City Hospice is Cardiffs local hospice. We provide specialist palliativecare for people living with life-limiting and terminal illnesses, as well ascompassionate counselling and bereavement support for families and carers. Webelieve every person matters and are committed to delivering care that ispersonal, dignified, and respectful of individual needs and choices.
We are looking for a Counselling Manager who shares our passion forcompassionate care and wants to lead meaningful change. This is a uniqueopportunity to shape the future of our counselling and bereavement services,ensuring they are flexible, needs-led, and fully integrated into the widerhospice care journey.
In this role, you will lead a team of counsellors and students, providingclear direction, strong management, and a positive, collaborative workingculture. You will implement our Counselling Strategy, redesign how support isdelivered, and work closely with colleagues across the charity to ensurebereavement care is seamless and person-focused.
You will be at the heart of embedding City Hospices values into everydayservice delivery - passion and compassion, sharing and empowering, and beingknowledgeable and responsible. This means not only leading your own team butalso working across the organisation to contribute to our wider strategicgoals, building strong relationships, and seeking new opportunities thatenhance the service and add value.
Main duties of the job
The Counselling Manager will play a key leadership role in overseeing and coordinating the delivery of City Hospices Counselling Service, ensuring it provides compassionate, holistic, and high-quality support. You will lead a team, including counsellors and students, using strong people management skills to guide and inspire them in delivering services that meet the needs of patients, families, and the wider Cardiff community.
You will be responsible for implementing the Counselling strategy and leading the redesign of how support is delivered, moving towards a flexible, needs-led approach that reflects our commitment to dignity, respect, and personal choice. Central to this role is embedding City Hospices values of passion and compassion, sharing and empowering, and being knowledgeable and responsible, into every aspect of service delivery, ensuring our care is always person focused.
About us
City Hospice is Cardiffs local hospice. We provide specialist palliativecare for people living with life-limiting and terminal illnesses, as well ascompassionate counselling and bereavement support for families and carers. Webelieve every person matters and are committed to delivering care that ispersonal, dignified, and respectful of individual needs and choices.
Job responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Leadership
Lead, manage and motivate a team of counsellors, art therapists, sessional counsellors and students to provide a professional and flexible counselling service to meet the needs of those we serve by combining clinical oversight with a commitment to continuous improvement.
Lead the development, implementation, and training for policies and procedures for the counselling service, while ensuring the counselling team has the skills, knowledge, and support needed to deliver a high-quality, responsive service for patients and families.
You will lead the delivery of the counselling service, using bereavement assessment tools to ensure each person receives the right level of support. Your focus will be on safety and responsiveness, making sure complex needs are managed carefully while also recognising when alternative bereavement support is more suitable than counselling.
Conduct supervision with students, allowing them a safe space to discuss their caseload, whilst being provided appropriate guidance and support.
To be the Safeguarding Lead, assessing and managing risks in line with City Hospice policies.
Service Development
Develop group counselling for adults and children and new formats such as weekend and evening sessions
Shape and lead transformation by implementing the counselling strategy.
Maintain governance of the counselling service and be responsible for completing case reviews with the team offering advice and guidance.
Identify, maintain and produce accurate statistical data for reporting against service targets and grant funded applications required by trustees, commissioners and funders.
Analyse a range of information to identify themes and trends and identify areas for service development and continuous improvement.
Complete regular audits and offer structured feedback on compliance, to enhance the service and deliver on key performance indicators.
Support and promote opportunities to gather feedback from service users, using their insights to inform ongoing improvement and development of counselling services and bereavement support
Develop and implement projects that align with City Hospices strategy and values, and that enhance the counselling and bereavement service in ways that deliver meaningful value for patients, families, and the wider community.
Support the Clinical Director in the delivery of the organisational strategy with the aim of ensuring the sustainability of the City Hospice counselling services.
Attend and participate in weekly multi disciplinary team meetings and monthly senior management team meetings, working collaboratively with our clinical and business support team.
Attend external meetings, groups and forums as agreed by the Hospice Practice Manager, Clinical Director or CEO.
Utilise a range of technology to deliver sustainable services and increased accessibility.
Work in partnership with schools, community organisations, and statutory services to develop and coordinate bereavement support, ensuring a joined up approach that meets the needs of children, young people, and the wider community.
Stakeholder Engagement
Be responsible for fostering a positive, inclusive culture within the counselling service, integrating City Hospices vision and purpose into daily practice, and working collaboratively across the charity to contribute to wider strategic goals and shared success.
Support with volunteer training, offer professional input, and help create a culture where volunteers feel supported and valued.
Where applicable represent the service externally, providing training to corporate partners, and participate in steering groups.
Work closely with organisations who have provided City Hospice with funding and within the terms and conditions agreed, including the production of performance reports.
General Responsibilities
Act as an ambassador for City Hospice, consistently upholding our values of Passion and Compassion, Sharing and Empowering, and Knowledgeable and Responsible in all interactions.
Undertake any other reasonable duties or responsibilities as required to support the effective delivery of the service.
Maintain up to date professional knowledge and skills, staying informed of developments that enhance your ability to support and guide the team and counselling service.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Qualified BACP and BAAT or equivalent qualification
* Current up to date relevant registration
* Psychotherapy qualification Masters level or above
Other
* Full driving licence and access to a vehicle
Knowledge and skills
* Minimum of two years experience in bereavement counselling or palliative care
* Minimum of five years post qualification experience
* Proven experience in leading and delivering counselling within group settings.
* Excellent communicator both verbally and written
* Ability to react to changing circumstances
* Confident in the use of Microsoft packages
* Ability to interpret data, identifying themes and trends
* Excellent knowledge of GDPR
* Ability to speak a second language
* Familiarity with hospice care or the voluntary sector
* Knowledge of grant applications or providing data for funding bids
* Experience of working in a charity
Experience
* Experience of working with adults and children
* Ability to manage and lead high performing teams giving them the confidence and skills to act independently within the scope of their role
* Excellent knowledge of safeguarding legislation
* Experience of working in partnership with education, statutory, and community sectors, and effectively liaising with a range of stakeholders
* Experienced in report writing
* Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
* Experience of managing student placements, such as art or music therapy
* Experience of reporting on service impact to commissioners or funders
* Experience in change management
* Budget management
* Knowledge of risk management
Personal Attributes
* Ability to adapt leadership style to motivate and inspire the team
* Approachable, ensuring the team remain compliant and confident in delivering an excellent service
* Flexible to meet the needs of patients and families
* Committed to your own continued professional development and the development of others
* Able to react to changing circumstances
* Organised with the ability to work under pressure
* Experience of service planning
* Build positive relationships in all interactions, championing the work of City Hospice
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
#J-18808-Ljbffr