Job summary

We are looking for a compassionate, creative and skilled individual to provide sessions around anticipatory grief and to those bereaved families following the loss of a baby during pregnancy or shortly after birth. The post holder will work independently but also be part of the bereavement team that provide care within a busy tertiary unit. The pregnancy loss might be unexpected or expected following confirmation of fetal anomalies. The post would suit someone who has some counselling experience following pregnancy loss. Counselling may be offered on a face-to-face/virtual meeting or over the telephone depending on the wishes of the family.

The successful applicant will become an integral member of the team. We offer flexible working arrangements, in return we ask for your flexibility in meeting service need. This is a new and unique role which will further enhance the bereavement care we provide to families. The post holder will have responsibility for managing their own caseload and for maintaining accurate and relevant client records.

• Interview Date: 6 June 2023
• 18 hours 45 minutes/week
• You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide counselling for women during or following pregnancy who have self-referred as part of a bereavement pathway or have been referred by healthcare professionals. You will act as a psychological health resource to women and their families through difficult and emotional times. You will work closely with the Specialist Midwife and the lead Consultant for Bereavement services. You will be working in a supportive team environment where you can benefit from flexible working whilst supporting families by providing specialist bereavement counselling support.

To be successful in this role you will be registered with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). You will need to hold current registration to practice as a qualified counsellor. Experience of providing a counselling service within a healthcare setting and managing your own caseload is essential. The post holder requires well developed communication and relationship skills.

Appropriate IT skills to enable smooth working within modern NHS environment including the use of electronic patient records is essential to the role. Knowledge of the Clinical Governance agenda this role requires will help strengthen the bereavement care pathway the families find themselves engaged with. The bereavement counsellor will a have a unique role in providing psychological and emotional support for women and their families.

About us

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the busiest, largest and most successful teaching NHS foundation trusts in the country, with over 18,000 staff and an annual income of �1 billion.

Rated 'Outstanding' by theCQC for the second consecutive time in 2019, we have a long history of providing high quality care, clinical excellence, and innovation in medical research regionally, nationally and internationally.

We're also proud to be the second largest provider of specialised services in the country. This means we support people with a range of rare and complex medical, surgical and neurological conditions, cancers and genetic orders.

Our staff oversee around 1.84 million patients 'contacts' each year, delivering high standards of healthcare.

We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and recognise the benefit in providing an inclusive environment. We value and respect the diversity of our employees and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects the communities we serve, and is equipped to deliver the best service to our patients. We welcome all applications irrespective of people's race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide counselling in a Maternity setting for women who have experienced a pregnancy loss, stillbirth or neonatal death, or those required to make difficult and complex decisions based on unexpected findings in pregnancy. To have responsibility for managing own caseload and for maintaining accurate and relevant client records. To work at all times in line with the policies, procedures and service standards of the Trust and within the Code of Ethics and Practice for Counsellors (BACP)

Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate.The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first months pay.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

Essential

• Diploma level qualification in counselling on a BACP/BICA accredited course
• Eligible for membership of the BACP and/or BICA
• Current professional registration to practice as a qualified counsellor (BACP/UKCP/BICA)

Desirable

• Post graduate qualification in Counselling.
• BICA accreditation

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Experience of providing a counselling service within a healthcare setting.
• Experience of dealing with clients presenting multiple and complex issues.
• Experience of prioritising and managing own caseload.
• Experience of maintaining clear and up to date client records.
• Evidence of recent/relevant CPD.
• Experience of providing in house training
• Evidence of contribution to service development.
• Awareness of and commitment to Clinical Governance agenda.

Desirable

• Experience or working in a Maternity setting.
• Audit and/or change management/service development.
• Experience of working with groups
• Local healthcare/ mental health system, social and community networks.
• Acute hospital structures.
• Supervisor/mentor training relevant to professional practice.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Well-developed communication and relationship skills
• Appropriate IT skills to enable smooth working within modern NHS environment including email and excel and patient information system.
• Ability to meet the travel requirements.

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

317-2023-17-002