Job Description

Isabel Hospice provides free palliative care and support for patients and their families living with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses throughout eastern Hertfordshire, a population of almost 350,000 people.


We are seeking a part time Counsellor to work at our In Patient Unit to provide short term emotional and psycho-social support to patients and family members. You will work closely with the clinical team to identify patients/families requiring support and will also provide support to community patients and families and facilitate group debriefs or provide individual emotional support to staff and volunteers based at the In Patient Unit as required. You will attend weekly MDT team meetings for our IPU patients and ensure that accurate electronic records are maintained on the patient database. The work will require a high degree of flexibility and adaptability in your counselling approach.


To apply you should be qualified to degree/diploma level in counselling or psychotherapy and be accredited or working towards accreditation with a professional body (UKCP or BACP). You will need to have at least two years post qualification experience, preferably including working within a hospice or palliative care setting. The ability to work both independently and as part of a team is also required.


Whilst the role is predominantly to see In Patient Unit patients and families, you will also hold a small caseload of community patients and carers, however this arrangement is flexible and dependent on patients requiring support. When your caseload is low, you may also be required to assist with team administration.


This role is 21 hours per week, working 4 or 5 days per week including Wednesdays.

Car driver and owner preferred due to the requirement for occasional home visits.

We offer 27 days annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays rising with service to 33 days (pro rata) plus bank holidays. We offer pension and life assurance schemes and continuation of the NHS pension scheme for existing members. Free tea, coffee, Cycle to Work Scheme, Employee Assistance Programme, Health Cashback Scheme.


Interviews will take place in early September.


We reserve the right to close this job early if sufficient applications are received, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.


Successful applicants will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check.


For details of our inclusion statement, please see our website https://joinus.isabelhospice.org.uk/vacancies