Vacancy at The Mary Stevens Hospice

Bereavement Counsellor (21 hours per week, 12 Months Fixed Term)

Salary £ 18,067.50 (based on 21 hours per week)

The Mary Stevens Hospice, 221 Hagley Road, Stourbridge

Details

To provide high-quality, person-centred pre-bereavement and bereavement support to patients, families, carers, and occasionally children and young people affected by life-limiting illness and death. The role includes therapeutic assessment, counselling interventions, risk management, group work, and collaborative work with multidisciplinary teams to enhance the emotional wellbeing and resilience of those receiving hospice care whilst upholding our hospice values of care, compassion and kindness. 

·       Provide individual counselling and emotional support to adults experiencing anticipatory grief or bereavement.

·       Offer pre-bereavement support to patients and families as they adjust to life-limiting diagnoses, decline, and end-of-life processes.

·       Deliver bereavement interventions (short- or longer-term) appropriate to assessed need and aligned with hospice policy.

·       Work with Children and Young People (CYP) where required, including emotional support, creative therapeutic approaches, and family-based sessions.

·       Co-facilitate bereavement support groups, memorial events, and psychoeducational workshops.

·       Conduct holistic psychosocial assessments, identifying risk, safeguarding concerns, and complex grief presentations.

·       Maintain accurate, timely clinical records in accordance with professional and organisational standards.

·       Work collaboratively with hospice teams.

·       Participate in Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings to contribute psychosocial perspectives to patient and family care plans.

·       Provide guidance to staff and volunteers on bereavement issues, grief theory, and communication at end of life.

·       Assess and manage risk following hospice safeguarding policies for both adults and CYP.

·       Act promptly on any concerns, liaising with internal safeguarding leads and external agencies as appropriate.

·       Provide counselling/emotional support to couples, families, or carers where relationship changes or conflict are affecting coping.

·       Support parents/carers to communicate with children about illness, dying, and grief.

·       Advocate for the psychosocial needs of bereaved families within the hospice system.

·       Contribute to the ongoing development of the bereavement service, including evaluation and audit.

·       Assist in developing resources, group programmes, and CYP-specific bereavement materials.

·       Engage in continuous professional development, including clinical supervision).

·       Ensure practice aligns with ethical frameworks and hospice quality standards.

·       Support the training and supervision of bereavement volunteers where appropriate.

·       Deliver sessions for hospice staff on grief, loss, communication, and trauma-informed approaches.

·       Recognised counselling qualification (Diploma level 4+, BA/MA preferred), Or Qualification to a minimum degree level in social work.

·       Professional membership/registration.

·       Experience providing counselling for grief, loss, trauma, or end-of-life contexts.

·       Ability to work with individuals across different ages, including CYP.

·       Experience working with risk, safeguarding, and multidisciplinary settings.

·       Excellent communication skills and ability to work sensitively with diverse families.

·       Strong organisational skills and ability to manage a clinical caseload.

·       Full and valid UK driving licence and access to a car.

·       Additional training in bereavement, trauma, or child counselling/play therapy.

·       Experience in hospice, palliative care, or NHS settings.
· Group facilitation experience.

· Group facilitation experience.

·       Knowledge of grief models.

·       Experience supporting volunteers or delivering training.

·       Enhanced DBS clearance (including child and adult workforce).

·       Flexibility to work Wednesday evenings and occasional weekends for groups or remembrance events.

·       Commitment to equality, inclusion, and trauma-informed, culturally sensitive practice.

• This role will require regular travel across the Dudley Borough and surrounding areas.

Benefits

Enhanced Holiday Entitlement
Enhanced Sick Pay Entitlement
Employee Assistance Programme
Blue Light Card Discounts
Free on-site parking
Supporting the local community

Notes

We value diversity and are dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you require any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, please let us know – we’re happy to help. Please email recruitment@marystevenshospice.co.uk