Counsellor

Job summary

To apply for this role please send your CV and Supporting statement to (apply through the link on this page)

To help us assess applications fairly and consistently, we will only be able to consider applications where both documents have been provided.

If you are a qualified counsellor who supports children, young people and families with compassion, sensitivity and respect through trauma, bereavement and anticipatory grief, while valuing each persons unique experience, this could be the role for you.

As a Bluebell Wood Counsellor, you will provide professional, competent and ethical counselling to children and adults affected by life-shortening conditions, palliative care or end-of-life care. Working under the direction of the Family Wellbeing and Counselling Coordinator, you will help ensure that therapeutic support is safe, responsive and delivered in line with BACP requirements.

Main duties of the job

What you will do

You will manage a balanced caseload and provide in-person or remote therapy according to client need, working autonomously within professional and organisational policies and referring complex needs appropriately.

You will keep accurate, confidential records and appointments on The Care Database, monitor attendance, provide reports, comply with GDPR, and promptly escalate safeguarding or other concerns.

You will build effective relationships with children, young people and families, collaborate with hospice and external services, and signpost needs outside bereavement or anticipatory grief support.

You will maintain practice through monthly clinical supervision, CPD and self-care, while contributing to service development and advising colleagues on trauma and grief.

This is a role snapshot; download the full job description and person specification for details.

What you will need:

You must be a BACP-registered qualified counsellor, trained to work with children, with relevant post-qualifying experience and sound referral judgement.

You will communicate sensitively, build trust and use sound judgement when assessing need, managing risk and safeguarding. Bereavement counselling experience with children is essential; palliative care experience is desirable.

You will use Microsoft Office confidently, analyse service data, produce reports, maintain current knowledge and assess support needs across diverse communities.

About us

Why join Bluebell Wood?

At Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, we're committed to ensuring every baby, child and young person with a life-limiting condition can access specialist palliative care whenever and wherever they need it. Supporting families across South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire, North Derbyshire and parts of North Lincolnshire, we provide a wide range of expert services tailored to each family's needs, including respite care, symptom management, counselling, therapies, home visits and end-of-life support. Delivering this vital care costs around £6.7 million each year, yet only around 17% of our income comes from government funding, meaning we rely heavily on fundraising, donations and community support. That's why every role at Bluebell Wood matters.

In this purpose-driven role, you will provide compassionate, professional counselling that embraces individuality and helps children, young people and families navigate trauma, bereavement and anticipatory grief with specialist support tailored to their needs.

Job responsibilities

Job purpose

The post holder has the responsibility for provision of counselling services for both children and adults, experiencing trauma, bereavement, and anticipatory grief, due to life shortening, palliative or end of life care, at Bluebell Wood to ensure that they are delivered in line with the ethical and professional codes of conduct pertaining to the relevant registered body (BACP).

Key responsibilities

Provide professional, competent, and ethical counselling in line with BACP requirements.

Provide a robust service delivery, under the direction of the Family Wellbeing and Counselling Coordinator.

To provide data and reports on services provided as required.

Maintain records in confidence and in line with the Data Protection Act 1998 and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations).

Seek out and engage in regular clinical supervision.

Continue life-long professional learning.

Support colleagues in helping to ascertain the correct level of support based on client need and referring/signposting to the most appropriate service.

Key Tasks

Provide data and reports on the services provided as required.

Maintain accurate notes and appointment schedules using The Care Database, monitoring attendance and cancellations of clients.

Raise concerns to the appropriate member of management or Safeguarding Lead in a timely manner to ensure effective intervention if necessary.

Facilitate therapy sessions either in person or remotely according to client need.

Therapy:

Hold a balanced caseload of clients, oering therapeutic intervention in line with professional registered body, (BACP).

Work autonomously as a competent practitioner within national, organisational, and local policies and procedures maintaining British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) or equivalent accreditation, working within the professional framework for ethical practice.

Continue to be mindful of and honest about limits to competence and make recommendations for referral on where psychological diculties are more complex and/or require specialist services/interventions.

Work in partnership with other professionals and agencies where necessary, signposting appropriately in situations where the core individual need is not bereavement or anticipatory grief.

Maintain a professional level of clinical practice through participation in individual monthly clinical supervision, placing a high value on self-care.

Maintain ongoing professional CPD in line with BACP requirements for continued registration, setting realistic personal development objectives. Taking responsibility for own development and maintaining a professionally relevant development portfolio.

Communication:

Develop and maintain effective therapeutic relationships with children, young people and their families who use the counselling services via their preferred method of contact.

Establish and maintain eective communication with relevant individuals and groups to support children, young people, siblings, and family members; including key members of the hospice; volunteers; service users; statutory and voluntary organisations.

Develop and maintain effective communication links and relationships with external stakeholders, multi-disciplinary services and agencies, individuals, and organisations, to enable effective signposting where required.

Understand the importance of, and maintain, the need for confidentiality in all individual and hospice matters.

Service Development:

Engage in research and development opportunities.

Network with other professionals both locally, regionally, and nationally who oer specialised services to children and families.

Work in collaboration with the psychological therapies team to continue to develop a robust, creative and evidence-based service for our children and families.

Support the psychological therapies team to guide Family Support and wider hospice colleagues on theories around trauma, bereavement, and anticipatory grief to support their individual roles, providing specic training sessions where necessary.

Person specification

Essential criteria

Qualified Counsellor registered with BACP

Specific training in working with children

BACP Accreditation (or actively working towards this)

Experience of responding proactively to safeguarding concerns

Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively

Ability to demonstrate a high degree of professional credibility

Experience of providing bereavement counselling to children

IT Literate, including the ability to use Microsoft Office suite

Ability to analyse data and produce performance reports

Expert knowledge within own profession, which underpins theory, gained through recent professional development

Legally entitled to work in this country

Willing and able to travel extensively to meet the needs of our children, young people, and their families

Car driver with access to a vehicle

Desirable criteria

Experience of working within a palliative care setting

Knowledge and understanding of the assessment of child and young adult support needs in a racially and culturally diverse population

GENERAL

All Bluebell Wood employees are required to:

Abide by the Health & Safety at Work Act

Adhere to policy and procedures around safeguarding children and young adults

Respect confidentiality applying to all Hospice areas

Work within Hospice policies and procedures

Demonstratable understanding and application of the provisions of GDPR

Comply with the Hospice no smoking policy

Participate in and contribute to team meetings

Co-operate and liaise with colleagues

Behave in a professional manner at all times

Act as an ambassador for Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice, reflecting the objectives and values, and to always work in the best interests of the charity.