Job Description

Counsellor - Family Support Team

Job Type: Permanent

Location: Katharine House Business Centre, Stafford

Salary:

35,000 per annum

Hours: 37.5 Hours per week.

Closing date: 21st November 2025 - however may close earlier if over subscribed

First stage telephone interview: 1st December 2025

Second stage face to face interview: 16th December 2025

About us

We are Katharine House Hospice, and we're dedicated to providing compassionate care to people in our community affected by progressive illnesses. Everyone here plays an integral role in making this possible.

We value people - so much so, it's one of our three key values as a charity.

We believe that our people are the heart of everything we do. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where every individual feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. We are seeking passionate individuals who share our values of People, Innovation and Excellence. If this sounds like you, then please get in touch.

What we offer

Flexible working
Flexibility on hours and days available

Annual leave
33 days per annum, which includes bank holidays (pro rata for part time), increasing after five and 10 years' service.

Pension scheme
We match contributions up to 7% to a NEST scheme. If you're currently contributing to the NHS pension scheme you can continue to do so.

Death in service benefit
Reassurance should the worst happen. 2 x salary to your family.

Employee assistance programme
Providing support for your wellbeing.

Training and development opportunities
Continuous learning and professional growth.

Occupational sick pay
Support during times of illness.

Healthcare cash benefit plan
Contributory plan to help cover health-related expenses.

Free on-site parking

Purpose and impact

To provide, in a sensitive and timely manner, psychological support and counselling to people with an advanced, life limiting illness, and those affected by it both pre and post bereavement. To provide counselling support to staff and volunteers as identified according to the 'Counselling support for staff policy'

To provide counselling assessments and support to clients/patients referred to the Family Support Team.

To work with and support sessional, volunteer and student placement counsellors.

The counsellor will support the leading and running of the Family Support Team. They will have a major role in coordinating and providing high quality, comprehensive counselling and bereavement support service to patients, families, carers, staff and volunteers. The counsellor will assist the Family Support Leader in ensuring that systems and processes within the service are efficient and effective.

Part of the team

Reporting to the Head of Family Support, you will form part of a team comprising of onsite, full-time counsellors, Sessional Counsellors, Students Counsellors and Volunteers, members of the multi-disciplinary team, administrative support team and the Family Support Team Lead. All who will be responsible for the delivery of exceptionally high quality, psychological and bereavement support to patients, carers, and their families at Katharine House Hospice.

Core Responsibilities

Provide bereavement counselling / support to adults in individual and group settings. Organize and supervise a variety of bereavement support groups. Work as a member of the multidisciplinary team, contributing to the team's understanding of patients, families and carers' psychological, emotional and social problems. To support the development of pre-bereavement counselling / support in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team Maintain a high quality of service by implementing and evaluating agreed standards and policies. Work autonomously regarding organising, planning and carrying out individual case work and group work. Proactively triage and manage the counselling / bereavement service caseload. Participate fully in clinical supervision. Maintain accurate records and statistical data on System One. Contribute to regular audit within the department. Support the Family Support Team manager and other members of the Family Support Team to strategically plan, develop and evaluate the psychological and bereavement service. Oversee triaging process for all new referrals, manage service capacity and allocate work accordingly to paid staff, students and volunteers Manage volunteers, students and paid sessional workers within the Family support Team. Lead in the recruitment, training and induction of volunteers and students on placement.

Need to have:

Level 6 qualification in Counselling Level 5 qualification in Counselling Children and Adolescents Member of professional Counselling/Therapy body such as BACP or UKCP or equivalent and accredited or eligible for accreditation

Need to demonstrate:

Experience of working in bereavement and loss Experience of providing counselling sessions Experience of working with volunteers Experience of working in Childhood Bereavement Demonstrating an understanding of assessing and planning holistic care
Join us and make a difference

If you're passionate about people and want to contribute to a mission that matters, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now and help us continue to provide exceptional care and support to those who need it most.

If you'd like to know more about this role, without commitment, please contact the HR department on 01785 218257.

The closing date is

21st November 2025

however we may close this advert earlier, subject to response rates.

If you require any reasonable adjustment to participate in this process, please do not hesitate to contact HR on the number above.

Due to the nature of this role, an enhanced DBS clearance will be required.

How to apply

To the link below to submit an application via indeed.

Level 6 Counsellor - Family Support Team (FST)

"We help local adults with complex, progressive illnesses from diagnosis to the end of life through free, high quality, specialist palliative care, advice and guidance, and we support those close to them."

Department and Role Objectives

To provide, in a sensitive and timely manner, psychological support and counselling to people with an advanced, life limiting illness, and those affected by it both pre and post bereavement. To provide counselling support to staff and volunteers as identified according to the 'Counselling support for staff policy'

To provide counselling assessments and support to clients/patients referred to the Family Support Team.

To work with and support sessional, volunteer and student placement counsellors.

The counsellor will support the leading and running of the Family Support Team. They will have a major role in coordinating and providing high quality, comprehensive counselling and bereavement support service to patients, families, carers, staff and volunteers. The counsellor will assist the Family Support Leader in ensuring that systems and processes within the service are efficient and effective.

Part of the team

Reporting to the Head of Family Support, you will form part of a team comprising of onsite, full-time counsellors, Sessional Counsellors, Students Counsellors and Volunteers, members of the multi-disciplinary team, administrative support team and the Family Support Team Lead. All who will be responsible for the delivery of exceptionally high quality, psychological and bereavement support to patients, carers, and their families at Katharine House Hospice.

Core Responsibilities

Key Area - Responsibilities & Outputs

Clinical

Provide bereavement counselling / support to adults in individual and group settings. Organize and supervise a variety of bereavement support groups. Work as a member of the multidisciplinary team, contributing to the team's understanding of patients, families and carers' psychological, emotional and social problems. To support the development of pre-bereavement counselling / support in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team. Maintain a high quality of service by implementing and evaluating agreed standards and policies. Work autonomously regarding organising, planning and carrying out individual case work and group work. Proactively triage and manage the counselling / bereavement service caseload. Participate fully in clinical supervision. Maintain accurate records and statistical data on SystmOne. Contribute to regular audit within the department.

Managerial

Support the Family Support Team manager and other members of the Family Support Team to strategically plan, develop and evaluate the psychological and bereavement service. Support the development and implementation of standards and procedures to demonstrate and assure high quality service provision. Oversee triaging process for all new referrals, manage service capacity and allocate work accordingly to paid staff, students and volunteers. Support your line manager in the development and delivery of the annual business plan and budget for the family support team services. Manage volunteers, students and paid sessional workers within the Family support Team. Support the development and implementation of standards and procedures to demonstrate and assure high quality service provision. Develop and maintain an understanding of national and local regulations. To actively develop a culture of evidenced based practice within the service to inform best practice, benchmarking and continual improvement. To be an active problem solver. Support your line manager in the recruitment, training and induction of new members of staff. Lead in the recruitment, training and induction of volunteers and students on placement. Identify new opportunities for the volunteer workforce within the Family Support Team. Develop and implement effective methods of service user engagement.

Education & Research

Support the development and delivery of a comprehensive training programme on Bereavement and Loss to internal and external colleagues. Recruit and oversee the provision of Student Counselling Placements within the Hospice. With other colleagues, contribute to relevant research and development activity and share learning with other professionals to inform practice.

Personnel

Demonstrate a commitment to their own professional development - appropriate to skill and experience. Take all measures to ensure the safety and welfare of all patients and staff, having due regard to the Health and Safety at Work Act. Attend annual statutory updates as required by the Healthcare Commission and Katharine House Hospice annual mandatory updates. Participate in appraisal and undertake appraisal of junior staff. Participate in continuing education and other activities to promote own professional growth. Demonstrate an understanding and implementation of clinical governance. Recognise stress in self and seek support when required. Demonstrate the use of reflective practice. Maintain current registration with a professionally recognised counselling body.

Personal Qualities

Enquiring Articulate Organiser Confident Approachable Flexible Team working Able to reflect on own practice

Person Specification

Qualifications

Level 6 qualification or above in Counselling - Essential Level 5 qualified Counselling Children & Adolescents - Essential Member of professional Counselling/Therapy body such as BACP or UKCP or equivalent - Essential

Experience and Knowledge

Experience of working in bereavement and loss - Essential Experience of providing counselling sessions - Essential Experience of Home visits and Lone worker - Desirable Experience of working within a hospice - Desirable Experience of teaching - Desirable Experience of working with volunteers - Essential Experience of providing clinical supervision - Desirable Experience of working in Childhood Bereavement - Essential Working knowledge of SystmOne - Desirable Demonstrating an understanding of assessing and planning holistic care - Essential Awareness of current issues in palliative care - Desirable Awareness of theories relating to loss and bereavement - Essential BACP accredited or eligible for accreditation - Essential

Skills & Attributes

Demonstrable skills in counselling - Essential Team player - Essential IT literate with skills in Word, Excel and PowerPoint - Essential Able to manage caseloads in an organised manner - Essential Excellent communication and interpersonal skills - Essential Flexible approach - Essential Confident - Essential Non-judgemental - Essential Self-aware- Essential 'Can do' attitude - Essential Enthusiastic - Essential Able to reflect and learn from own practice - Essential

Other

Enhanced DBS clearance required - Essential Able to travel to counselling appointments outside the hospice to see clients - Essential Demonstrates initiative - Essential Resilience - Essential Flexibility - Essential Self-motivated - Essential Able to work flexibly and some evening and weekend working may be required - Essential Can use resources effectively and efficiently - Essential Maintains a safe environment for staff and patients - Essential Ensures infection prevention measures are maintained - Essential
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 35,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Flexitime
Application question(s):

Do you have experience as a Family Support Counsellor?
Work Location: In person