Job summary
Working with individuals diagnosed with cancer or life limiting illness or the loved ones of the individual.

We require a minimum qualification of diploma level or equivalent Humanistic/person centred counselling and candidates will be have demonstrable counselling experience post qualification. Some experience of working within a palliative care setting would be desirable.

The successful candidate will hold a caseload of clients and manage this autonomously. The successful candidate will be supporting individuals who have been diagnosed with life limiting illness, experiencing complex psychological end of life issues. They will also provide counselling/bereavement counselling to any other person affected by this diagnosis.

Main duties of the job

• To provide counselling intervention with those facing death and their families, including children and young people
• To provide specialist assessment of the needs of bereaved family members and those close to the patient, identifying and implementing appropriate forms of intervention
• To provide, as appropriate, individual, couple and family counselling, and direct work with children and young people
• To work within a high level of autonomy, within professional guidelines and broad organisational policies, exercising responsibility for the systemic governance of counselling practice.
• To provide mentorship and guidance to student and volunteer counsellors and ensure systems are in place to support such counselling staff
• To provide valuable support to the extended Palliative care team
• The post holder will be integral to the Clinical Supervision process and education within St Johns Specialist Palliative care Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT)
• To collate and provide statistical information for audit and evaluation purposes
• To be involved in the selection and training of volunteers and new post- holders

About us
Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH) employ around 4000 talented colleagues who are very much appreciated, valued, and respected.

We have a wide portfolio which includes mental health, physical health, learning disability and drug and alcohol services.

We are dedicated to the development of our our people and hold a learning half day every month for our colleagues.

We are passionate about enhancing the quality of our service and we work hard to attract and select the right colleagues for our organisation. Our goal is to employ those who share our passion for providing first class care while remaining committed to our vision and values. Please view our Strategy using the link below:
https://www.rdash.nhs.uk/documents/clinical-and-organisational-strategy-2023-to-2028/

To find out more about working for RDaSH and the fantastic benefits we offer visit our website:
https://workwithrdash.co.uk/

We are committed to inclusive cultures and really value people in our organisation, view our Allyship video on YouTube to find out more:
https://youtu.be/WMJSkLoTk4Q

The main terms and conditions of service can be found here:
https://www.nhsemployers.org/publications/tchandbook

Person Specification

Qualifications
Essential

• Advanced Diploma level training in Counselling (Post graduate or equivalent in counselling comprising no less than 450 hours programme contact and no less than 450 hours supervised counselling practice (including hours gained after core training).
• Post Grad qualification Counselling Children & Young People (or working towards it)
• Accredited (with relevant professional body) or working towards accreditation

Desirable

• Educated to degree level or evidence of being able to work at this level.

Experience
Essential

• Knowledge of a range of counselling procedures and techniques acquired through professional diploma.
• Registered Counsellor
• Awareness of cultural diversity needs

Desirable

• Supervision experience
• Previous experience in direct counselling work with children and families
• Experience of working in a palliative care setting
• Experience of managing conflict
• Understanding of the wider NHS agenda
• Demonstrate an understanding of Clinical Governance
• Experience of specialist psychological assessment and treatment of clients within this specialist area
• Experience of teaching/training

Knowledge
Essential

• Experience in working with different psychological therapies including Person Centred/CBT/Gestalt/TA and Solution Focused based therapies at a specialist level including Children's Play Therapy
• High level of knowledge of bereavement and Grief Counselling and working with bereaved clients
• Knowledge of the best pathway for the individual client and their care.
• Experience at working with one or more specialist therapies with clients to manage each individual complex situation that arises.
• Knowledge of theory and practice of specific counselling therapies in relation to co-morbidity and complexities of complex loss and bereavement, end of life trauma and anxiety and depression to deliver the correct therapeutic model for the client's individual needs.
• Knowledge of legislation in relation to the client group and mental health and to work within the requirements.

Desirable

• Experience of working with Couples Therapy
• Knowledge of palliative care and end of life issues and managing them within the most suitable theory.
• Knowledge of effective care pathway navigation across primary and secondary care psychological therapy services.
• Knowledge of different research to help provide the appropriate support and best suited to the client's needs.

Skills / Abilities
Essential

• Ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of people and organisations.
• Ability to support learning and education for patients and practitioners
• Excellent communication skills being tactful and diplomatic.
• Ability to manage under pressure
• Motivated, self-reliant and approachable.
• Ability to make decisions and judgements using autonomy
• Able to demonstrate resilience.
• Ability to motivate self and others
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Basic IT skills
• Enthusiastic, dynamic., flexible, tactful
• Personal integrity
• Team worker
• Maintains confidentiality
• Trustworthy and reliable
• Self-belief
• Self-awareness
• Self-Management
• Commitment to continuous improvement of services.
• Flexibility in role to support clients may require working outside normal working hours
• Managing and prioritising own time Use of systems to Input performance data
• Communicate via e-mail and use of internet
• Working within a high level of autonomy

Desirable

• Ability to provide supervisory support to students and volunteer counsellors

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).