Suicide Bereavement Practitioner

**Reporting to**: Suicide Bereavement Service Co-ordinator

**Accountable to**: Clinical Director

**JOB PURPOSE**:
The Suicide Bereavement Practitioner will support children, young people, young adults (CYP/YA’s) and their families who have been bereaved across Hertfordshire and West Essex. They will offer a range of evidence-based interventions to support the specialist needs of children and young people who are experiencing complex grief or traumatic bereavement. The post holder will be a source of advice and support for professionals across Hertfordshire and West Essex.

**DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES**

**Communication and Relationships**:

- Make initial telephone contact with next of kin/family members within 72 hours of referral.
- Offer individual meetings either by telephone, online or face to face.
- Work with the family collaboratively to identify and support their current needs, offer practical solutions and advice.
- Work collaboratively with other services such as the coroner, police, schools, GP’s and other support services.
- Deliver individual emotional support sessions for adults and children/young people, facilitating conversations about bereavement by suicide and reducing feelings of isolation and stigma.
- Facilitate per support groups for adults and children/young people.
- Have skills of empathy, good listening skills, the ability to build a positive relationship and gain the trust of service users quickly is essential.

**Person Specification**

**Education and Training**

Essential
- Health, education, social care, or counselling qualification
- Training in bereavement, loss, and grief

Desirable
- Accredited member of HCPC, BACP (MBACP accredited or working towards accreditation)
- Training in Trauma
- Child and Adolescent counselling certificate

**Knowledge and Experience**

Essential
- At least two years’ experience of working with bereaved CYP and families on an individual basis and in groups
- Experience of developing care packages and taking responsibility for clients
- Ability to record and report on data relating to own clinical and non clinical activity

Desirable
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary setting
- Experience of facilitating groups
- Experience of providing virtual support

**Skills and Abilities**
- Excellent communication skills in supporting both children/young people and adults as well as other professionals
- Excellent computer and IT skills

**Personal Qualities**
- Empathic facilitating style with children, families and other professionals and the ability to work co-operatively for the benefit of service users
- Ability to cope with high workload and multiple demands on time
- Ability to manage time effectively and prioritise workload
- Ability to deal with highly distressing and emotive situations
- A demonstrated commitment to service development through evaluation and audit

**Other**
- Car driver
- Will be required to travel to visit children and families across Hertfordshire and West Essex
- Ability to work flexible hours to meet the needs of the service
- Flexible to work occasional weekends and evenings

**Job Type**: Part-time
Part-time hours: 15 per week

**Salary**: £28,000.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Company pension
- Sick pay

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Bedfordshire, MK45 4HS

Application deadline: 13/05/2023