Bereavement Counselor - Hospice

Job Summary

Provide grief counseling to adults and/or children, adolescents, and their families. Provide education or direct assistance to schools and the community. Make referrals as appropriate and provide training/oversight for volunteer facilitators.

Details of the position

• Provide counseling to include facilitating support groups for adults and/or children, adolescents, and their families.
• Complete direct interviews for intake with families for placement purposes and make referrals to community resources as appropriate.
• Counsel with Hospice family for emotional support and grief and bereavement issues in private residence and/or at inpatient hospice.
• Act as counseling resource by providing crisis intervention/debriefings to community organizations as needed.
• Aid in the provision of initial and ongoing education for staff, volunteers, and the community.
• Provide clinical supervision of assigned bereavement groups.

Communication and Problem-Solving

• Effectively communicate by establishing and maintaining open, effective communications and utilizing correct channels of communication.
• Utilize correct channels of communication and recognized organization communication standard.
• Participate in problem-solving and communicate with co-workers regarding services.

General Duties and Performance Improvement

• Maintain a working knowledge of infection control, risk management and emergency preparedness plans.
• Participate in performance improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrate knowledge of hospital, interdepartmental and unit goals, standards, and operations.
• Maintain and update knowledge of and is responsive to the laws and regulations which affect his/her practice.

Bereavement Support and Volunteers

• Establish, coordinate, and implement bereavement follow-up procedures including delivery of letters, cards, etc. to families; quarterly mailings to bereaved families; assessing bereavement support needs and triage appropriately; carry a case load of at-risk families.
• Recruit, train, supervise and evaluate bereavement volunteers in collaboration with the Volunteer Coordinator.
• Train volunteers and staff in the area of bereavement and orient all new staff to bereavement protocol.
• Facilitate monthly and annual commemorative services for staff, Hospice families, and the community at large including a Hospice fundraiser.
• Coordinate and/or facilitate all community-wide bereavement support groups.
• Offer bereavement support community wide as time and need indicate.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree Required: Counseling or related field plus specialized training in grief counseling issues specific to children, adolescents and/or adults or
• Minimum of 1 year Required: experience which includes working with adults and/or children, adolescents, and families and/or working with grief issues (or equivalent combination of education and/or experience)
• Minimum of 3 years Preferred: experience working with children, adolescents and/or adults
• Minimum of 2 years Preferred: experience as a bereavement counselor

Credentials

• Credentials Required: Upon Hire Basic Life Support and
• Credentials Required: Upon Hire Driver's License with automobile that is insured to state regulations and is in good running order and
• Credentials Required: Within 90 Days Counselor Agency Affiliate (Washington Minimum Requirement. Current or pending certification)
• Credentials Preferred: Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker-Washington (Washington - Exceeds minimum requirement)
• Credentials Preferred: Social Worker Advanced License - Washington (Washington - Exceeds minimum requirement)
• Credentials Preferred: Social Worker Associate Advanced License - Washington (Washington - Exceeds minimum requirement)
• Credentials Preferred: Social Worker Associate Independent Clinical License - WA (Washington - Exceeds minimum requirement)

Skills

• Strong oral and written communication skills (Required)
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills (Required)
• Ability to effectively communicate clinical information (Required)
• Ability to analyze/problem solve (Required)
• Strong organization skills with the ability to work independently or as part of an interdisciplinary team (Required)
• Computer skills (Required)
• Knowledge of counseling techniques and grief issues (Required)

Working Conditions

• Lifting: Consistently operates computer and other office equipment. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work.
• Environmental Conditions: Predominantly operates in an office environment. Some time spent on site in medical/hospital setting.
• Mental/Visual: Vision and hearing required within normal limits (glasses, contacts, hearing aids permitted). Ability to communicate and exchange accurate information.

Benefits

• Full medical/dental/vision coverage
• 403b retirement plan employer base and matching contributions
• Paid time off
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance with additional buyup coverage options
• Tuition and continuing education reimbursement
• Wellness benefits
• Expanded EAP and mental health program