Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for a part time Family Therapist in our Patient & Family Counselling Service team at St Josephs Hospice!
You will work as part of committed and creative team, which offers innovative therapeutic interventions and support to people with specialist palliative and end of life care needs across all areas of the service.
We are looking for someone who has experience in providing systemic family therapy assessments and interventions for patients, their families and carers in a heath or social care setting, with a focus on strengths and resilience, so that families are better able to cope with and adjust to serious illness or the end of life of family members.
Main duties of the job
You will need:
1. A qualification in a recognised psychological therapy at Masters level or equivalent
2. Masters qualification in Family and/or Systemic Psychotherapy
3. Experience of working therapeutically with individuals and families experiencing life changing illness or conditions
About us
St Joseph's Hospice was founded in 1905 by the Religious Sisters of Charity and as such it has a rich, Catholic heritage which informs our work today: to support and welcome those in need, from all different cultures, religions and backgrounds.
We provide high quality specialist palliative care for patients with cancer and other life-threatening conditions across East and North London. We have a large team of clinical staff who work across community, in-patient and out-patient services delivering individualised, responsive and holistic support to patients and their families/carers.
Why work for us?
4. 27 days holiday plus public holidays, increasing up to 33 days with service
5. Subsidised cafe and early access to retail sale events
6. Season ticket/Welfare loans
7. Continuation of NHS Pension Scheme or an excellent salary-exchange pension scheme.
8. Santander cycles discount and cycle to work scheme
9. Health Cash Plan and access to the EAP services
Join St Josephs team and find out more!
We are an equal opportunities and a disability confident employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Title : PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPIST FAMILY THERAPIST
Working hours: hrs pw (1 day pw)
Responsible to : Psychological Therapies Manager
Core Role
The post is part of the Patient and Family Counselling team, which contributes to the provision of end of life care services to hospice patients, their families and the children of patients. The post holder will:
Provide systemic family therapy assessments and interventions for patients, their families and carers, in inpatient and outpatient settings at the stages of diagnosis, treatment, recurrence and palliative care
Provide consultation and advice to therapy and clinical staff on facilitating family strengths and resilience, so that families are better able to cope with and adjust to serious illness or the end of life of family members
The post holder will be expected to work in a flexible way, adapting the service provided to meet the differing and changing needs of service users from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds. They will also oversee and supervise placements for Family Therapy students.
Where relevant, they may also contribute the development of projects within the hospice, which promote family resilience and psychological wellbeing.
The Psychological Therapies services form an integral component of the multidisciplinary specialist palliative care team that provides high quality care to patients with advanced, serious or life-limiting illness.
Key accountabilities
CLINICAL
10. Provide specialised therapeutic interventions with groups of adults, children and families, which will necessitate drawing from a broad spectrum of systemic models and complex factors concerning historical and developmental processes that have shaped the individual, family or group.
11. Work directly with a caseload, using established systemic family therapy techniques and appropriate clinical tools for assessment and intervention; fostering patients and families resilience and coping abilities in adapting to illness, change, uncertainty, death and bereavement.
12. Work jointly with colleagues from own and other disciplines both directly with patients, carers and families and in a consultative or advice-giving capacity.
13. Support other members of the patient and family counselling team to use appropriate family focussed psychological strategies and interventions.
14. Develop and maintain resources for family focussed psychological work in palliative care and to make resources and information available to colleagues.
15. Maintain an ongoing awareness of risks to clients, and their families, including harm to self and others, taking appropriate action as required.
16. Refer clients on to other professionals/agencies if/when needs are identified which are beyond the scope of the service.
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
17. Maintain own professional development in line with the expectations of relevant accrediting bodies.
18. Attend line management meetings and clinical supervision in line with hospice policy and professional guidelines.
19. Attend appropriate training courses and professional meetings to ensure that practice takes into account new developments in service provision.
20. Maintain an awareness of research findings regarding area of expertise.
21. Provide consultation to own and other disciplines regarding psychological care of patients and their families.
COMMUNICATION
22. Contribute to team meetings in relation to the care of complex clients and the development of services /training, providing verbal reports as required.
23. Provide reports regarding clinical activity as required by management/contract specifications.
MANAGEMENT
24. Oversee and supervise placements for Family Therapy students from Kings College and the Institute of Psychiatry.
25. Contribute to the day-to-day management of the team workload under the direction of the Psychological Therapies Manager.
26. Make initial safeguarding assessments and referrals in line with hospice policies and procedures.
27. Contribute to the recruitment, development and supervision of counselling volunteers within the team.
28. Take a lead role in relation to new family projects within the service/ hospice where required and appropriate.
ADMINISTRATION
29. Maintain confidential records of all activities in line with hospice policy
30. Enter details of client contact in a timely way to electronic multidisciplinary records balancing the need to respect confidentiality of sensitive personal information and the need to share information which will enhance the understanding and working of other key professionals.
31. Word process letters, reports and minutes of informal meetings.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
32. Abide by the rules of professional conduct laid down by the appropriate professional body.
33. Act as a representative for psychological therapies professionals, both within St Joseph's Hospice and in the wider health community.
34. Identify own learning and development needs in order to meet the key requirements of the post.
35. Take responsibility for own continuing professional development receiving regular line management and supervision. Actively seek to develop skills and knowledge through a process of reflection with peers inside and outside the department.
36. In agreement with the Psychological Therapies Manager, identify appropriate training and development opportunities appropriate to the post.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Comply with and promote St Josephs Hospice Equal Opportunity Policy and avoid any behaviour which discriminates against colleagues, potential employees, patients/clients or their families on the grounds of sex, marital status, race, age, belief, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion, disability, creed, class, gender, sexual orientation.
Mission & core values
All Hospice staff are expected to work in line with St Josephs Mission & Core Values as these precepts act as a value base which directly influences how all work activities are undertaken. The ethos of the Hospice should be apparent in the behaviours and attitudes of all employees as the work they undertake, whether it is direct or indirect care is ultimately for the benefit of patients. The Mission and Core Values are an integral part of all job descriptions, the probationary period and performance and development reviews. (full details are attached)
Environment and sustainability
Comply with and promote the Hospices environmental policies, which stem from our core values. Promote environmentally sustainable practice and development and avoid any behaviour, which undermines environmentally sustainable practice and development throughout the Hospice services and departments.
Health safety and Welfare
Ensure a safe working environment and be aware of responsibilities under the Health & Safety at Work Act, taking appropriate action in the event of an accident to patients, staff, self or any other person in the work area.
St Josephs Hospice operates a no smoking policy.
Person Specification
General Requirements
Essential
37. Please refer to job description above
Desirable
38. Please refer to job description above