Job summary
What are we looking for?
We are seeking a skilled and compassionate clinician to join our developing Meerkats Service at St Michaels Hospice. This specialist service provides pre and post bereavement support to children and young people up to the age of 18 who have a significant adult (such as a parent or grandparent) with a life limiting illness or who have died.
This is a unique and emotionally demanding role within an adult hospice setting. The successful candidate will be required to assess the psychosocial needs of children and their families, provide specialist support accordingly and work flexibly to accommodate the needs of families; this will include facilitating groups.
We are looking to appoint an individual who holds a relevant professional qualification at diploma or degree Level. For example, this post could be suited to a qualified Social Worker, a Nurse, Counsellor or other therapist. In addition, we expect the candidate to be able to demonstrate their experience of working therapeutically with children, young people and their families and have a sound understanding of childrens needs in loss.
The successful candidate will be confident managing a caseload independently, working within multi-agency systems and contributing to service development as the Meerkats provision continues to grow.
Experience of managing a caseload, multi-agency working and excellent communication skills are essential.
Main duties of the job
The role
The Child Bereavement Specialist will assess the
psychosocial and emotional needs of children and families affected by life
limiting illness and bereavement. They will provide specialist pre and post
bereavement support through one-to-one sessions with children, guidance to
parents and family members as well as delivering group support for children.
The
role involves close liaison with hospice clinical teams, schools and other
external professionals to ensure children receive timely and appropriate
support. Contribution to safeguarding processes, delivering training and
guidance to education settings where appropriate and supporting the continued
development of the service, will be integral to this role.
The
post holder will maintain accurate clinical records and contribute to service
evaluation through routine data collection and reflective practice.
Participation in regular clinical supervision and ongoing professional
development is a core requirement of the role.
The
successful candidate will be required to travel to Rowans Hospice in
Waterlooville on an ongoing basis to shadow and work alongside the established
Rowans Meerkat Team. This regular engagement will support continued learning,
reflective practice and supervision. Attendance is expected to be guided by
service need and developmental priorities and is likely to be in the region of 1-2
days per week, subject to review.
About us
Our Partnership Approach
St Michaels Hospice and Rowans Hospice share a Chief
Executive and work in close partnership across our organisations. This
collaborative approach enables us to strengthen specialist services through
shared learning, governance and clinical development.
Rowans
Hospice established its Meerkat Service in 2008. The service is delivered by an
experienced team of three clinicians and has developed a strong reputation for
providing high quality pre and post bereavement support to children and young
people within an adult hospice setting.
We
are now bringing the Meerkat model to St Michaels Hospice to ensure that
children and young people across North Hampshire can access timely, specialist
support when facing the serious illness or death of a significant adult. This
post represents an important step in embedding this established model within
our local community.
Our benefits
We offer a competitive salary with attractive benefits,
including, free parking, life assurance, 27 days annual leave plus bank
holidays, and an extensive health and wellbeing plan and company pension.
Contact
For further information please contact Sophie
de Bere on 02392 248025 or the HR team on 01256 844744 or at hr@stmichaelshospice.org.uk.
Closing date:Sunday 12 April 2026
1st
Interview:Monday
27 April 2026 at St. Michael's Hospice, Basingstoke, RG24 9NB
2nd
interview:Thursday
30 April 2026 at Rowans Hospice, Waterlooville, PO7 5RU
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide specialist pre and post bereavement support to
children and young people up to the age of 18 who have a significant adult with
a life limiting illness or who have died.
To deliver high quality, developmentally appropriate
psychosocial assessments and therapeutic interventions within the adult hospice
setting, recognising the unique impact of life limiting illness and bereavement
on children and families.
To contribute to the establishment and growth of the
Meerkat Service at St Michaels Hospice, drawing on learning from an
established model of practice and supporting the development of safe, evidence
informed and sustainable provision within North Hampshire.
To work collaboratively with hospice colleagues and
external partners to ensure childrens needs are identified early and responded
to appropriately.
Clinical Practice
- Undertake specialist psychosocial assessments of children, young people and their families.
- Provide individual, family and group based pre and post bereavement support.
- Identify and respond to childrens emotional needs pre and post bereavement.
- Liaise with members of the hospices multi-disciplinary team to identify families requiring support.
- Work collaboratively with schools, health professionals and other agencies (e.g. Childrens Social Care and CAMHS).
- Advocate for the needs and rights of children and young people.
- Maintain up-to-date safeguarding training and adhere to hospice safeguarding procedures.
Caseload Management
- Manage a defined caseload independently.
- Prioritise referrals according to clinical need and service capacity.
- Maintain accurate, contemporaneous records in line with hospice policy and professional standards.
Service Development and Evaluation
- Contribute to the ongoing development of the Meerkat Service.
- Support routine data collection and outcome monitoring processes.
- Participate in reflective practice and contribute to evaluation of service impact.
Education and Consultancy
- Provide advice and guidance to hospice colleagues regarding childrens needs.
- Deliver training and consultation to schools and external agencies as required.
- Contribute to raising awareness of childrens bereavement needs within the hospice and wider community.
Induction and Service Development Support
- Participate in a structured induction programme, including shadowing and observational learning with the established Meerkat Team at Rowans Hospice in Waterlooville.
- Travel to Rowans Hospice, anticipated at one to two days per week.
- Integrate learning from shadowing into clinical practice within St Michaels Hospice.
- Professional Responsibilities
- Participate in regular management and clinical supervision.
- Maintain professional registration where applicable.
- Engage in continuing professional development relevant to palliative care and child bereavement.
Working Conditions
- Home visiting required within locality of Hospice service area.
- Flexible working hours to meet the needs of families.
- Lone working routinely required.
- Regular exposure to intense emotional distress.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide specialist pre and post bereavement support to
children and young people up to the age of 18 who have a significant adult with
a life limiting illness or who have died.
To deliver high quality, developmentally appropriate
psychosocial assessments and therapeutic interventions within the adult hospice
setting, recognising the unique impact of life limiting illness and bereavement
on children and families.
To contribute to the establishment and growth of the
Meerkat Service at St Michaels Hospice, drawing on learning from an
established model of practice and supporting the development of safe, evidence
informed and sustainable provision within North Hampshire.
To work collaboratively with hospice colleagues and
external partners to ensure childrens needs are identified early and responded
to appropriately.
Clinical Practice
- Undertake specialist psychosocial assessments of children, young people and their families.
- Provide individual, family and group based pre and post bereavement support.
- Identify and respond to childrens emotional needs pre and post bereavement.
- Liaise with members of the hospices multi-disciplinary team to identify families requiring support.
- Work collaboratively with schools, health professionals and other agencies (e.g. Childrens Social Care and CAMHS).
- Advocate for the needs and rights of children and young people.
- Maintain up-to-date safeguarding training and adhere to hospice safeguarding procedures.
Caseload Management
- Manage a defined caseload independently.
- Prioritise referrals according to clinical need and service capacity.
- Maintain accurate, contemporaneous records in line with hospice policy and professional standards.
Service Development and Evaluation
- Contribute to the ongoing development of the Meerkat Service.
- Support routine data collection and outcome monitoring processes.
- Participate in reflective practice and contribute to evaluation of service impact.
Education and Consultancy
- Provide advice and guidance to hospice colleagues regarding childrens needs.
- Deliver training and consultation to schools and external agencies as required.
- Contribute to raising awareness of childrens bereavement needs within the hospice and wider community.
Induction and Service Development Support
- Participate in a structured induction programme, including shadowing and observational learning with the established Meerkat Team at Rowans Hospice in Waterlooville.
- Travel to Rowans Hospice, anticipated at one to two days per week.
- Integrate learning from shadowing into clinical practice within St Michaels Hospice.
- Professional Responsibilities
- Participate in regular management and clinical supervision.
- Maintain professional registration where applicable.
- Engage in continuing professional development relevant to palliative care and child bereavement.
Working Conditions
- Home visiting required within locality of Hospice service area.
- Flexible working hours to meet the needs of families.
- Lone working routinely required.
- Regular exposure to intense emotional distress.
Person Specification
Skills, Knowledge, Abilities
Essential
- Ability to undertake specialist psychosocial assessments.
- Highly developed communication skills to participate in complex and sensitive discussions.
- Ability to work autonomously within professional boundaries.
- Ability to prioritise workload and be flexible to changing demands.
- Ability to maintain accurate and confidential records.
- Understanding of the impact of life limiting illness and bereavement on children.
- Ability to contribute to service evaluation processes.
Desirable
- Knowledge of palliative care philosophy.
- Knowledge of bereavement theories and how these relate to practice.
- Experience providing consultation or training to education settings.
Other requirements
Essential
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
- Willingness to undertake flexible working, including occasional evening work.
- Willingness and ability to travel to Rowans Hospice, Waterlooville for structured shadowing and service development support.
Experience
Essential
- Post qualifying experience working therapeutically with children, young people and families.
- Experience of managing an independent caseload.
- Experience of multi-agency working.
- Sound knowledge and experience of safeguarding children.
Desirable
- Experience within palliative care or hospice settings.
- Experience of supporting children through change and loss.
- Experience planning and delivering group work with children and young people.
Attitude, Aptitudes & Personal Characteristics
Essential
- Emotional resilience and professional maturity.
- Well-developed coping strategies.
- Ability to reflect on practice.
- Commitment to safeguarding.
- Ability to build trusting, positive relationships with children and families.
- Personal grief sufficiently resolved to work within a palliative care environment.
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional qualification at Diploma or Degree level in Social Work, Nursing, Counselling, Psychotherapy or related discipline.
- Relevant professional registration where applicable.
Desirable
- Post qualifying training in bereavement, trauma or child mental health.
Person Specification
Skills, Knowledge, Abilities
Essential
- Ability to undertake specialist psychosocial assessments.
- Highly developed communication skills to participate in complex and sensitive discussions.
- Ability to work autonomously within professional boundaries.
- Ability to prioritise workload and be flexible to changing demands.
- Ability to maintain accurate and confidential records.
- Understanding of the impact of life limiting illness and bereavement on children.
- Ability to contribute to service evaluation processes.
Desirable
- Knowledge of palliative care philosophy.
- Knowledge of bereavement theories and how these relate to practice.
- Experience providing consultation or training to education settings.
Other requirements
Essential
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
- Willingness to undertake flexible working, including occasional evening work.
- Willingness and ability to travel to Rowans Hospice, Waterlooville for structured shadowing and service development support.
Experience
Essential
- Post qualifying experience working therapeutically with children, young people and families.
- Experience of managing an independent caseload.
- Experience of multi-agency working.
- Sound knowledge and experience of safeguarding children.
Desirable
- Experience within palliative care or hospice settings.
- Experience of supporting children through change and loss.
- Experience planning and delivering group work with children and young people.
Attitude, Aptitudes & Personal Characteristics
Essential
- Emotional resilience and professional maturity.
- Well-developed coping strategies.
- Ability to reflect on practice.
- Commitment to safeguarding.
- Ability to build trusting, positive relationships with children and families.
- Personal grief sufficiently resolved to work within a palliative care environment.
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional qualification at Diploma or Degree level in Social Work, Nursing, Counselling, Psychotherapy or related discipline.
- Relevant professional registration where applicable.
Desirable
- Post qualifying training in bereavement, trauma or child mental health.
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.
