BLUEBELL WOOD CHILDREN'S HOSPICE
34,324 per year
South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire, North Derbyshire and parts of North Lincolnshire
Full-time
20th October 2025

Counsellor

£ 34,324 pa (FTE)

25 hours per week 

Are you looking for a workplace where you're welcomed each day by supportive & friendly colleagues?

Where you're part of a dedicated team?

Where your work contributes to delivering the highest quality care, and every day ends with the knowledge that you've made a meaningful difference to a child or young person?

If your answer is yes, then Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice might just be the perfect place for you.

Join our Family Support Team as a Counsellor and bring more than just your skills, bring your purpose.

We’re looking for someone who’s driven by a genuine desire to make a difference. You take ownership of your work, act with integrity, and show up as your authentic self. You value individuality, your own and others’ and thrive in a team that celebrates diversity, creativity, and compassion.

About us:

Our vision at Bluebell Wood is for every baby, child and young person with a life limiting condition to access specialist palliative care, where and when they need it. You will join our fantastic team where we all play our part in achieving our vision and creating an incredible culture for everyone.

Our services

Our uncompromisable support services are wide-ranging and bespoke to each family. We provide symptom management, end-of-life care, post-death care, short breaks, counselling, sibling support groups, music therapy, home visits and more.

We support families across a large geographical area, including South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire, North Derbyshire and parts of North Lincolnshire. The hospice is easily accessible from Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster, Sheffield and North Notts. We have free secure on-site parking for families, staff and volunteers to use.

Every year we need to raise £6.7m to keep our doors open and only around 17% of our income comes from government sources, the rest must be raised through fundraising activity.

The role: Counsellor

To work as part of our Family Support Team providing holistic and therapeutic support to children and young people under the care of Bluebell Wood as well as family members experiencing anticipatory grief or bereavement. Our bereavement offer also extends to those families referred to us via external partnerships where children and young people have died suddenly and unexpectedly.

 The requirements:

You will be a counsellor qualified to level 4 (minimum) with at least 2 years post-qualification experience. You will meet the BACP competencies to work with children, young people and adults.

To fulfil the role effectively you will be a creative and resilient person and able to work collaboratively with your team.

You will have experience of working with children and families who have complex needs, offering support packages that meet their individual requirements.

About you: 

Our values underpin what we do and how we do it.

To succeed in this role, we are looking for someone who will embody our values, work confidently with key attention to detail, engage with everyone in our hospice, and has an absolute willingness to learn.

What we offer: 

A friendly, incredible working environment along with the following benefits:

  • 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays with the option to buy and sell

  • Employee assistance programme - including mental health care and out of hours GP access

  • A commitment to your professional development

  • Matched pension scheme of 5% of salary

  • Bluebell Wood enhanced maternity and paternity pay (unrelated to NHS conditions)

  • Enhanced night shift pay.

  • Free parking on main site

  • Subsidised lunch

  • Free tea and coffee

  • Cycle to work scheme

  • Eligible for NHS Blue Light Card

  • Access to rewards portal

 If you are passionate about making a difference, we cannot wait to hear from you. Apply now

If you would like to have an informal chat about this role, please do contact Cathy Byrne (Family Wellbeing and Counselling Coordinator) on  01909 393 243 or email  cathy.byrne@bluebellwood.org

Download the job description and person specification here

Download your application form here

Please download the job description and person specification for more information and if you think you have what we are looking for, download and complete the application form above and return it to recruitment@bluebellwood.org

Closing date:      Monday 20th October 2025

Interview date     Friday 7th November  2025

We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive work place that reflects the communities we support, and welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds, regardless of gender, sex, ethnicity, race, religion, education, socioeconomic background, disability, or sexual orientation.

We will do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout our recruitment process.

What else we will need or you need to know:   

  • Proof that you have the right to work in the uk. Unfortunately, we cannot support visa sponsorship

  • Any successful applicant will require a health check

  • An Enhanced DBS Check

  • Two references

  • All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks

Click here to read some of our inspirational staff stories

Click here to return to the home page 

Latest

  • One-off volunteers for Doncaster 10K

    Want to be part of something exciting without a long-term commitment? Join us as a one-off volunteer at the Doncaster 10K! Whether you're cheering on runners or helping with the bag drop your support makes a huge difference.

  • Counsellor

    To work as part of our Family Support Team providing holistic and therapeutic support to children and young people under the care of Bluebell Wood as well as family members experiencing anticipatory grief or bereavement. Our bereavement offer also extends to those families referred to us via external partnerships where children and young people have died suddenly and unexpectedly.

  • Shark Dive for Bluebell Wood

    Sat 7 Feb 2025


    Blue Planet Aquarium, Cheshire Oaks

    Take the plunge and participate in our PADI-recognised discovery scuba session diving with sharks.
  • One-off volunteers for Doncaster Christmas Jumper Raceday

    Help us bring festive cheer to Doncaster Racecourse at our very first Christmas Jumpers event! We’re looking for friendly, enthusiastic volunteers to make the day magical. Come be part of something special – sparkly festive jumpers welcome!

Most read

  • Our current vacancies

    Thanks so much for your interest in joining the Bluebell Wood team. If you’re interested in a truly rewarding role that helps change lives for the better, this is your chance to be a part of our story.

  • Contact us

    Would you like to get in touch? If you have something to say then we would love to hear from you.

  • Our story

    The dream of Bluebell Wood began in 1998, with the vision to help families in this area who wanted an alternative to hospital care.

  • Care team

    Our Care Team offer wonderful support to families, both in our hospice and in the children’s own homes.

  • Play the lottery

    A pound doesn’t go very far these days. It will get you a chocolate bar or half a cup of posh coffee, but is there a better way you could spend it?

  • Our trustees and senior leadership

    Our Trustees all give up their time voluntarily to help steer Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice in the right direction.

  • This week's lottery winners

    Bluebell Wood lottery winners for draw date 26/09/2025

  • Who we are

    Your support helps us care for children and young adults whose lives are sadly just too short, both in their own homes and at our hospice in North Anston.

  • Make a referral

    Having a child with complex medical needs can sometimes feel overwhelming, so we like to keep our referral process as simple as possible. Read more about our consent and referral form for your child.

  • Current volunteering opportunities

    Here are our latest opportunities. The perfect volunteering role could be waiting just around the corner for you!

Counsellor - BLUEBELL WOOD CHILDREN'S HOSPICE | Work In Charities