Bereavement Counsellor

Job description

Job responsibilities

An exciting opportunity has arisen for the appointment of a bereavement counsellor in the award-winning Suicide Bereavement Service, delivered by Mind in Bexley together with partners South East London Mind and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. The service offers a community resource with open access to adults and young people bereaved by suicide across South East London (Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark). The integrated team provides both one-to-one and group support, with the aim of reducing the risk of further deaths by suicide in this vulnerable group.

We are seeking an experienced bereavement counsellor who can work compassionately to deliver trauma-informed therapeutic support to people aged 13 and over bereaved by suicide. You will have evidence of post qualifying counselling experience, including of multidisciplinary working. You will be non-judgemental, caring, and resilient, with a good understanding of the issues presented by bereavement through suicide.

The ability to adapt your approach to a wide variety of people, being inclusive and sensitive to service users cultural and religious backgrounds, is essential. You will need to be able to work with sensitivity, respect other team members, and be open to learning. The role is demanding, so you will need to be emotionally intelligent and able to work within clear boundaries whilst being a reflective practitioner.

The teams office is at the Bethlem Royal Hospital in West Wickham, Bromley. The successful candidate must be able to attend fortnightly team meetings at the office and be available to provide in-person counselling at least one day per week (either at the Bethlem Hospital or in the Lewisham/New Cross area). Working days must include Thursdays, with the other 2 or 3 days being flexible from Monday-Friday. We are particularly interested in hearing from people able to work Mondays, Fridays or evenings. The role may involve occasional evening and weekend working. You will be willing to work therapeutically face-to-face, by video call and by phone call, in response to client needs.

You will join a close, supportive team who share a passion for helping people cope with the impact of traumatic bereavement. You will have ownership over your work, while being well supported through regular supervision and reflective practice. For the right candidate, this unique role will be deeply rewarding.

Person Specification

Qualification / Memberships

Essential

• Accredited membership, or registered and working towards accreditation, with one of the following regulatory bodies: BACP / NCS / UKCP

Experience

Essential

• Experience of providing counselling to bereaved people
• Experience of working with people at risk of suicide and managing client safety
• Experience of working with and willingness to work with young people aged 13 and over
• Experience of working in an agency setting

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Mind in Bexley Ltd.

Address

S L A M Nhs Foundation Trust

Monks Orchard Road

Beckenham

Kent

BR33BX

Employer's website

https://mindinbexley.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)