Job Description

Bereavement Support Worker - Please note incomplete applications will not be considered.

Contract:

Until 30th June 2026 (Fixed Term)

Hours:

22 hours per week (over a minimum of 3 days, Monday - Thursday, but must flexible and be able to be available until 8.00 pm to suit the needs of the service, this may include weekends)

Location:

Working across Telford and Wrekin (to also provide cover in Shropshire)

Salary:

15.00 per hour

Disclosure:

This position is subject to a three-month probationary period, satisfactory references, Mind's policies on Safeguarding of Children and Young People and Vulnerable Adults and an enhanced DBS check and subsequent re-checks.

Summary:

To provide a practical and empathetic support service to individuals bereaved by suicide, including family members, close friends or partners, colleagues etc. Providing appropriate support, information and signposting. Facilitating access to organisations able to meet the needs of people bereaved by suicide. Empathy and communication will be at the heart of the service.

You will develop a strong and coherent knowledge of the local statutory, voluntary and community sector, thus ensuring that individuals are referred appropriately with your support. Additionally, you will build links with statutory and voluntary sector organisations, community groups, health and social care partners engaging and acting as an advocate for the service, building relationships for the future referral of patients.

We are seeking candidates with experience in a supportive role, relevant qualifications, and strong communication skills. The ideal applicant will be confident in handling challenging situations with professionalism. Access to your own vehicle is essential.

Main Duties

Delivery

Responsible for managing a varied and potentially complex caseload of people bereaved through suicide and being the primary point of liaison with the bereaved individuals to ensure meaningful and compassionate engagement is delivered and ensured throughout the process.

Establish eligibility for access to the service. If the individual is from a border postcode, you will liaise with neighbouring Suicide Postvention/Bereavement (or similar) services to agree onward referral. Alternatively, signposting to national support should be made.

Ensure the bereaved are contacted in a timely manner, followed by a face to face meeting in order to:

o Carry out an initial assessment of individual need.

o Assess for risk and monitoring ongoing risks

o Ongoing support through regular contact, through face to face visits (including support by telephone or email).

o Advocate on behalf of the bereaved where necessary and liaise with relevant agencies

Discuss and agree a personalised action plan for the individual and establish key future contact dates to monitor wellbeing.

Identify and enable a range of interventions depending on individual needs including;

o Emotional support including support to develop effective coping strategies

o Support to regain or maintain relationships with friends and family

o Support to engage with appropriate specialist support or advice services

Use person centred approaches to assess and manage risk and vulnerability with the individual, in line with Telford Mind's policies and procedures.

Identify and escalate any safeguarding issues that may become apparent to the appropriate channels

Respect confidentiality, values, culture and beliefs of individuals without judgement.

Develop partnerships with other agencies e.g. the Police and Coroner's staff in order to support the bereaved effectively through legal proceedings which include NHS Serious Incident Investigations, Duty of Candour meetings with NHS services, the Child Death Overview Panel (when a young person under 18 years has died), and involvement with other statutory agencies, offering to attend inquests with the bereaved where it is practical and that support is requested.

Communicate effectively with GPs, local NHS mental health community teams and IAPT service providers in the locality where the bereaved live, in order to make appropriate and effective referrals, e.g. for trauma focused therapy in line with NICE guidelines to the appropriate primary or secondary mental health provider.

Communicate effectively with voluntary and community sector service providers in the locality where the bereaved live, in order to make appropriate and effective referrals.

Gather and record progress and outcomes with individuals, using an agreed outcome measurement tool, electronic database/case management systems and qualitative data capture ensuring data is recorded accurately and securely in line with governance protocols.

Compile monthly/quarterly progress reports for submission to the Local Authority and local Suicide Prevention Action Group.

Engagement

Liaise regularly with local third sector organisations as well as national agencies, e.g. The National Bereavement Alliance, the Support After Suicide Partnership, The National Suicide Prevention Alliance etc. in order to be well informed and up to date on developments in research and practice in suicide prevention and postvention.

Be an active member of the Suicide Prevention Steering Group to contribute towards the development of the service. This membership will include participation in Steering Group meeting and attendance at ongoing events.

Be an active member of the local Multi-Agency Suicide Prevention Action Group to present monthly/quarterly progress reports.

Share ideas of best practice and develop ways to gather and share information on local activity between Telford and Shropshire.

Identify intelligence about gaps in services and support available to people and feed this into line management processes

Development

Contribute and take an active role in the evaluation, review and development of the service.

Liaise with local third sector agencies to develop suicide bereavement groups, or develop plans to facilitate a support group in line with the national Guidelines for Delivering Bereavement Support Groups

Raise awareness and understanding of the Bereavement Support Officer role within, but not limited to, the LA, ICB/ICS Networks, GPs and VCS sector.

Organise and promote events, in collaboration with other agencies, to publicise and raise awareness of suicide postvention.

Engage with processes to capture, understand and learn from the feedback provided by people using the service

Other Responsibilities

Work within the values, beliefs and policies of Telford Mind and promote these to service users, families and other stakeholders

Take part in line management supervision, clinical supervision and appraisal

Ensure any information processed for both patients and staff is kept accurate, confidential, secure and in line with the Data Protection Act (2018) and Telford Mind's Confidentiality Policy

Have a duty and responsibility for personal health and safety and the health and safety of colleagues, service users and visitors

Attend training and events as required

To undertake other tasks commensurate with the position as required

Qualifications

Essential

Relevant work-related experience with a qualification in one or more of the following:

Mental Health First Aid (will be required to complete if not held) and/or

Level 3 Health & Social Care Qualification or equivalent

AND

Adult Safeguarding and Child Safeguarding

Confidentiality Training

Desirable

Bereavement skills training

ASIST

SPEAK

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

Knowledge and understanding of complicated grief and the potential impact of the traumatic response that may be experienced by suicide bereavement

Assessing suitability for services and working with people in person-centred and strength-based ways

Able to use different approaches to assess individual needs and make appropriate decisions collaboratively with people about their goals and their support needs

Previous experience and training in risk assessment

Proven ability to work within a team, which may include a wider team, working collaboratively with relevant agencies, e.g. Public Health, NHS services and third sector agencies.

Demonstrated ability to maintain boundaries within a professional environment

Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communications skills to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, complex or sensitive information to people, their families, carers and other professionals

Ability to develop good therapeutic relationships with people using services

Excellent relationship building and influencing skills

Experience of using outcome measurement tools with individuals

Willingness to attend, whenever possible, inquests which may reach and outcome of suicide as an 'observer' in order to learn about the process to be able to provide knowledge-based advice to the bereaved and/or staff working in the field.

Ability to manage own caseload and varied workload and prioritise effectively

Experience of lone working; Understanding issues relating to personal safety for self and others

Computer literacy and experience with accurate record keeping

A clean driving license and use of own transport for work purposes

Desirable

Trauma informed training

Engaging and working with hard to reach individuals with complex health and social issues

Clinical risk assessment and risk management skills

Recent up-to-date training in suicide prevention e.g. ASIST or similar

Developing and designing new systems and processes

Ability to work with minimum supervision, use own initiative and make appropriate decisions

Experience with service evaluation and meeting targets set by service commissioners

KNOWLEDGE

Essential

Knowledge and understanding of suicide/ bereavement and requirements of bereaved relatives and dependents

Knowledge and understanding of the Equality Act in order to deliver a service without discrimination

Knowledge of geographic area and services and support available in Telford and Shropshire

Desirable

Aware of cultural and Faith issues which may be relevant specifically to the demographics of the service delivery area

Structures and systems within primary care and secondary health care settings

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Essential

Demonstrated ability to maintain boundaries within a professional environment

Willingness to work in a flexible way to meet the needs of the service

Willingness to undergo any training, either internally or externally, relevant to the role

Desirable

Ability to be self-reflective, whilst working with beneficiaries and in own personal and professional development and in supervision.

Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: 15.00 per hour

Expected hours: 22 per week

Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Application question(s):

Do you have access to your own vehicle? Please tell us what difference you think you could make and why you would like to work for Telford Mind Please tell us about your experience of working with people within the mental health field and bereavement. Please tell us about your experience in providing 1-2-1 support.
Experience:

Health & Social Care: 1 year (preferred) Mental Health: 1 year (preferred) Voluntary Sector: 1 year (preferred)
Licence/Certification:

Health & Social Qualification (preferred) Driving Licence (preferred)
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 11/07/2025
Reference ID: BSO
Expected start date: 04/08/2025