Specialist Counsellor

JOB SUMMARY Working with the hospice MDT to provide specialist psychological assessments of people with palliative care needs, based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of complex psychological data following interviews with patients, families/carers and others involved in the patients care. To assist with induction and ongoing support/education of Students/Volunteers in the service MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES To work with the Ward, Pemberton Place and Community patients to provide specialist psychological assessments as per job summary. To support carers, relatives, and significant others through direct and indirect methods To be responsible for implementing a range of psychological interventions for individuals, couples, carers, families, and groups within palliative care, drawing upon different explanatory models, including 1-2-1 work, groups, and activities To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance, and consultation to other professionals To
participate in developing and delivering teaching, training, and education in the specialist field of psychosocial constructions and understandings of terminal illness experience to the MDT staff teams To receive regular supervision from an appropriately trained and senior counsellor To continue to develop own skills and knowledge through CPD by attendance at related teaching events, conferences etc. To attend hospice meetings as required To undertake data entry onto approved IT systems of patient information, taking full account of the need to balance the highest standards of confidentiality with the need for clear communication.

To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry recording and report writing via patient notes, hospice i-Care system and Health Analytics To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health To ensure that an appropriate range of supportive information leaflets, referral agencies and other literature is available for patients and families as required. To participate as a member of the Family & Individual Support Services team, attending team meetings and any other meetings as required Any other appropriate tasks agreed with the Family & Individual Support Services Manager HOSPICE-WIDE To participate as a member of the MDT in the delivery of specialist therapeutic intervention to patients with life-limiting illness, bereaved relatives including children and young adults, friends/carers and to offer a psychological and psychotherapeutic
perspective. To attend MDT meetings, staff meetings and department development meetings, where necessary To sensitively share relative patient/family/carer information in support of the care of the patient and their families where necessary To work with all hospice teams to identify those people potentially at risk in bereavement. To provide 1-2-1 counselling to patients and families during illness and in bereavement to maintain a client caseload as per NICE Guidelines To support Quality and Care HoDs in the facilitation and delivery of ad-hoc reflective practice sessions to healthcare, nursing professionals and other hospice professionals To keep and report on where necessary comprehensive statistics for the Psychology service in accordance with local and national requirements.

To undertake Safeguarding Training and be part of the Safeguarding Leads team for the organisation VOLUNTEERS 1. To advise and co-ordinate voluntary input into the Bereavement Service where required 2. To support when required the Family & Individual Support Services Manager in the recruitment and selection of the Volunteer Bereavement Counsellors and to co-facilitate a programme of induction training, ongoing education and continuing personal development. 3.

To provide tutorial and supervision support to volunteers 4.To participate in development and provide Induction training to volunteers EDUCATION To participate in the hospice Champion work streams To lead and participate in clinical audit and forums promoting the work of the Family & Individual Support Services team. To support and environment where learning and opportunities are actively encouraged supporting staff and promoting continual learning and reflection. To participate in the Saint Francis Hospice education programme through preparation and delivery of higher education and the provision of short courses and study days To provide education to students of different disciplines attending courses and seminars at the hospice Education Centre To participate in in-house education sessions for qualified and unqualified staff and volunteers on a variety of psychosocial issues, both formally and informally To provide outreach work in the community and internally
on the issues of Psychological Care of the Dying, Total Pain and Grief, Loss, and Bereavement PROFESSIONAL To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of best practice through adherence to the Ethical Framework for good practice in counselling and psychotherapy as defined by the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy To participate in external Supervision To provide Supervision to volunteer Counsellors in accordance with BACP guidelines To adhere to the policies and conditions of service of Saint Francis Hospice relating to sickness and absence, conduct, Health and Safety, Data Protection and any others that are relevant. To take responsibility for own professional and personal development which will be monitored in supervision sessions through the hospice appraisal system.

To keep up to date with developments in the field of Psychotherapeutic and Psychosocial issues in Palliative Care To have an understanding of the importance of multi-professional team working and the ability to promote it within the organisation. To have an understanding and awareness of behaviours and interpersonal skills that are vital to effective team working and practice them at all times. To participate in hospice professional developments systems and work towards achieving professional and personal objectives OTHER REQUIREMENTS 1. Some information received or supplied during the course of duty will be of a confidential nature confidentiality is not to be breached and is a disciplinary matter.

2. To ensure that all data is managed within the requirements of the Data Protection Act 3. To report any accidents/incidents or potential hazards and to work in accordance with the hospices Health and Safety at Work policy.