Community Grief & Bereavement Counsellor

Full Time Permanent - 37.5 hours per Week

St. Joseph's Hospice is a charitable, faith-based organization that offers compassionate holistic care and support to people living with a palliative illness. Support is extended to their family members and caregivers and to those grieving the loss of a loved one. Hospice programs and services are offered at no cost and are available irrespective of age, gender, religion, race, ethnicity or economic status.

Whether in the community, our wellness centre or our 10-suite residence, St. Joseph's Hospice provides specialized programs and services with a person-centred holistic approach. Individuals and families are intimately involved in creating their own plan of care which best addresses their unique needs. Our competent and committed Hospice staff and volunteers work together as a team, with other community partners and service providers, to provide full support and quality hospice palliative care.

Working in collaboration with the inter-disciplinary team, and in accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values of St. Joseph's Hospice, the Community Grief & Bereavement Counsellor will provide supportive care to Hospice Clients offering a compassionate presence, access to Hospice services, and counselling. Specifically, they will:

• Conduct client assessments (psycho/spiritual/social);
• provide personal and family counselling, individually or in groups to palliative, caregiver, and bereaved clients of St. Joseph's Hospice who are living with serious illness, experiencing sudden loss of life and or have complex grief & bereavement needs.
• utilize assessments to provide the framework for interdisciplinary team communications, decision- making, care planning and the delivery of an integrated overall client care plan.
• assess individuals for readiness and appropriateness for services, making appropriate internal and external referrals as needed; and,
• provide ethical consultation with clients, families and care providers.

St. Joseph's Hospice of London offers a comprehensive Benefits Plan and the Defined Pension Plan HOOPP (Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan)

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this role successfully, an individual must be able to perform essential duties satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and /or abilities required:

This role requires extensive travel throughout London & Middlesex County. The successful candidate must possess reliable personal transportation, valid drivers' license and appropriate vehicle insurance to perform this work.

• Master's degree in counselling, or Social Work, or equivalent
• Registered member with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, or Ontario College of Social Workers & Social Service Workers or Equivalent College
• Certificate in Grief and Bereavement or Thanatology from a recognized post-secondary institution preferred
• Recent experience providing individual counselling to bereaved people
• Experience in spiritual/psycho/social assessment and care plan delivery
• Evidence of training in current grief and bereavement theory and issues related to trauma, and demonstrated understanding of complex grief and complex family situations and concurrent stressors they may present
• Demonstrated knowledge and commitment to the principles of patient and family centered care
• Sound assessment and care planning skills with an ability to create a therapeutic alliance and establish appropriate boundaries and limits to support clients
• Sound knowledge of the London-Middlesex Community Support Services sector and relevant resources
• Demonstrated knowledge of effective group facilitation principles with recent experience facilitating bereavement groups
• Understanding of the unique issues and needs of people living in rural areas
• Awareness of the Adult Bereavement Care Pyramid (Irish Hospice Foundation)

• Cultural Competency training preferred
• Awareness of and ability to recognize the signs of Prolonged Grief Disorder and refer on appropriately.
• Willingness to undertake continuous professional development including bereavement specific training
• Demonstrated relationship management skills consistent with the Mission, Vision, and Values of St. Joseph's Hospice
• Willingness to work flexible hours
• Demonstrated knowledge and commitment to the Health Ethics Guide of the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada (CHAC)

St. Joseph's Hospice is an equal opportunity employer, and we will accommodate your needs under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Upon individual request, hiring processes will be modified to remove barriers to accommodate those with disabilities. If you require any accommodations to fully and fairly participate in the application, interview or selection process, please contact Human Resources at (519) 941-3476 or [email protected] and we will endeavour to provide a suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account your accessibility needs.