About the role

We are seeking Bank Adult Bereavement Counsellor to join our counselling and bereavement service on a bank/zero-hours basis. The postholder will provide compassionate, evidence-based bereavement support to adults experiencing complex or non-complex grief, working with individuals, couples and families as required. This role involves assessment, short-term therapeutic intervention and onward referral where appropriate, contributing to a safe, person-centred service that complements our wider clinical teams. Applicants should hold relevant counselling qualifications and experience of working with bereaved adults in a health, hospice, charity or community setting.

In this role you will:

• Provide one-to-one bereavement counselling using appropriate therapeutic models (for example integrative, person-centred, CBT-informed or trauma-informed approaches) tailored to individual needs and readiness.

• Conduct initial assessments, risk assessments and safety planning for people referred to the service, making timely decisions about level of need and risk management in line with organisational policies.

• Offer short-term structured interventions and longer-term therapy where agreed, maintaining clear objectives, records of sessions and agreed outcomes for each service user.

• Work collaboratively with carers, family members and relevant professionals to coordinate care, provide information and signpost to additional services such as mental health, social care or specialist bereavement pathways.

• Maintain accurate, confidential clinical records in electronic systems and complete required documentation, outcome measures and activity data for service monitoring and quality assurance.

• Contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings, clinical supervision and case discussion, ensuring safe, consistent practice and integration with wider hospice care where appropriate.

• Support the development and delivery of group bereavement workshops, drop-in sessions or community outreach activities as required by service need.

• Adhere to safeguarding, confidentiality, equality, diversity and inclusion policies and professional codes of conduct at all times.

• Engage in continuing professional development and regular clinical supervision to maintain and develop therapeutic skills and clinical competence.

The successful candidate will:

• Hold an appropriate counselling qualification (for example diploma or degree-level) and be accredited or working towards accreditation with a recognised professional body (e.g. BACP, UKCP or equivalent).

• Have demonstrable experience of providing bereavement counselling to adults, including assessment, planning and delivery of therapeutic interventions.

• Be confident in managing risk, safeguarding concerns and safeguarding adults processes, with the ability to produce clear, timely records and referrals when necessary.

• Show excellent interpersonal skills with sensitivity, empathy and the ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and with complex needs.

• Be organised and reliable, able to manage a caseload on a bank/zero-hours basis, prioritise appointments and maintain clinical records to a high standard.

• Have a commitment to reflective practice, participation in regular clinical supervision and ongoing professional development.

• Be IT literate with experience of electronic record keeping and basic data entry; proficiency in common office applications such as Outlook is desirable.

• Hold the legal right to work in the UK.

Salary: Paid hourly in line with the organisation’s bank pay rates and depending on experience and qualifications.

Contract: Bank hours

Hours: Variable, shifts/appointments as required.

Location: Office base at Thurrock Hospice with some community or remote working as required and travel across the local area.

Right to work
Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK. We are unable to sponsor work permits or visas.

Belonging, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly encourage individuals from under-represented groups to apply. Adjustments can be made to support applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.