Hospice Family & Bereavement Support Specialist

The Methodist Church in Britain; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Willen Hospice is seeking a Family Support Worker to deliver practical, emotional and bereavement support to patients with life-limiting illness, their families and carers, including children. The role also assists with NHS Continuing Healthcare processes and coordination with clinical teams.

You will manage a varied caseload, perform holistic needs assessments, and provide tailored support plans while participating in multidisciplinary meetings and occasional community visits.

Qualifications

• Level 3 qualification (NVQ/QCF) or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical, emotional, psychosocial and bereavement support to patients, families and carers, including children and young people, across the In-Patient Unit and Wellbeing Services.
• Manage a varied caseload, complete holistic needs assessments and develop tailored support plans.
• Build trusted relationships and recognise when counselling, spiritual care, safeguarding or other specialist support is needed.
• Contribute to daily triage, handovers and multidisciplinary meetings, sharing family and psychosocial updates.
• Support safe, well-coordinated discharge planning with clinical colleagues, anticipating changing needs.
• Offer guidance and practical advocacy on welfare benefits, housing, grants and community support.
• Support NHS Continuing Healthcare processes: identify potential eligibility with the clinical team, complete Checklists once competent, guide families and liaise with NHS and Local Authority partners.
• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential records.
• Contribute to audits and service development.
• Support volunteers.
• Undertake occasional community visits.
• Work within professional, safeguarding and clinical boundaries.

Skills

Empathy & communication

Organised & detail-focused

Digital reporting systems

Safeguarding knowledge

Teamwork / multidisciplinary

Independent working

Education

Level 3 qualification (NVQ/QCF) or equivalent experience

Job description

Willen Hospice is seeking a Family Support Worker to deliver practical, emotional and bereavement support to patients with life-limiting illness, their families and carers, including children. The role also assists with NHS Continuing Healthcare processes and coordination with clinical teams.

You will manage a varied caseload, perform holistic needs assessments, and provide tailored support plans while participating in multidisciplinary meetings and occasional community visits.