Salary £27,738 - £28,566 per annum
Location St Peter & St James Hospice, North Common Road, North Chailey, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 4ED
{Mergefield Value}
{Mergefield Value}

Published

Not Published

Closing

in X days

This is a Permanent, Bank vacancy that will close in {x} days at {xx:xx} BST.

Join Our Compassionate Team Supporting Patients and Loved Ones

Are you passionate about providing compassionate, person-centred emotional support and looking for a role where you can truly make a difference?

Our vision is a community where people live and die well, supported with dignity, respect and compassion. As a Counsellor within our Supportive Care Team, you’ll play a vital role in helping patients, families and those who have been bereaved navigate some of life’s most challenging moments.

Working both within the hospice and out in the community, you’ll deliver high-quality counselling support that addresses the emotional and psychological needs of those affected by life-limiting illness and bereavement.

Job Details

Location: St Peter & St James Hospice, BN8 4ED (including community visits)

Salary: £14.19 - £14.61 per hour (£27,738- £28,566 per annum, full-time equivalent)

Contract Type: Bank (zero hours)

Closing Date: We will be shortlisting and interviewing as applications are received, so early applications are strongly encouraged.

What you’ll be doing

As a Counsellor, you will provide specialist emotional and psychological support, working both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team. Your work will be meaningful, varied and highly valued.

Deliver compassionate, person-centred counselling:

  • Assess and respond to the emotional and psychological needs of patients, families, carers and the bereaved
  • Provide one-to-one counselling sessions tailored to individual needs
  • Offer support through complex grief, anticipatory grief and end-of-  life experiences
  • Ensure dignity, empathy and respect remain central to all interactions
  • Provide bereavement support and group work
  • Develop and facilitate bereavement support groups
  • Deliver structured and informal group sessions within the hospice and community
  • Support individuals at different stages of grief with sensitivity and professionalism

Work as part of a multidisciplinary team:

  • Collaborate closely with clinical and supportive care colleagues
  • Contribute to holistic care planning and patient support
  • Manage and maintain your own caseload effectively across hospice and community settings

Maintain professional standards and safe practice:

  • Assess and manage clinical risk within counselling and bereavement work
  • Maintain accurate and confidential records
  • Engage in supervision, reflective practice and ongoing professional development

What we’re looking for

  • BACP or UKCP accredited (or equivalent recognised counselling qualification)
  • Proven counselling experience, ideally within palliative care, bereavement or healthcare settings
  • Ability to assess complex emotional needs using professional judgement
  • Confidence managing an independent caseload
  • Strong understanding of grief, loss and the complexities of bereavement work
  • Excellent communication, empathy and organisational skills
  • Commitment to ongoing CPD and professional development
  • Experience of working with/Supporting Volunteers
  • Confident in the use of technology and IT and client record systems

Why join our team?

  • A welcoming, open and compassionate counselling team
  • The opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day
  • Flexible part-time working
  • Ongoing training and development opportunities
  • A supportive, multidisciplinary environment focused on high-quality, person-centred care

Please view the full job description and person specification at the bottom of the webpage.

For an informal chat about the role, please contact Phillippa Jones, Head of Supportive Care (pjones@stpjhospice.org).

The Organisation

St Peter & St James Hospice is a leading provider of specialist palliative and end of life care for our Mid-Sussex community. People affected by life-limiting illness are central to everything we do and it is our mission to ensure they receive the best possible care, in the right place, at the right time. Our services are free of charge and can be accessed at home, in a care setting, or at the Hospice in North Chailey.

We achieve our goals through the organisation’s talented people, by attracting, retaining and developing a highly skilled, diverse and engaged workforce. Over 150 employees and 400 volunteers work in a variety of roles across our Clinical Services, Retail and Support Functions.

If you're looking to put your skills to use in an organisation that makes a difference for its local community and values Compassion, Integrity, Accountability, Excellence and Inclusivity then click 'Apply Now'!

Benefit 1

Benefit 2

Benefit 3

Benefit 4

  • Innovation

We are creative and fearless in our work.

  • Accountability

We take ownership of our work and lead from the front.

  • Teamwork

We collaborate widely and build supportive environments.

27 days holiday

Company sick pay scheme

Enhanced maternity/adoption pay

Monthly occupational health clinics

Leadership development programme

20% discount in our charity shops

  • Vrishali Pawar
  • People Services Assistant

"If you have the appetite to develop your skills, you are encouraged and empowered to learn and grow within the organisation."

  • Jon Anderson
  • Community Clinical Nurse Specialist

"Being a part of someone’s end of life care and supporting their loved ones through their grieving process is a real privilege."

  • Victoria Webber &
    Wendy Agate
  • Relationship Fundraisers

"Every pound raised for our hospice brings comfort and dignity to those facing life's most challenging moments, making every effort deeply meaningful."

  • Andrea Sutton
  • Data & Admin Team Officer

"Helping to change people's perception of specialist palliative and end of life care by sharing how we support patients and their loved ones is a privilege."

  • Gavin Carby & James Dickens
  • Facilities Manager & Maintenance Technician

"We love that we get discounts in our shops and can benefit from the Blue Light Card like NHS workers do."

  • Maddie Lewis
  • Retail Manager

"It's great to know that each day is an opportunity to make a difference for our local community."

Our people are our strength. We value diversity and inclusion so encourage applications from everyone, regardless of race, national origin, sex, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability or age.

Please ensure you have your own means of transport as the hospice is not accessible by bus and is located on a main road without public footpath. Our precise location can be found here: https://stpjhospice.org/contact-us/

If you have any questions about this vacancy or require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please contact us on hr@stpjhospice.org.

Please note we may shortlist and interview candidates as applications are received. Offers of employment are subject to satisfactory results from pre-employment checks (right to work, references, Occupational Health, and DBS if applicable).

Footer Accreditation
Footer Accreditation
Footer Accreditation
Footer Accreditation
Footer Accreditation