Area of Work: Counselling and Emotional Support Service
Responsible to:Therapeutic ServicesManager
Mission Statement:
VISION, MISSION AND VALUES
Vision
That everyone living within the communities we serve has access to end of life care of the highest quality.
Mission
To make every day count through giving the highest quality support for patients and carers living with life limiting illness or affected by death and dying by:
Ensuring we have the skills and experience to deliver and promote excellence in end of life care provision.
Working in partnership with other local end of life service providers to ensure the best possible patient experience is achieved.
Developing services to reflect the changing needs of the diverse community we serve.
Values
Respecting the unique worth of every person
We believe that every person is different but equal and that everyone’s unique needs and contribution should be recognised and supported.
Exercising responsible stewardship
The commitment of our staff and volunteers to making the best use of all our resources enables us to deliver high quality care today and in the future.
Working with hope
Our hope is to enable patients and carers supported by the Hospice to live well and die well.
Department Objectives
To provide an open-door support and counselling service for Treetops Hospice Care service users and their relativesand other clients from within the local community who have been bereaved or are dealing with a life-limiting illness. The service will be up-to-date, client-centred and evidence-based.
To offer relevant advice, consultation and training in relation to professionals and agencies within the area whichTreetops serves.
Role within the Department
To oversee theCounselling and Emotional Support Service for people dealing life-limiting illness for Treetops Hospice Care users and other clients from within the local community.
To facilitate the delivery of high quality counselling and emotional support to clients.
To contribute to the provision of the student placement scheme.
To contribute to the work of the wider Counselling and Emotional Support Service as required.
Function and Responsibilities
Specific Objectives
- To lead theCounselling and Emotional Support Service for people dealing with life-limiting illness using appropriate policies, systems, procedures and monitoring/evaluation.
- To assist in the recruitment and training of volunteer counsellors, student counsellors and support volunteers to delivercounselling and emotional support to people dealing with life-limiting illness and bereavement.
- To promote the service as required.
- To respond to referrals from Treetops Hospice Care service users and other clients from within the community by carrying out assessments within their homes or at the Cheetham Centre.
- To co-ordinate and oversee the day-to-day activities of theservice’s volunteers, sharing in the responsibility for the clinical governance and supervision of the team’s work.
- To provide one-to-one counselling to clients with complex issues, either within the home, other community settings or at the Cheetham Centre.
- To contribute to the student placement scheme through student supervision, report writing, liaison with training institutions and promotion of professional learning.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities
- To assist with the recruitment, selection and training of new volunteers.
- To contribute to the Counselling and Emotional Support Service training programme.
- To identify external training or develop in-house training for staff and volunteers in relation to life-limiting illness work.
- To receive initial referrals by telephone.
- Following referral, to assess clients for support or counselling, identifying any complex issues, assessing level of priority and level of support needed.
- When necessary, to sign-post those who self-refer to other, more appropriate services.
- To allocate clients to staff or members of the volunteer team as appropriate.
- To manage and oversee the day-to-day work activities of volunteers, particularly those working with life-limiting illness clients, including reading client session notes, addressing both practical and clinical issues and responding to volunteers’ concerns.
- To facilitate 1-1, monthly generic group and specialist group supervision sessions for volunteers.
- To share responsibility for the supervision and related report writing for student counsellors on placement.
- To liaise with training institutions in relation to students and to promote the student placement scheme.
- To liaise with external agencies as appropriate.
- To counsel clients on a one-to-one, making referrals to other healthcare professionals when appropriate.
- To have a flexible working approach that promotes a client-centred and family focussed service.
- To maintain up-to-date knowledge about best practice and contribute to the development of the library/resources in order to provide an evidence base for practice and enhance the professional learning of staff and volunteers.
- To access training and supervision that supports practice.
- To attend staff team meetings, monthly MDT meetings, monthly external supervision and 4-6 weekly peer supervision.
- To report to the Therapeutic Services Manager any complaintsfrom or concerns about clients or volunteers.
- To maintain professional confidentiality in all matters relating to clients.
- To maintain BACP or UKPC Accreditation.
Other Tasks and Responsibilities
- To be conversant with and adhere to the policies and procedures of the Hospice.
- To identify yourself as a Treetops Hospice Care Senior Counsellor and to act as a Hospice ambassador.
- To maintain accurate and relevant written information on clients that accords with professional practice.
- To participate in Treetops Hospice Care appraisal system, taking responsibility for professional development and keeping up to date with relevant issues and developments
- Participate in staff and other Treetops Hospice Care meetings as required.
1
Senior Counsellor (for LLI)
November 2016