Adult Bereavement Counsellor

Role Purpose

The Adult Bereavement Counsellor provides therapeutic support to adults- particularly parents and carers- who are experiencing acute or complex grief following the death of a child.

The post holder will provide comprehensive psychosocial assessments and deliver therapeutic interventions working therapeutically using a range of counselling methods, approaches, and techniques, consistent with Level 3 of the NICE psychological intervention framework (2004).

They will also deliver crisis interventions where appropriate to ensure emotional safety and stability. In addition, the role includes designing and implementing a variety of therapeutic interventions across individual, couple, and group contexts, drawing on different models as required.

Main Responsibilities

Communication and Relationships

• Communicate effectively and sensitively within the organisation and with external professionals, including health and mental health services such as CMHTs and GPs.
• Convey complex and emotionally sensitive information to adults with clarity, empathy, and professionalism.
• Manage interactions with individuals or groups who may be distressed or emotionally impacted by information shared.
• Develop and maintain strong, positive working relationships with colleagues and peers to promote effective teamwork and collaboration.
• Model organisational values and behaviours, demonstrating respect, compassion, and integrity in all communication and relationships.

Knowledge, Training and Experience

• Undertake detailed psychosocial assessments and risk evaluations for parents and carers bereaved of a child, determining the most appropriate interventions and levels of support.
• Deliver individual and, where appropriate, couple or group counselling sessions using evidence-based approaches to address complex grief, trauma, and adjustment to loss.
• Ensure all practice meets professional standards and complies with relevant codes of conduct and national guidance.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of current research, evidence-based practice, and developments in bereavement and trauma-informed care.
• Provide crisis interventions when required, ensuring emotional containment, safety and referral to appropriate support.
• Support service users to develop coping skills, resilience, meaning making, and strategies to manage distress and ongoing adjustment.
• Integrate trauma-informed principles, recognising the emotional and physiological impact of bereavement and its intersection with other mental health concerns.
• Engage in continuous professional development and maintain an active professional portfolio in line with professional body requirements.
• Demonstrate knowledge and compliance with organisational policies, procedures, and safeguarding legislation, including Safeguarding Children and Adults and the Mental Capacity Act.
• Provide guidance, supervision, and support to volunteers individually or in groups as required.

Analytical and Judgement Skills

• Apply sound professional judgment and analytical skills to assess needs, plan interventions, and evaluate outcomes in accordance with best-practice frameworks.
• Participate actively in team meetings to plan, review, and evaluate care strategies and approaches.
• Ensure the accurate and timely recording of data and information to support monitoring, evaluation, and service development.
• Contribute to the collection, analysis and reporting of outcome measures to support quality assurance, demonstrate impact, inform practice and interventions, and inform continuous improvement.

All Staff

• Contribute to the vision and mission of Child Bereavement UK; whilst embedding the values into your daily work activities.
• Promote equality of opportunity and diversity in accordance with Child Bereavement UK policy.
• Contribute to the overall success of the charity s fundraising needs by providing case studies, attending events and adding value to the experience of our supporters as required.
• Contribute to the brand and reach of the charity by working alongside our Marketing & Communications Team when relevant press opportunities arise or when required for social media and online content (including the use of photography).
• Work to objectives, targets and work plans agreed with your line manager.

Person Specification

Education/Professional Qualification

Essential

• MA/MSc or Postgraduate Degree (minimum Level 4 or equivalent) in Counselling, Psychotherapy, Arts Therapy
• Registration with a professional body (ie. HCPC, UKCP, BACP, BAAT, etc)
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Certificate/diploma in supervision
• Dual qualification (social work and counselling/psychotherapy)
• BACP accreditation or eligible for BACP accreditation

Skills and Experience

Essential

• Able to make clear psychosocial assessments and managing complex emotional and mental health needs, risk, and safeguarding
• Awareness of the intersection between loss, mental health, relationships and identity
• Strong assessment, formulation and planning skills within a therapeutic context
• Substantial post qualification experience in counselling or psychotherapy
• Experience of working therapeutically with adults (pre and post bereavement)
• Experience of using outcome measures, feedback tools and data to evaluate effectiveness and impact of interventions

Knowledge and Understanding

• A strong understanding and knowledge of relevant psychological theories, therapeutic interventions, and models of grief work
• In-depth understanding of the impact of bereavement, trauma, and loss especially after the death of a child
• Knowledge of child development, attachment, and resilience frameworks
• Sound awareness of risk assessment, safeguarding legislation and information sharing processes
• Knowledge of evidence-based models of counselling and therapeutic interventions including creative and systemic approaches
• Proven ability to design, deliver and adapt psychosocial assessments and therapeutic counselling interventions effectively through digital platforms, maintaining therapeutic alliance, safety and impact when working remotely with adults.
• Knowledge of safeguarding legislations and impact on practice
• Inclusive in approach, sensitive to diverse experiences of grief and cultural expressions of loss
• Awareness of the importance of service evaluation, outcome measurement, and reflective practice in demonstrating impact and improving quality
• Undertake specific projects and other ad hoc duties agreed with your line manager, fulfilling any deadlines, reviews and reporting procedures required.
• Take an active part in the Quarterly review process and participate in training agreed with your line manager.
• Recognise and champion the lived experience of children and young people with bereavement within your work.
• Ensure the health and safety of all colleagues, volunteers and visitors in accordance with Child Bereavement UK policy.

Recruitment Timetable

Application deadline: 27th May 2026 at midnight

First Stage Screening Interviews

You may be asked to attend a 10-minute Screening Interview on MS Teams with the Hiring Managers for the vacancy, to assess your suitability for the role. During the interview, you will be asked two skills-based questions.

Second Stage Interviews

If you are progressed to a second stage interview, you will be invited to attend a 1-hour formal interview on MS Teams with the Hiring Managers for the role. It is our policy to share the role-specific interview questions with applicants ahead of the interview, to aid their preparation. You may also be asked to complete an interview task, which will also be shared with you in advance.

Youth Team Forum Discussion

For roles in our Bereavement Services Team, we will invite those applicants selected for interview along to a discussion forum with members of our Youth Team. This session is held remotely and lasts approximately 20 minutes. The discussion topic will be shared with you in advance of the session.