Palliative Care Counsellor

Posting date:	20 June 2025
Salary:	£29,970 to £36,483 per year
Additional salary information:	£29970 - £36483 a year
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	06 July 2025
Location:	Scunthorpe, DN17 2AA
Company:	NHS Jobs
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	B0226-25-0000

Summary

JOB SUMMARY To assist in delivery of palliative counselling and bereavement services across the clinical areas of Lindsey Lodge Hospice and Healthcare To assist with delivery of assigned programmes under the direction of the Counselling Lead To deliver the highest standards of bereavement and palliative counselling care. To provide palliative counselling, support and information to those with a life limiting illness and their relatives. To provide Pre and post Bereavement support to the families of those that are living with a life limiting illness. As appropriate and within the skill set of the post holder, to assist with supervision and training for all volunteers working with the Palliative and bereavement counselling service. To assist in delivering Palliative counselling and bereavement services to meet changing needs across the hospice, working under and with the Counselling and Support Practitioner Lead. To ensure electronic documentation is up to date and accurate, and to include timely inputting of client notes on SystmOne. To produce correspondence and communication with patients and families and other health professionals in line with agreed policies and to ensure that the volunteer bereavement support workers have inputted caseload updates within SystmOne. CLINICAL/PROFESSIONAL DUTIES Under the direction of the Counselling Lead, to effectively manage a caseload offering Palliative and bereavement counselling to individuals with a range of needs providing support, bereavement information and relevant resources to patients, families and carers. Under the direction of the Counselling Lead, to develop and deliver programmes to meet the needs of individual clients and evaluate. To attend appropriate meetings as a core member of the multi-disciplinary team to provide support on bereavement issues and feedback to the Counselling Lead. Under the direction of the Counselling Lead, to assist with initiation, planning and evaluation of bereavement support for relatives and ensure the volunteer bereavement support workers assist. To follow national and organisational policies applicable to the role and keep up to date with the current legislation and evidence based practice To work with service users independently within policies and codes of conduct work is managed rather than supervised to maintain appropriate patient records, which maintain confidentiality and adhere to the Hospice Data Protection policy. Identify and assess risk to vulnerable clients and liaise with GPs and outside agencies where appropriate. Refer the bereaved on to specialist services both within the Hospice and/or external organisations as required. MANAGEMENT Under the direction of the Counselling Lead, to act as a resource for palliative care staff across the organisation. To manage an ongoing caseload of service users To be a committed team member and provide support to members of the multidisciplinary team and to other caseworkers involved in the care of clients as appropriate To assist with monitoring and prioritising the caseload of volunteers working in Counselling and bereavement support, to ensure effective service delivery. To assist with supervision and retention of Bereavement support workers. To ensure and monitor Bereavement support workers attendance at supervision meetings and support meetings. To contribute to the development of clinical standards, policies and clinical audit working within the quality framework of the Hospice and attend working parties as requested To contribute to the effective use of resources. To keep records which facilitate communication within the hospice in accordance with hospice policy. EDUCATION AND PRACTICE DEVELOPMENT To participate in regular and ongoing clinical supervision Participate in Hospice in-house educational programmes of other professionals and volunteers to promote knowledge of bereavement issues. Participate in the induction of all new staff and volunteers as required. Assist with design and implementation of bereavement and counselling courses and training days. Take responsibility for own professional and personal development, which will be monitored in supervision sessions and in the yearly appraisal. Participate in research, audit and evaluation. Ensure relevant NICE Guidelines and National Association of Bereavement Standards are met and adhered to, including policies for safeguarding vulnerable people. Assist with monitoring and evaluation of all aspects of the Palliative counselling and Bereavement Service ensuring delivery of a quality service. Maintain an awareness of research and relevant findings and in conjunction with practitioners and volunteers work towards these being applied to practice. GENERAL The post-holder will have access to confidential data on staff, patients and services within Lindsey Lodge. Failure to maintain confidentiality will lead to disciplinary action, which could ultimately lead to dismissal. The post holder may be required to participate in the assessment of risk and thereby contribute towards clinical and corporate governance agenda as appropriate. The post will be subject to regular annual staff development review. The post holder will be expected to produce work of a high standard and to promote quality at all times. Lindsey Lodge is committed to Equal Opportunities for all present and potential members of staff and patients. Therefore Lindsey Lodge expects all employees and volunteers to understand, support, and apply this policy through their working practices which requires all individuals to be treated with respect, dignity, courtesy, fairness and consideration. The post holder will be expected to keep themselves updated on all matters relating to Hospice procedure and policy. Where you are a member of a professional body you are required to conform to the professional standards set by that body. You are required to ensure your registration is current and practice continuous professional development. The ethos of the Hospice is based on an interdisciplinary approach and employees and volunteers are required to participate in this concept.