Bank Counsellor

Teesside Hospice; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Part time

Job summary

Teesside Hospice invites applications for a qualified counsellor (Level 5) working toward professional accreditation to join our Bereavement Service. The Bank Counsellor will manage a caseload, delivering compassionate, evidence-based bereavement support to adults, children and young people, and contribute to education sessions.

You will hold a Foundation degree, be BACP registered, and participate in supervision, training and multidisciplinary work within a CQC Outstanding environment.

Qualifications

• Qualified counsellor to a minimum of Level 5, Foundation degree in Counselling.
• Be a member of BACP (registered).
• Excellent IT skills, specifically Word and Excel.

Responsibilities

• Provide skilled therapeutic support to bereaved adults, children and young people.
• Deliver bereavement education sessions to external organisations.
• Conduct thorough assessments to identify client needs and risks.
• Apply appropriate therapeutic approaches and refer when necessary.
• Respond promptly and empathetically to inquiries while maintaining confidentiality.
• Participate in clinical supervision and reflective practice.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Ability to work with otherProfession

Effective team worker

Understanding of working withVoluntees

Education

Foundation degree in Counselling (Level 5)

BACP registered

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Job description

Weare seeking a qualified counsellor (minimum Level 5, Foundation Degree) who isworking towards professional accreditation and has direct experience inbereavement support, either through practice or structured volunteering. Youwill deliver safe, compassionate and evidence based counselling to adults,children and young people, demonstrating strong clinical skills, emotionalresilience and a commitment to high quality bereavement care.

Thisbank, as and when required role is a valued part of our counselling team. Youwill work flexibly in response to service need and hold a caseload of bereavedindividuals during periods of increased demand, staff absence or servicepressure, ensuring consistent and effective support across the BereavementService.

Main duties of the job

Asa Bank Counsellor, you will be responsible for:

• Provide skilled therapeutic support to bereaved adults, childrenand young people, using appropriate counselling models and interventionstailored to individual need.
• Deliver engaging bereavement related education sessions toexternal organisations, including local schools, colleges and community groups.
• Conduct thorough assessments to identify client needs, risks andsuitability for counselling, ensuring timely onward referral where required.
• Select and apply appropriate therapeutic approaches, referringclients for specialist or alternative support when necessary.
• Respond promptly, professionally and empathetically to allenquiries, ensuring clients feel heard, supported and safe.
• Uphold strict confidentiality and data protection standards inline with professional and organisational requirements.
• Participate in regular clinical supervision to supportreflective practice, professional development and safe client care.
• Facilitate or support bereavement groups, contributing tostructured therapeutic programmes for adults or CYP.
• Contribute to internal hospice education sessions, supportingstaff understanding of grief, loss and bereavement processes.

About us

About us

• Work within a CQC Outstanding organisation.
• Be part of a highly skilled, supportive and compassionate team.
• Make a meaningful difference to patients and families when they need it most.
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
• Help shape and influence the future of hospice care across Teesside.

This is a rewarding opportunity to develop your leadership career while making a lasting impact on the lives of those we support.

At Teesside Hospice, we believe in making every moment count. Our team is dedicated to providing exceptional, specialist care and support to patients and their families during challenging times.

People are at our core. We offer a supportive environment with opportunities for professional growth and development and are always aiming for the highest standards and working environment. Our teams work positively together, collaborating to ensure our patients get the best care, and staff enjoy a fulfilling career knowing they make a real difference in people's lives.

Our values are Compassionate, Skilled, Accountable, Trustworthy and Principled - working here means being part of a community that focuses on empathy, respect and teamwork. We're there for everyone who needs us and are on a mission to change the way society and healthcare systems care for people.

Join us at Teesside Hospice and be part of a place where your skills and compassion can truly shine.

Job responsibilities

The BankCounsellor will provide therapeutic support to Adults, Children and YoungPeople referred to the Teesside Hospice Bereavement Counselling Service,including individuals experiencing anticipatory grief prior to a death. Aspart of this flexible, asrequired role, the counsellor may also delivercounselling and emotional support within local schools, working with pupils,staff and wider school communities when requested.

The post holdermay contribute to the Hospices external education offer, deliveringbereavementrelated training on an adhoc basis as required.

They will work inaccordance with professional counselling standards, the Bereavement ServiceStandard Operating Policy, and all relevant Hospice policies and procedures.The role supports the Group Head of Bereavement Counselling in maintainingthe effective, safe and highquality delivery of the Bereavement Service.

General Duties

• To work as a key member ofthe Bereavement Service to ensure a high-quality service delivery in an ethicaland professional manner in line with the agreed Standard Operating Policy.
• To be a registered memberof the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) orequivalent professional body.
• To be an experiencedcounsellor able to work both short or long term with clients and including experience of working with bereavement and loss.
• To deliver bereavementrelated education to external partners and organisations.
• To be responsible for acase load as agreed with Group Head of Counselling and service requirements.
• To have experience ofassessing clients for risk and suitability, recognising the need to seeksupport in more difficult and complex situations from Head of Counsellingand/or Supervisor.
• To work collaborativelywith other members of the service, volunteers and wider Hospice as a whole toenable best support for patients and their families.
• To liaise with externalagencies and referrers as necessary in a professional manner in line withagreed confidentiality guidelines.
• To maintain appropriaterecords to meet professional and Hospice guidelines and standards set bystatuary bodies such as the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
• To engage in regularsupervision in accordance with professional requirements.
• To maintain professionalcompetence and ensure evidence-based practice by keeping updated with in houseeducation, current research and development.
• Attend team meetings and inservicetraining as required, and be prepared to facilitate workshops, educationalsessions and therapeutic groups as agreed with the Head of Bereavement. Counsellingand service need.
• To carry out the role inaccordance with the law, Hospice and service Policies and other relevantprofessional guidelines.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Qualified counsellor to a minimum of Level 5, Foundation degree in Counselling
• Be BACP registered
• Excellent IT Skills, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel

Skills & Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to work with other professionals
• Effective team worker
• Understanding of working with volunteers

Experience

• Accredited counsellor (BACP Membership)
• Sound experience of working with a range of clients both short and long term
• Experience of working with bereavement and loss
• Experience of assessing clients
• Management of own caseload and time including accurate record keeping
• Experience of working with children and young people
• Experience of working with patients and their families experiencing anticipatory grief
• Awareness of ethical practice
• Experience of training and/or facilitating groups
• Experience of audit
• Experience of supervising

Personal Attributes/Key skills

• Tact and sensitivity in dealing with a variety of situations
• Self-aware and able to identify and seek support for own needs
• Flexible attitude towards work
• Good collaborative team working skills
• Self-confident and ability to work on own initiative
• Committed to anti discriminatory practice
• Ability to hold professional boundaries
• Understanding of multi-disciplinary working

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.