Bank Infertility Counsellor

Job responsibilities

Main duties and responsibilities

• To provide a service that is sensitive and adaptable to the needs of the

individual client, couple and family including donors and surrogates before, during and after treatment, taking into account forms of involvement in assisted conception, stages of investigation and treatment and other sources of support

To provide the three distinct types of counselling as outlined in the HFEA code of practice - implications counselling, support counselling and therapeutic counselling

To provide support to donor conceived people and donors wishing to register with the Donor Conceived Register.

Implications counselling for:

Patients and their partners taking part in gametes donation treatments (receiving or donating ovum, sperm or embryo) and surrogacy (surrogate and commissioning couples).

Support and Therapeutic Counselling for:

Patients suffering emotional and psychological distress and referring to relevant professional bodies when appropriate.

Patients who store sperm, eggs or embryos for fertility preservation such as prior to chemo- or radiotherapy.

Patients of deceased partners who have previously stored gametes.

Patients whose treatment has failed or who have experienced a pregnancy loss.

Prospective donors or surrogates who are found to be unsuitable for treatment.

Patients diagnosed with genetic problems, after having relevant genetic counselling, and to explore how this affects them psychologically.

Donor conceived people who wish to obtain information about their donor and/or half siblings on the register

Donors who wish to remove their anonymity

Welfare of the child assessment responsibilities:

Assesses the welfare of the unborn child and any other child who may be affected by treatment.

Contributes to the requirements of the HFEA act for assessment under the welfare of the child provisions, consistent with their role as counsellor.

To receive highly complex, sensitive, distressing or contentious information, taking into account confidentiality whilst maintaining client and /or public safety.

Liaises with health care professionals and other tertiary agencies.

Prepares welfare of the child and/or safeguarding cases to be presented to Management meetings and Hewitt Centre Ethics Committee providing pre-conception assessment reports.

Other general responsibilities:

Keep appropriate records of patient contact.

Provides counselling skills training as appropriate for the staff of the Hewitt Centre.

Provides presentations for Patients Support Group and for Staff training

Works within ethical guidelines as set out by the British Infertility Counselling Association, and within the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority Code of Practice.

Assists in induction and training of Counsellors and multi disciplinary staff in absence of Senior Counsellor.

To maintain and develop specialist knowledge and skills through (i) a programme of continuous professional development [CPD] and training

(ii) engage with continuing professional supervision separate form management

(iii) regular review of current research, legislation, policy-making and other activity relevant to the specific patient/client group.

• To exercise autonomous professional responsibility for assessment of and provision for the counselling needs of patients / clients referred to the service.
• Preferably to be able to work from both Liverpool Womens Hospital and Knutsford Hewitt Fertility Centres.
• To be able to provide counselling online or via telephone as well as face to face.

This job description describes the main responsibilities of the post and is not intended to be exhaustive. It may be subject to change as the service develops and to meet the needs of the Trust.

Skills, Knowledge & Aptitudes

Essential

• To prioritise work in conjunction with manager and colleagues
• To manage ongoing caseload of patients
• To follow policies applicable to role
• To work effectively as part of a team and proactively contribute to the team
• To work in participation with tertiary agencies.
• To contribute to and support and train a multi-disciplinary team
• To provide written reports
• To work unsupervised and under own initiative
• To demonstrate a clear commitment to equal opportunities.
• To have competent IT skills and ability to work with different systems

Qualifications & Learning

Essential

• An accredited qualification in Counselling
• Certificate in online counselling as per BACP guidelines or evidence of working towards

Desirable

• A Professional Qualification in Social Work.
• Qualification in mindfulness

Professional requirements

Essential

• Accreditation with BACP
• To have attended BICA 'Introduction to Infertility Counselling' Course
• To have supervision on a regular basis
• Membership with BICA

Desirable

• Accreditation with BICA

Flexibility & Adaptability

Essential

• To adapt to the changing needs of the unit
• To work independently
• To attend team meetings and mandatory training at Liverpool Women's Hospital

Previous experience

Essential

• To be able to relate to the emotional and psychological needs of involuntarily childless patients.
• Experience of setting and delivering therapeutic packages to meet the needs of patients.
• Understanding of the experiences and needs of donor conceived people
• Have a sound knowledge of fertility treatments
• Knowledge of the DCR and OTR services
• Knowledge of welfare of the child issues
• Experience with / Understanding of the implications of gametes donation

Desirable

• Experience with / Understanding of the implications of surrogacy
• Knowledge/experience of LGBT experiences
• Knowledge/experience of group work
• Experience in psychosexual counselling

Special Conditions

Essential

• To be sensitive to important and relevant social, medical, legal, political, professional and cultural issues to fertility treatments
• To understand ethical principles

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).