Family Support Practitioner

Hours 22.5 hours per week, (worked over three days, Wednesday - Friday)

Salary £30,796 - £31,352 FTE per annum. Actual pro rata salary £18,477 - £18,811 per annum

Contract Permanent

Location Wildwood Drive, Worcester WR5 2QT

St Richard's Hospice is seeking a compassionate, skilled and enthusiastic Family Support Practitioner to join our Family Support Team. This is a rewarding role with an opportunity to make a real difference to patients, families and carers across South Worcestershire who are experiencing anticipatory grief or bereavement.

This role has a particular focus on coordinating and supporting our Family Support Volunteers, as well as providing specialist support to carers. It will also involve providing bereavement support in both one to one and group settings. You will play a key role in providing excellent support to patients, families, carers and bereaved people, ensuring they feel understood, valued and supported, while also nurturing and developing the volunteer team that underpins much of our work.

Due to the role requirements, the role will predominantly be based in person at the Hospice, Wildwood Drive, Worcester.

As a Family Support Practitioner, you will:

• Provide flexible, person centred pre and post bereavement support through one to one and group sessions, face to face and virtually.
• Complete holistic assessments, risk assessments and signpost or refer appropriately.
• Work in partnership with other Family Support Practitioners, the wider Family Support Team and the multi disciplinary team (MDT) to ensure coordinated, high quality support for patients, carers and families.
• Lead the coordination, supervision and development of Family Support Volunteers, including recruitment support, induction, supervision and ongoing CPD.
• Working alongside our Family Support Worker in taking a key role in supporting carers, offering emotional support, guidance and signposting.
• Develop, facilitate and evaluate therapeutic group work for patients, carers and bereaved adults.
• Contribute to the Family Support and BSSW referral line rota, providing advice and support.
• Maintain accurate electronic records and contribute to service audits and evaluation.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and represent the service at meetings with external partners.

This post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

You will have;

• A relevant qualification in Health & Social Care, Counselling, or a related field.
• Training in bereavement, grief and loss.
• Experience in palliative care and supporting carers and/or bereaved individuals.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across teams.
• Experience and skills in facilitating group work.
• A flexible, compassionate approach and good strategies for self care.
• Ability to travel independently across Worcestershire (UK driving licence and access to a vehicle required).

Please see attached Job Descriptions and Person Specification for further details.

We offer a competitive salary and a wide range of benefits including;

• Fantastic team where everyone is welcomed and empowered to give their best
• Generous annual leave (seven weeks including bank holidays)
• Benenden Healthcare offering diagnosis, treatment, 24/7 GP and mental health advice lines, discounts etc. or Cash plan giving cash back for day to day healthcare such as optical or dental costs
• Opportunities for flexible working
• Family friendly policies
• Fabulous subsidised on-site café
• Company enhanced sick pay (increased entitlement with length of service)
• Pension scheme and opportunity to continue NHS pension for clinical staff
• Free Will writing service

If you would like to find out more information, please contact: