Lead Counsellor in Lewes

Are you an experienced and compassionate counsellor with a passion for supporting people facing life-limiting illness, loss and bereavement?

As our Lead Counsellor, you will lead and develop our counselling service, ensuring patients, families, friends and the bereaved receive timely, responsive and high-quality psychosocial support. You will provide clinical leadership to our counselling team, supervise staff and volunteers, and play a key role in shaping and developing counselling and bereavement services across the hospice. If you are an accredited counsellor with leadership experience and a commitment to person-centred care, we would love to hear from you.

Job Details

• Location: St Peter & St James Hospice, North Common Road, North Chailey, East Sussex, BN8 4ED
• Salary: £37,463 - £41,635 Per annum
• Hours: 37.5 (Mon -Fri)
• Contract: Permanent full-time
• Closing Date: We will shortlist and interview as applications are received, so early applications are encouraged.

What you'll be doing

• Provide counselling and psychosocial support to patients, families, friends and those who are bereaved.
• Manage counselling referrals and assessment processes, ensuring a timely and effective response in line with organisational standards and key performance indicators.
• Triage incoming referrals and allocate support appropriately across the counselling team.
• Lead, supervise and support qualified counsellors and volunteer counsellors.
• Recruit, train and develop volunteer counsellors to meet service needs.
• Provide counselling supervision and professional guidance to members of the counselling team.
• Oversee the coordination and ongoing development of bereavement support groups and identify opportunities for additional group services.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and contribute to holistic patient care planning.
• Deliver psychosocial and counselling-related training to colleagues and external stakeholders as required.
• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records using designated electronic systems.
• Ensure counselling practice adheres to professional standards, codes of conduct, policies and procedures.
• Lead on service development initiatives and contribute to the review of clinical guidelines and working practices.
• Work closely with the Head of Supportive Care to monitor service performance and development.
• Support audit, evaluation and research activities to promote evidence-based practice.
• Demonstrate the hospice's values in all aspects of service delivery and leadership.

What we're looking for

• Diploma, Degree or Master's qualification in Counselling.
• BACP or UKCP accreditation, or working towards accreditation.
• Counselling Supervision qualification (or equivalent).
• Excellent counselling, supervision and interpersonal skills.
• Significant experience supporting individuals affected by loss, grief, bereavement, attachment difficulties or life-limiting illness.
• Experience of managing, supervising or supporting staff and/or volunteers.
• Strong understanding of bereavement, grief and loss and their impact on individuals and families.
• Ability to work independently whilst contributing positively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Confidence using IT systems and electronic client record systems.
• Demonstrable commitment to continuing professional development.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to effectively manage competing priorities.
• Flexible, compassionate and professional approach to service delivery.
• Current driving licence and access to a vehicle for community visits.

The following would be advantageous but are not essential

• Experience working within a hospice, palliative care, healthcare or social care setting.
• Experience of providing counselling services within specialist palliative care.
• Experience delivering counselling-related training to others.
• Experience working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Experience using SystmOne or similar clinical record systems.
• Experience participating in audits, service evaluations or research projects.

Why join us?

• The opportunity to make a meaningful difference to patients, families and those experiencing bereavement.
• A rewarding leadership role within a highly respected hospice and supportive multidisciplinary team.
• The opportunity to shape and develop counselling and bereavement services.
• Regular clinical supervision, professional support and continuing professional development opportunities.
• A values-led organisation committed to compassion, respect, excellence and teamwork.
• The chance to contribute to innovative, person-centred psychosocial and supportive care services.

If you are an experienced counsellor who is passionate about delivering high-quality psychosocial support and leading compassionate services for patients and families, we would love to hear from you.

Please find the full job description and person specification at the top of the page.

If you have any questions about the role or require any additional support or reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact Phillippa Jones Head of Supportive Care by emailing pjones@stpjhospice.org.

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