Archie's Child Bereavement Service (ACBS) is part of The Archie Foundation, and provides services to bereaved children, young people and their families.
We are seeking a part-time Bereavement Support Workers who will assist us to further extend this service within the Tayside Region. The service will assist families where there are children and young people under the age of 18, who are bereaved, to access information, guidance and support at an early stage when a person close to them sadly dies.
The post is for 18 hours per week, based in Dundee, and the candidate will have the ability to travel throughout the Tayside Region. The post holder will be required to work flexibly in response to the needs of the service.
A full person spec and job description outlines full requirements for this post, but applicants should have a range of skills and experience including direct work with children and young people. Experience of supporting bereaved families is desirable. They will have excellent communication skills and ability to work under pressure.
There is a requirement that the post holder will be eligible for, or to be a member of the PVG, under the Enhanced Disclosure Scotland Scheme
JOB DESCRIPTION
Post Title: Bereavement Support Worker – The Tayside region
Part time, 18 hours per week, over three days per week.
Location: The Change Centre, South Road, Dundee, DD2 4SR
JOB PURPOSE
- To assist with, and to provide a direct service to bereaved children, young people and their families throughout the Tayside region.
- To deliver a bereavement support service to bereaved families where there are children under the age of 19 years old within Tayside
- To primarily support bereaved children and young people following referrals from NHS Hospitals in Tayside and referrals from professional bodies and families when a child has someone important to them is going through palliative care
- Also to provide support to children following bereavement referrals from professional bodies and families.
MAJOR TASKS
- All staff are required to comply with The Archie Foundation Terms and Conditions of Service.
- All staff are required to familiarise themselves with all relevant Archie Foundation and specific ACBS policies, guidelines and procedures, in particular, Health & Safety, Equal Opportunities, confidentiality, safeguarding, data protection and to apply them in practice.
- In addition to the duties and responsibilities outlined in this Job Description, all staff are expected to undertake any additional reasonable tasks or responsibilities which may be required of them by their line manager.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
This post reports directly to The Archie Foundation’s Child Bereavement Services Manager. Clinical support and indirect supervision will be provided by the chair of the ACBS committee
ROLE ACTIVITIES
- To work closely with the ACBS Coordinators and wider Archie Foundation staff members and volunteers.
- To primarily respond to referrals for bereavement support from NHS Tayside hospitals or when someone a child knows is receiving end of life care. There is also scope to respond to general bereavement referrals from professional bodies and families direct.
- To contact individual families, assess their needs and provide advice, guidance and support as appropriate.
- To provide support and direct work with children and young people as appropriate
- To liaise with medical, nursing and other staff to enable bereaved families to receive appropriate support.
- To support and undertake delivery of awareness and other ACBS training programs to professionals when required.
- To support ACBS Activity Day programmes and young people’s groups when necessary.
- To assist the ACBS Bereavement Services Manager and ACBS Committee to develop local services
- To work with Archie Foundation colleagues to raise awareness of ACBS and the needs of bereaved children and young people.
- Such other appropriate tasks as may be required from time to time
To support all aspects of work regarding service response to referrals
- To work flexible hours in keeping with the needs and the operational demands of the service – such as specific day and early evening cover and occasional weekend work as agreed.
- To keep records and files as appropriate and as requested.
To report regularly to the Archie Child Bereavement Service Committee meeting and attend meetings when required
- To write reports on the use of the service when required.
- To report regularly to the ACBS Bereavement Manager and Coordinators or in their absence to a member of The Archie Foundation senior management team.
- To attend regular supervision with a member of the ACBS committee.
- To attend Archie Foundation and ACBS Team meetings when required.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
- Be accountable to and work positively and effectively with the Archie Foundation Senior Management Staff
- Work positively and effectively with all members of the Archie Foundation staff team and other colleagues
- To work positively and respectfully with all volunteers
- Work positively with the Archie Committee and as appropriate The Archie Foundation trustees
CANDIDATE SPECIFICATION
Should be qualified to minimum of Higher Education Level or equivalent.
Relevant Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience of direct work with children and young people.
- Knowledge of and have an understanding of the stages of grief.
- Experience of supporting individuals.
- Experience of Team Working.
- Experience of using listening skills.
- Basic IT Skills.
- Full driving licence and access to a car
- Willingness to travel (75%)
Desirable
- Knowledge of child development.
- Knowledge of family dynamics.
- Experience of visiting families in their own homes.
- Experience of working under own initiative.
- Experience of supporting bereavement.
- Experience of presentations of delivering training.
- Experience of working with volunteers.
Special Aptitudes
Essential
- Excellent communication skills
- Excellent adminstrative skills
- Ability to empathise.
Ability to assess, develop and interact with a wide range of people.
- Ability to report to / liaise with ACBS committee.
- Ability to plan out workload and work under pressure, dealing with more than one person / task at a time
- Ability to maintain accurate administration systems and maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to report to / liaise with ACBS committee.
- Ability to work as a member of the ACBS team.
- Ability to work alone and manage time effectively.
- Ability to work effectively and constructively with volunteers
- Ability to work with The Archie Foundation and ACBS policies and procedures.
Desirable
- Public speaking and presentations.
- Ability to work with groups.
- Leading groups.
- Ability to work flexibly - varied hours each week, including occasional evening / weekend hours
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Sensitivity to the needs of others.
- Sociable outgoing nature.
- Empathic.
- Tolerance and patience.
- Approachable.
- Sense of humour.
- Flexibility and willingness to work outside normal office hours.
- Calm and considered approach.
- Managing stress.
- Insightful and reflective
Desirable
- Experience of people from all walks of life and ability to respond to them.
Interview Dates: TBC
- Please include covering letter with your CV, outlining your suitability for this role.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: Up to £15,600.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Flexitime
- Life insurance
- Work from home
Education:
- Certificate of Higher Education (preferred)
Experience:
- Bereavement support: 1 year (preferred)
- Working with Children: 1 year (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
Willingness to travel:
Work Location: In person
