Parent Counselling Service Lead
Applications are invited for a part‑time 0.70 WTE (3.5 days per week) post as the Lead Counsellor for the Parent Counselling Service based at the Evelina London Children’s Hospital. Your experience and knowledge of psychotherapeutic counselling with parents of chronically ill / palliative children and bereavement will inform your multidisciplinary team working. Offering dynamic hybrid models of support, you will integrate a range of bereavement models alongside general psychotherapeutic counselling to meet the needs of our diverse communities across our region.
The closing date is 01 June 2026
Main duties of the job
* Clinical leadership of assessments, referral pathways and holding a clinical caseload.
* Operational and clinical supervision to ensure timely referrals, access and safeguarding.
* Contribute towards the delivery of scheduled Remembrance Services (2 per year).
* Develop teaching sessions regarding Bereavement and Working with Parents.
* Ensure ethical standards are maintained by contributing to service development with GSTT Psychological Services framework.
About us
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust employs around 22,700 staff and serves over 1 million patient contacts a year. The Parent Counselling Service comprises 3 qualified counsellors/psychotherapists (1.7 WTE) and supports parents of life‑limited or palliative children through integrated psychotherapeutic and psychosocial interventions.
Job responsibilities
* Professional qualifications – BACP Senior Accreditation (eligible) / UKCP Registration MA/MSc (Level 7).
* Clinical experience in mental/physical health care settings with children and/or adults, including hospice and hospital environments, and substantial experience delivering psychotherapeutic interventions.
* Ability to work as an effective multidisciplinary team member and promote good practice through an integrative approach to psychotherapeutic and psychosocial interventions.
Person Specification
Knowledge / Qualifications
* BACP Senior Accreditation (eligible) / UKCP Registration MA/MSc (Level 7).
* Post‑registration qualification in an appropriate specialty or equivalent experience.
* Evidence of ongoing professional development, including leadership and management training relevant to senior roles.
* BACP Accreditation (MBACP – Accreditation/Senior Accreditation), UKCP Registration or HCPC registration as a psychological therapist or practitioner psychologist or full member of ACP.
* Teaching qualification.
* Working towards a master’s degree.
* Formal training in supervision.
Previous Experience
* Providing bereavement support at all stages of a parent’s journey.
* Extensive experience as a supervised counsellor with adult clients.
* Experience of providing short‑term, targeted interventions.
* Experience of working with groups and group facilitation.
* Experience of undertaking personal therapy.
* Experience working within a healthcare setting (NHS, private or third sector).
* Experience overseeing work of other team members, including case allocation and care planning.
* Experience with Microsoft Office programmes.
* Experience providing supervision.
* Providing therapy in a virtual setting.
* Working within an inpatient setting.
* Experience using electronic record systems.
Skills
* Ongoing professional development.
* Counselling skills and evidence of bereavement support.
* Knowledge of the experience of families who have suffered the loss of a child or whose child has experienced a life‑changing event.
* Ability to manage own workload and that of others.
* Initiative and teamwork within a multiprofessional team.
* Teaching and presentation skills.
* Leadership and quality improvement.
* Teaching and assessment abilities.
* Effective communication in sensitive situations.
* Work within tight timeframes.
* Apply research or audit findings to clinical practice.
* Knowledge of current grief models, particularly related to child death.
* Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal and communication skills.
* Basic IT skills and ability to learn new systems.
* Service improvement.
Additional Information
* Committed to reflective practice.
* Adaptable and flexible approach to own work practice.
* Empathy and reassurance.
* Diplomatic.
* Awareness of differing cultures and individual needs of families.
* Positive approach to work.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check.
£58,133 to £65,261 a year per annum inc. HCA (pro rata, 0.7 WTE)
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