Counsellor Therapist Children Young People and Families

Job description

Job responsibilities

As a Counsellor/Therapist you will work within the bereavement service providing specialist counselling to children young people and their families.

OVERALL PURPOSE OF JOB:

To provide a service by undertaking 1:1 support, counselling and group work with children, young people and families as necessary for the Yo-Yo Project

To provide support and education to other agencies/professionals working with children and young people

To be a member of the Yo-Yo Project, Bereavement Team and the wider Farleigh Hospice Team

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES (CLINICAL WORK)

To work as a full member of the Multi-Professional Team (MPT), providing a preparation for loss and bereavement service to young people, families and their carers

To participate in Multi-Professional meetings as necessary

To work with children and families using individual, group or family techniques and involving other members of the Yo-Yo or Bereavement Team as appropriate. To provide an opportunity for children and young people to safely and creatively explore their emotions with regard to terminal illness and bereavement issues

To maintain and develop the hospice children and young peoples service according to best practice and client need

To keep records which facilitate communication within the hospice in accordance with hospice policy and good work practice

To keep relevant statistics that demonstrate the work of the children and young peoples service

To be involved with the selection, recruitment, supervision and training of Bereavement Volunteers necessary for the children and young peoples service

To participate in the multi-professional teaching programmes of the hospice

To participate in research projects if relevant to the children and young peoples service

SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING

To provide the necessary training to those who will be working with children and young people in Farleigh Hospice so that they can meet the needs of bereaved children and those facing the loss of someone significant

To devise and deliver this training to include an appropriate level of Child Protection and Safeguarding knowledge

To develop and participate in an Education and Training programme for external agencies (schools, youth agencies) to help provide education about the loss and bereavement needs of children and young people and to also raise the profile of Farleigh Hospice with regard to this

Member of the Bereavement Team and the wider Farleigh Team

To work jointly with CIRCLE adult bereavement support, the Farleigh Hospice service for bereaved adults

To help develop the hospice Bereavement Service in consultation with the Head of Bereavement, the Director of Care and with the Multi-Professional Team

To keep records and submit information to Children in Need and/or other grant funders when required

To contribute within the team an understanding and assessment of the psychological, emotional and social problems of individuals and families from whatever cultural or ethnic group

To represent the hospice at functions and other events as necessary

As part of the team to be supportive to colleagues

Professional Responsibilities

To be a registered Counsellor/Therapist with an Advanced Diploma/Degree in Counselling/Social Work (RSW) or other relevant therapeutic discipline (e.g. Art, Music, Play Therapy)

To be aware of and work within the Policies/Procedures/Standards of Farleigh Hospice, including those relating to Health and Safety and Moving and Handling

To be a member of the Association of Specialist Palliative Care Social Workers/British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy or other appropriate Association/Professional Body

The post holder will be actively involved in service development as the Yo-Yo Project develops

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Therapy registration with an Advanced Diploma/Degree in Counselling or other relevant therapeutic discipline
• Counsellor/Art, Music, Play Therapist
• Advanced Diploma/Degree in Counselling Children and Young People or equivalent qualification/relevant experience

Experience

Essential

• Teaching experience/qualification
• Competency in Windows based software including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to work effectively autonomously as well as in a team
• Effective oral/written communication and interpersonal skills
• Child centred, creative group and individual work
• Working in a professional capacity with children, young people and families
• Experience of working with loss & bereavement
• In depth knowledge of models of bereavement and loss

Desirable

• Experience in a palliative care setting

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Ability to travel independently and effectively as the post holder will need to travel to different work locations. Access to a reliable vehicle for work related travel (expenses will be paid)
• Flexible approach
• A full driving licence
• Commitment, motivation and enthusiasm for personal and professional development
• Enhanced DBS clearance required on appointment and checked every three years thereafter

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Farleigh Hospice

Address

Farleigh Hospice

North Court Road

Broomfield

Chelmsford

CM1 7FH

Employer's website

https://www.farleighhospice.org/ (Opens in a new tab)