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You will be joining a small team of experienced therapists/counsellors who integrate a range of therapeutic modalities and approaches.

The patient and family therapists work within a multi-disciplinary team setting to provide psychological /emotional support to patients and their families at the end of life.  Our patients have a range of life-limiting illnesses, including cancer, neurological and respiratory conditions.

The Hospice is based in a multicultural area and provides experience of working with people from different ethnic, religious, social and cultural backgrounds.

Dependent on volunteer availability, opportunities to work therapeutically with Day Hospice patients, outpatients, community patients, carers and/or relatives in either short or longer term capacities will be provided.

You will work from either the counselling rooms or by phone or zoom, it is possible that this could extend to clients homes and bedsides on the ward. There will be fortnightly clinical supervision which will be either group or individual.

We are a supportive team and although providing counselling in specialist palliative care can be both challenging and demanding, it is also exceptionally rich and rewarding.

 

What we can offer:

Experience working in specialist palliative care (patients, carers and relatives/friends)

Experience working in a multi-disciplinary team setting

Induction training

Fortnightly supervision (group and/or individual)

Access to in-house training

Person Specification for Patient and Relative volunteer Counsellor

Essential:

To be a qualified counsellor / psychotherapist with a minimum 100 hours of face-to-face counselling with adult clients, or have substantial other relevant experience.

To be registered with a recognised professional psychotherapy / counselling body.

To be available to commit to seeing clients on either Monday or Wednesday (supervision could be available on a different day).

To be able to commit to three weekly client hours for minimum period of one year.

To have good verbal and written communication skills and basic computer literacy.

To attend induction over one Saturday and one evening.

To attend regular fortnightly individual or/and group supervision.

Subject to appropriate DBS and reference checks; to work in accordance with STJH policies and procedures and within the BACP Ethical Framework.

Personal/professional:

A specific interest in working with life limiting illnesses, death and dying within a specialist palliative care setting in relation to patients, carers, relatives and friends.

An understanding of the impact of serious and life limiting illness on individuals and families.

Willingness to adapt therapeutic approach in line with client/patient’s needs

To have awareness and confidence working with risk and safeguarding.

To have insight and recognition of good self-care practices.

Recognise the importance of one’s own personal therapy and development. To have previously had a minimum of 80 hours of individual personal therapy.

To use supervision effectively through good self-reflection and acknowledging areas of personal vulnerability which may impact and influence the therapeutic process.

Interest in gaining experience and developing working within a variety of counselling frames – people’s homes, by their bedsides (not always private), over the phone and with advocates. As the work is to enhance quality of life this may require some networking and internal and external referrals.

Ability to work within short and long term counselling contracts

To act in line with the hospice mission and treat all visitors and staff with dignity and respect.

Desirable

Experience of working with a multi-cultural and diverse client population

Experience of life limiting illness

Experience of work within a multi professional setting