Job Description

Making a difference to children, young people and young adults as they cope with loss and distress.

CHUMS Specialist Bereavement service supports children, young people and young adults who are struggling with grief and loss, following one or more bereavements. We work with those whose lives may have been changed after the death of a special family member or whose sense of safety and security in the world has been shaken by sudden or complicated loss.

We are looking to recruit to our team a compassionate and approachable practitioner with experience in providing effective bereavement and trauma-informed intervention for children, young people or young adults. The role is to provide assessment; to deliver individual and group bereavement interventions for children, young people and young adults; to provide information and guidance about managing bereavement, including traumatic bereavement and complicated grief. Where required, we expect you to engage with the support network around a child or young person to ensure their holistic needs are understood and met.

Join a team who are committed to the CHUMS values:

Accessible, Compassionate and Effective.

Hours:

32.5 hours per week - job share would be considered

Reports to:

Bereavement Service Manager

Location:

Across Kent and Medway (travel required)

JOB PURPOSE

:

The Specialist Bereavement Practitioner will support children, young people, young adults (CYP/YA's) up to 25 years and their families who have been bereaved. They will offer a range of evidence-based interventions to support the specialist needs of children and young people who are experiencing complex grief or traumatic bereavement. The post holder will be a source of advice and support for professionals across Kent and Medway.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Communication and Relationships:

Manage own caseload

Work within the team to develop positive relationships with volunteers and those on placement and within the wider organisation

Provide holistic, family, group, and individual bereavement support

Aid communication in the family and share and develop strategies to manage the impact of a bereavement

To provide a needs led service, undertake risk and clinical assessment, and offer individual support to help CYP/YAs understand their thoughts and feelings, share their story, and develop strategies for coping

Record clinical notes on a database within 24 hours of intervention

Escalate any safeguarding concerns following CHUMS procedures

To provide advice and support to professionals, increasing confidence and a knowledge of how to support bereaved CYP and YA's

Promote the work of the service across Kent and Medway.

Assist in the organisation and delivery of bereavement workshop programmes for children/young people and their parents/carers and young adults

Attend drop ins and be available to offer advice and support

Proactively participate in, development and evaluation of the service.

Develop bereavement resources

Support and work with CONNECT service user participation group

Deliver training on loss and grief to professionals

Work collaboratively with other key stakeholders

Involve other professionals, community support groups in grief support

Undertake appropriate CPD and keep updated with advancements in the field of bereavement

Ensure Making Every Contact Count (MECC) is embedded across the service

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

Counselling or therapy qualification (at least level 4)

Training in bereavement, loss, and grief

Accredited member of HCPC, BACP (MBACP accredited or working towards accreditation)

Training in Trauma

Child and Adolescent counselling certificate

Knowledge & Experience

At least two years' experience of working with bereaved CYP and families on an individual basis and in groups

Experience of developing care packages and taking responsibility for clients

Ability to record and report on data relating to own clinical and non clinical activity

Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary setting

Experience of facilitating groups

Experience of providing virtual support

Skills and Abilities

Excellent communication skills in supporting both children/young people and adults as well as other professionals

Excellent computer and IT skills

Personal Qualities

Empathic facilitating style with children, families and other professionals and the ability to work co-operatively for the benefit of service users.

Ability to cope with high workload and multiple demands on time

Ability to manage time effectively and prioritise workload

Ability to deal with highly distressing and emotive situations

A demonstrated commitment to service development through evaluation and audit

Other Requirements

Car driver

Will be required to travel to visit children and families across Kent.

Ability to work flexible hours to meet the needs of the service

Flexible to work occasional weekends and evenings

Salary 28,000 to 30,000 (FTE) depending on experience

Closing date for applications - 11th January 2026

Interviews - end of January 2026.

Please note CV's will not be accepted for this position. A full job description and application form is available at:

https://chums.uk.com/vacancies/

For more information or to arrange an informal chat, please email recruitment@chums.uk.com

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: 28,000.00-30,000.00 per year

Expected hours: 32.5 per week

Benefits:

Company pension Sick pay Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Ashford TN25 6RJ