The details of the counselling placement requirements

1. Job Title: Volunteer Trainee Bereavement Counsellor
Reports to: Operational Manager
Band: Volunteer
Contract: Part time - 12 months fixed term,
Clinical work – building up caseload to 6 patients a week over 2 days + time for
administrative duties related to clinical work
Approximately 1,5 -2h hours per week for supervision/service meetings
Time to attend mandatory training throughout the placement when required
Time required at the beginning of the placement to complete induction
Summary of Role
The role involves providing evidence-based psychotherapy for bereaved people. This
role is a unique opportunity to take part in developing a bespoke Bereavement
Therapy Service for Salford residents and requires excellent teamwork skills. The post
holder will be involved in supporting the service development, providing short-term
psychotherapy for patients, evaluating the progress, taking part in appropriate
training and implementing it in clinical practice. The post holder will work as part of
the existing Mental Health Service structure across Salford establishing and
maintaining relevant partner services links.
The post holder will attend monthly clinical group supervision, monthly individual
mentor meeting and monthly service meetings (where the development of the service
will be discussed) and will fulfil mandatory training requirements ( a combination of
individual online learning and training organised by the service). Volunteers also have
an opportunity to attend the Clinical Reflective Group with all clinical staff.

2. Provide psychotherapy to bereaved people, which involves short-term, six weekly
50-minute sessions following BACP guidelines.
Build relationships with people using services and assist people in accessing the
appropriate support pathway.
Be open and proactive in communication with managers and supervisors, actively
seeking support and advice from more experienced colleagues in case of any
challenging situations (particularly involving risk and safeguarding).
Signpost to other resources/support or support people with short-term
therapeutic interventions and facilitate discussions with other services/providers
to ensure appropriate service meets their needs.
Possess good therapeutic and case management skills.
Deliver talking therapy via various modalities (telephone, video, face-to-face).
Demonstrate assertiveness and be able to maintain and manage professional
boundaries.
Appropriately record and share accurate patient notes with GPs and referrers as
appropriate.
Attend both clinical and managerial supervision meetings.
Use an agreed outcome evaluation system to monitor clinical outcomes for
individual patients for data collection and establish the services' effectiveness.
Work within the boundaries of the organisation's clinical governance framework.
Adhere to an agreed number of patient contacts offered following BACP
guidelines and clinical sessions carried out per week to minimise waiting times
and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible, convenient, and within the
service guidelines.
Specific responsibilities
Clinical

3. Active involvement in the development of the service.
Demonstrate flexibility and critical thinking in adjusting to any changes required
in developing the service while offering feedback and suggestions.
Complete all requirements relating to data collection and coherent records of all
clinical activity to be kept in line with service protocols.
Attend any required training and implement it in your clinical practice.
Attend and contribute to the monthly Team Meeting when the service
development is discussed.
Attend supervision for professional growth and skills efficiency.
Take part in clinical training provided by Bereavement Therapy Service and
complete other mandatory training.
Attend monthly Clinical Reflective Group (optional).
Maintain an active engagement with current developments in the field of
psychology and related disciplines and utilise theory, evidence-based literature
and research to support practice in individual work and work with other team
members.
Work within the values and ethos of Bereavement Therapy Service.
Maintain and work within relevant national professional guidelines related to
professional registration/regulatory body.
Ensure Safeguarding procedures are adhered to, recognising action concerning
the safety of children and vulnerable adults. Any concerns must be assessed and
reported to the appropriate external organisation and adhere to Bereavement
Therapy Service's Policies and procedures
To adhere to relevant national guidance and standards for safeguarding/child
protection.
Specific responsibilities
Service Involvement
CPD/Supervision
Safeguarding Adults & Children

4. Understand that it is your responsibility to adhere to organisational policies and
procedures when dealing with equality and diversity issues.
Adhere to Equal Opportunities Policy and treat all patients, relatives, carers and
staff with respect, dignity and understanding.
Understand the needs and be sensitive to patients' cultural backgrounds when
dealing with telephone enquiries.
Each Bereavement Therapy Service staff member is responsible for ensuring that
any external interest does not conflict with their posts' duties and must disclose
the external interest if this is likely to occur, or if they are in doubt about a
possible conflict of interest.
Specific responsibilities
Equality, inclusion and diversity
External interests
Our Values
At all times, the organisation's values must be at the heart of everything you do:
Professional: Committed to providing evidence-based talking therapies up to the
highest standards of excellence.
Accessible: Deliver services in easily accessible venues and adapt the approach
to deal with patient's individual needs.
Inclusive: Work with people from all backgrounds and make a particular effort
to reach out to under-represented groups.
Responsive: Respond promptly and ensure that waiting times are kept to a
minimum.
Supportive: Provide the support needed to help patients achieve their personal
goals

5. Student of University of Salford Counselling and Psychotherapy BSc or MSc Course.
Preferably this is going to be the second placement. However, if the candidate has
experience working with bereaved patients in a different setting, we are willing to
consider allowing this to be the first placement.
An active member of one or more regulatory bodies (e.g. BACP, UKCP).
Some experience in supporting people who pose risks to self or others and
safeguarding issues.
Experience in case management
Empathetic and understanding towards others.
Excellent communication skills
Ability to think systemically and willingness to develop systemic assessment skills
The ability to work well in a team and autonomously, including the ability to be
assertive and maintain professional boundaries.
Experience in health and safety principles, policies and procedures (within the
context of service provision).
The ability to work autonomously and to plan, prioritise, work under pressure and
adapt to new models of working.
Excellent IT skills
Ability to keep concise and accurate records and produce informative well written
reports.
A commitment to undertake appropriate training and professional development.
Experience in working with bereaved patients with a compassionate approach to
understanding the impact of bereavement.
Extensive experience in supporting people who pose risks to self or others &
safeguarding issues.
Experience in working within the local mental health systems
Knowledge of Primary Care
Knowledge of the broader mental health systems and pathways
Demonstrable experience in providing outcomes-focused, trauma-informed
interventions with bereaved patients.
Essential criteria
Desirable criteria