately to risk and safeguarding concerns.

This role will have accountability for the day to day management of service referrals, caseloads and delivery of bereavement support.

An important part of the role will be managing and developing our bereavement support volunteer team, ensuring volunteers and counselling students are recruited, inducted, supported and supervised to provide high-quality, safe and compassionate support.

• Agenda for Change equivalent: Band 5
• Working pattern: Part time 22.5 hours a week, worked Monday to Wednesday
• Contract: Permanent

This cross-county role will be based across our Taunton and Yeovil hospice sites, with regular travel across Somerset as part of the role.

Main duties of the job

• Assessing complex bereavement needs and developing appropriate, person-centred plans of support.
• Managing and prioritising referrals and caseloads effectively.
• Supporting people experiencing grief and loss with compassion, sensitivity and appropriate professional boundaries.
• Leading, supporting and supervising Bereavement Support Volunteers and counselling students on placement.
• Supporting the recruitment, induction, development and retention of bereavement volunteers.
• Working collaboratively with hospice multidisciplinary teams and external health, social care and community services.
• Recognising and responding appropriately to safeguarding and other areas of risk.
• Monitoring service quality and outcomes through data, audit and the experiences of people accessing support.
• Developing and reviewing bereavement policies, procedures and operational guidance.
• Providing training and education to staff, volunteers and other professionals.
• Contributing to service reports and the continued development of high-quality, equitable bereavement support across the county.

About us

You won't just be joining a fantastic team --you'll become part of a welcoming, community-minded charity making a real difference every day.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment alongside a range of benefits including:

Holiday entitlement

• 33 days including bank holidays, rising to 35 days after 1 year, and increasing with length of service (pro-rata if part-time)
• For Band 5 clinical roles, annual leave entitlement may include reckonable service from previous clinical roles at Band 5 or above, where joining us directly from the NHS or another hospice.*
• Ability to buy and sell annual leave
• NHS pension continuation where applicable*
• 6% employer / 5% employee contribution for non-NHS staff

Additional Benefits

• Life assurance cover (2x salary)*
• Health Cash Plans
• Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access, counselling, wellbeing support, and legal/financial advice
• Blue Light Discount Card
• Enhanced maternity leave*
• Excellent learning and development opportunities
• Free on-site parking in Yeovil and Taunton
• Opportunities to volunteer and support fundraising initiatives

*Eligibility criteria applies

Job responsibilities

Clinical Leadership and management

• Be responsible for prioritising and distributing referrals and effective caseload management within the bereavement services, including appropriately ending the episode of care, actively respecting client autonomy and promoting independence.
• Ensure the most effective delivery of the bereavement support service within agreed organisational parameters, outcomes and available resources.
• Ensure awareness of referral processes and good practice in bereavement support within the wider multi-disciplinary team.
• Jointly lead and manage the Bereavement Support Volunteer Team.
• Take the lead role in the recruitment, induction and retention of bereavement support volunteers in liaison with the St. Margarets Hospice Volunteer Co-ordinators.
• Day to day management, support and supervision of Bereavement Service Volunteers and counselling students on placement, working in a range of defined bereavement support roles.
• Maintain vigilance regarding safeguarding vulnerable adults and children, aware of legislation and implications, across the service.

Service Development & Quality

• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the service through data collection, client narratives and regular reporting.
• Ensure accurate and contemporaneous records are maintained using appropriate Systems.
• Maintain statistical data requirements
• Provide ongoing evaluation of the service; review of outcomes and effectiveness - both qualitative and quantitative, including audit.
• Keep abreast of current research and developments, actively participate in training sessions, internal and external courses.
• Ensure consistency and equity of access to services across the county.

Educational Role

• Maintain own professional standards and attend regular clinical supervision and CPD.
• To fulfil internal and external teaching and presentation commitments as appropriate to the role
• To participate in the staff Personal Development Review scheme as an appraisee and to be responsible for complying with the agreed organisational, professional and personal objectives.
• Deliver training to ensure that staff, volunteers and others are enabled to provide services within appropriate ethical frameworks, responding to the needs of service users.
• Undertake any necessary skills training, professional updates and mandatory training as appropriate to the post and as directed

Responsibility for Strategy/Policy/Protocol Development:

• Contribute to regular reports including an annual report for the supportive care service.
• Develop, review and revise policies and operational guidelines for the Bereavement Service.

Communication and People

To represent St Margaret's hospice locally and nationally in Bereavement networks.

• Liaise with the community and inpatient Multidisciplinary Teams to identify and support appropriate referrals.
• Liaise with relevant external agencies regarding bereavement support needs of clients.
• Make appropriate referrals to other professionals and work collaboratively with other statutory and non-statutory service providers.
• Communicate effectively with people about highly complex or sensitive topics and/or in difficult situations; supporting anxious or distressed patients and relatives.

Governance, Equality, and Safety

• Undertake risk assessments for the Bereavement Service including lone and group working.
• Take responsibility for self-care and wellbeing, including personal therapy when needed.
• Work within organisational policies, procedures, and guidance, demonstrating St Margarets values and core competencies.
• Recognise and act in accordance with legislation, policies, and procedures relating to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Manage risks, implement control measures, and report concerns as appropriate.
• Ensure compliance with data protection and information governance policies.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

• Advanced Diploma in counselling or psychotherapy, or equivalent level of professional qualification.
• Diploma in Clinical Supervision.
• BACP registered or equivalent.
• Training in Bereavement and loss.
• Degree in a relevant specialist subject.
• Post qualification experience in either counselling /psychotherapy or specialist bereavement care.
• Demonstrable evidence of personal development including an exploration of personal losses.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.
• Good time management and the ability to prioritise.
• Make best use of time which may include the requirement to change days and times of working.
• Ability to take a proactive approach to planning and development.
• Able to travel to work in locations across Somerset.
• Ability to work evening and weekends & bank holidays to meet the needs of the service if required.

Working with others

• Significant demonstrable experience in bereavement care including bereavement needs assessment.
• Experience of effective caseload and workload management.
• Experience of delivery of group and individual clinical supervision.
• Discreet and aware at all times of the confidential nature of the work.
• IT skills including use of Microsoft office, email and internet.
• Experience of having worked with volunteers.
• Experience of multi-disciplinary/multi-agency working.

Outcome and Results

• Knowledge and competence in using a breadth of therapeutic approaches and interventions appropriately.
• Demonstrable competence in providing advice and guidance to other professions/agencies
• Experience of keeping contemporaneous clinical records.

Leading in your area

• Ability to provide training and development for staff in delivery of quality bereavement care.
• Experience of providing professional/clinical supervision.
• Evidence of appropriate knowledge and skills in the field of bereavement, including theories of loss, grief and bereavement, evidence base for bereavement care.
• Evidence of continuing professional development as required for BACP registration or equivalent.
• Specialist psychological assessment skills and knowledge, including awareness of mental health problems, psychological trauma.
• Demonstrable evidence of leadership skills.
• Teaching or training experience or qualification.
• A working knowledge of the diagnostic criteria and recommended responses to complex or prolonged grief disorders.
• Working understanding of safeguarding and mental capacity legislation.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.