London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust

Bereavement Counsellor

The closing date is 14 April 2026

Job summary

We are looking for a qualified counsellor to join our bereavement team at Meadow House Hospice, Ealing hospital. This follows a successful bid for additional funding to support our community palliative care teams.

The successful candidate will offer bereavement counselling to adult relatives following the death of a patient at the hospice or in the community.

Main duties of the job

Offers counselling to bereaved relatives, carers or significant others of Meadow House Hospice (MHH) patients. Sometimes this will include pre-bereavement work.

Manages own caseload.

Supports volunteer counsellors, and supervises when required by bereavement Manager.

Provides bereavement related consultation, training and support to the wider Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT).

Helps facilitate group therapy work as and when required by bereavement manager.

Supports service evaluation and audit.

Is an active participant within MHH Psychological Support Team, collaborating with the wider Cancer and Palliative Care Psychology Service to establish and maintain a well-co-ordinated and mutually supportive team of psychological specialists.

About us

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWH) cares for the people of Brent, Ealing, Harrow and beyond.

Our team of more than 8,200 clinical and support staff serve a diverse population of almost one million people.

We run major acute services at:

  • Northwick Park Hospital: home to one of the busiest emergency departments (A&E) in the country. The hospital provides a full range of services including the country's top-rated hyper-acute stroke unit and one of only three hyper-acute rehabilitation units in the UK
  • St Mark's Hospital: an internationally renowned specialist centre for bowel disease
  • Ealing Hospital: a busy district general hospital providing a range of clinical services, as well as 24/7 emergency department and urgent care centre, and specialist care at Meadow House Hospice
  • Central Middlesex Hospital: our planned care site, hosting a range of surgical and outpatient services and collocated with an urgent care centre.

We are a university teaching NHS trust, in recognition of the important role we play in training clinicians of the future and bringing the benefits of research to the public.

Details

Date posted

10 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£45,953 to £54,254 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

337-NP-9511DG

Job locations

Meadow House Hospice

(behind Ealing Hospital) Uxbridge Road

Southall

UB1 3HW


Job description

Job responsibilities

Meadow House Hospice (MHH) provides a specialist palliative care service for the residents of Ealing and Hounslow. This includes a 15 bedded in-patient unit and a large community team. Patients present with complex and specialist needs, and the focus of their care will have changed from curative to palliative. The Hospice provides support to families and carers, including bereavement support.

The Bereavement Service offers support and counselling to adult relatives of patients who were under the care of MHH. It provides bereavement related consultation, training and support to professional colleagues. It works closely with the Specialist Palliative Care Psychology Service, is part of the LNWH Cancer and Palliative CarePsychological Services Team, and the wider LNWH Psychological Services Network (PSN).

Job description

Job responsibilities

Meadow House Hospice (MHH) provides a specialist palliative care service for the residents of Ealing and Hounslow. This includes a 15 bedded in-patient unit and a large community team. Patients present with complex and specialist needs, and the focus of their care will have changed from curative to palliative. The Hospice provides support to families and carers, including bereavement support.

The Bereavement Service offers support and counselling to adult relatives of patients who were under the care of MHH. It provides bereavement related consultation, training and support to professional colleagues. It works closely with the Specialist Palliative Care Psychology Service, is part of the LNWH Cancer and Palliative CarePsychological Services Team, and the wider LNWH Psychological Services Network (PSN).

Person Specification

Education/ qualifications

Essential

  • 1.Qualification in Counselling or Psychotherapy at Advanced Diploma level or equivalent
  • 2.Accreditation with appropriate professional body (e.g., BACP or UKCP, or working towards)
  • 3.Evidence of continuing Profession Development (CPD)

Desirable

  • Training / Qualification in supervision
  • Training / qualification in family or systemic therapy
  • Experience in Trauma Informed Approaches

Knowledge and experience

Essential

  • Knowledge of models and theories of grief, bereavement needs and needs assessment
  • Understanding of the impact of terminal illness and bereavement upon individuals and families
  • Understanding of the influence of race/culture (and membership of other minoritized groups) upon responses to bereavement and grieving and access to support
  • Understanding of the role of Bereavement Care within specialist hospice care
  • Experience in bereavement care and/or palliative care
  • Experience of working in an NHS or health care environment

Desirable

  • Experience of working in hospice settings
  • Experience of working with couples and families
  • Experience of facilitating groups
Person Specification

Education/ qualifications

Essential

  • 1.Qualification in Counselling or Psychotherapy at Advanced Diploma level or equivalent
  • 2.Accreditation with appropriate professional body (e.g., BACP or UKCP, or working towards)
  • 3.Evidence of continuing Profession Development (CPD)

Desirable

  • Training / Qualification in supervision
  • Training / qualification in family or systemic therapy
  • Experience in Trauma Informed Approaches

Knowledge and experience

Essential

  • Knowledge of models and theories of grief, bereavement needs and needs assessment
  • Understanding of the impact of terminal illness and bereavement upon individuals and families
  • Understanding of the influence of race/culture (and membership of other minoritized groups) upon responses to bereavement and grieving and access to support
  • Understanding of the role of Bereavement Care within specialist hospice care
  • Experience in bereavement care and/or palliative care
  • Experience of working in an NHS or health care environment

Desirable

  • Experience of working in hospice settings
  • Experience of working with couples and families
  • Experience of facilitating groups

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

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

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

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

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Meadow House Hospice

(behind Ealing Hospital) Uxbridge Road

Southall

UB1 3HW


Employer's website

https://www.lnwh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Meadow House Hospice

(behind Ealing Hospital) Uxbridge Road

Southall

UB1 3HW


Employer's website

https://www.lnwh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Counsellor & Bereavement Manager

Priscah Kago-Guede

priscah.guede@nhs.net

02082425921

Details

Date posted

10 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£45,953 to £54,254 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

337-NP-9511DG

Job locations

Meadow House Hospice

(behind Ealing Hospital) Uxbridge Road

Southall

UB1 3HW


Supporting documents

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