Bereavement Counselor

Gulfside Healthcare Services; Brandon (FL); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Gulfside Healthcare Services is hiring a Bereavement Counselor to work under the supervision of the Manager of Social Work, Spiritual Care and Bereavement and/or the Director of Social and Volunteer Services. The role uses clinical assessment, intervention and education to support grief and loss for patients' families, as well as community members.

Requires an MSW or MHC and at least 1 year of post-degree experience in hospital, home health, or hospice, plus ability to manage crises and maintain

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) or Mental Health Counseling (MHC) from an accredited school.
• Minimum of one year post-MSW/MHC experience in hospital, home health, or hospice.
• Strong ethical standards and professional demeanor.
• Experience in individual, family, and group treatment modalities.
• Knowledge of human development, end-of-life care, family systems, and grief and loss.
• Ability to remain calm and professional; crisis management capabilities.
• Valid Florida driver’s license and ability to provide proof of automobile insurance.

Responsibilities

• Practices social work/counseling within ethics and legal guidelines.
• Maintains client confidentiality and complies with laws/regulations.
• Supports death-related care as part of life quality improvement.
• Performs bereavement follow-up, assessments, and determines counseling suitability.
• Develops client care plans including counseling and referrals.
• Identifies high-risk or suicidal clients and refers to appropriate services.
• Completes clinical documentation and notes in a timely manner.
• Facilitates support groups and grief-related workshops and memorials.
• Meets productive visit measures and supports ongoing program evaluation.
• Handles flexible hours including evenings/weekends as needed.

Skills

Bereavement counseling

Crisis intervention

Ethical professionalism

Client-centered approach

Group facilitation

Education

MSW or Mental Health Counseling (MHC) from an accredited school

Bachelor's in social work while pursuing a Master's (acceptable)

Minimum 1 year post-MSW/MHC experience in hospital/home health/hospice

Job description

The Bereavement Counselor functions under the direct supervision of the Manager of Social Work, Spiritual Care and Bereavement and/or the Director of Social and Volunteer Services and assists the facilitates all initial and on-going bereavement services. The Bereavement Counselor utilizes clinical assessment, intervention and education to maximize comfort and enhance functioning and coping around issues of grief and loss of all bereaved family/friends of deceased hospice, home health, or palliative care patients as well as community individuals.

Education And Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) or Mental Health Counseling from an accredited school/university; may have a Bachelor’s degree in social work while pursuing a Master’s degree
• Minimum of one year of post-MSW/MHC experience in a hospital, home health, or hospice or equivalent setting
• Must possess strong ethical standards and an appropriate professional demeanor
• Experience in individual, family, and group treatment modalities
• Experience in and a theoretical knowledge of human development, end-of-life care, family systems, and grief and loss
• Able to remain calm and professional and troubleshoot/handle client/family or staff crisis situations
• Must have reliable transportation to perform tasks and responsibilities in a timely and appropriate fashion. Must be able to provide proof of automobile insurance and have a valid Florida driver’s license, a copy of which will be placed in their employee file

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Practices social work/counseling in a manner that is a model for professional and agency ethics, values and integrity and that complies with the letter and spirit of legal aspects
• Adheres to the practice of confidentiality regarding clients, patients, families, and GHS staff
• Complies with all applicable laws and regulations with respect to collaborative agreements
• Is empathic and compassionate with a client-centered attitude towards accepting death as a part of life and enhancing the quality of life for all bereaved assigned to his/her care
• Completes bereavement follow-up contacts; conducts bereavement assessments establishing the suitability of individuals for individual counseling and/or group support
• Assists with the development and implementation of a client personalized care plan, which may include counseling, support information and/or referral to GHS and/or other community resources
• Assists in identifying and works with high-risk and/or suicidal clients and refers to outside agency when clinically required
• Completes clinical documentation, bereavement assessments, clinical notes, and secondary reports in a timely manner
• Facilitates support groups and grief related workshops, memorial services, and debriefing sessions around traumatic loss
• Meets or exceeds current productive visit measures as set by agency
• Monitors the effectiveness of each aspect of the Bereavement program, giving regular updates as required/requestedAbility to work flexible hours including evenings and/or weekend as needed or requested
• Create a resource bank of articles, projects, books, and videos for GHS clients and bereaved individuals in the community
• Demonstrates continued professional growth and development through participation in educational and in-service training programs for professional staff
• Addresses and supports all GHS policies and procedures; acts in accordance with company standards as outlined in the GHS Policy Manual (Employee Handbook)
• Promotes the company through participation and support of community partnerships and in professional organizations.
• All other duties/tasks as deemed appropriate for the positions of Bereavement Counselor as requested/delegated or assigned by immediate supervisor or Department Director

EEO Statement

Gulfside Healthcare Services, Inc. is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) and complies with all federal, state, and local laws that prohibit workplace discrimination and unlawful retaliation.

NOTE: This Gulfside Healthcare Services position requires an AHCA Level 2 Fingerprint screening for eligibility through the AHCA Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse. Please refer to this link for more information on this: https://info.flclearinghouse.com