Psychotherapist

Job summary

At Prospect Hospice, we know that facing a life-limiting illness can bring profound emotional and psychological challenges for patients, families and those who care for them.

We are looking for a compassionate and experienced Psychotherapist to join our Family Support Team.

This is a meaningful opportunity to use your professional expertise and emotional insight to help people explore fear, grief, identity and resilience during some of lifes most difficult moments.

The role is 8 hours per week, with flexibility to meet service needs.

Main duties of the job

You will provide specialist psychotherapeutic assessment and 1:1 intervention for patients and families experiencing complex emotional and psychological distress associated with diagnosis, illness progression, trauma, grief and loss.

As part of the wider multidisciplinary team, you will contribute psychological expertise to discussions and care planning, provide consultation, supervision and training to staff and volunteers, and lead reflective practice and staff support where appropriate.

You will also contribute to the development, evaluation and continuous improvement of psycho-spiritual services across the hospice

About us

Since 1980, Prospect Hospice has provided dedicated end-of-life care for people living in Swindon, Marlborough and northeast Wiltshire. We bring care, comfort and confidence around the clock, every day of the year.

Our aim is to provide excellent, personalised and compassionate care for everyone in our community affected by a life-limiting illness. Working in partnership with local health and social care professionals and our community enables us to lead, provide and influence care so that people can access the best possible support when and wherever they need it.

Our vision is a community where death is no longer a taboo and everyone lives and dies well.

Job responsibilities

The Psychotherapist will play a key role in ensuring psychological and spiritual care is fully integrated within holistic hospice care.

The post holder will provide clinical leadership for psycho-spiritual care, helping to develop and enhance care pathways and supporting service reviews, audit, governance and quality improvement. They will work collaboratively with the Hospice Consultant, Clinical Lead for Therapy and Family Support and Director of Patient Services to support the strategic vision and ongoing development of the service.

The role also includes maintaining appropriate policies and guidance, monitoring relevant national guidance and best practice, supporting professional development and ensuring high standards of clinical documentation, confidentiality and patient safety.

You will be an experienced psychotherapist who brings both professional expertise and emotional insight to your work. You will have a recognised psychotherapy or counselling qualification and registered or accredited membership of a recognised UK professional body.

You will have strong assessment and formulation skills and experience working in complex or emotionally demanding settings. Knowledge and experience of supporting people with psycho-spiritual needs relating to serious illness, palliative and end-of-life care, grief, trauma, death and bereavement are important.

You will be able to work autonomously, manage risk effectively and bring strong leadership, interpersonal and communication skills. Above all, you will be compassionate, emotionally intelligent, reflective and resilient, with a person-centred approach and a commitment to Prospect Hospices values.

Experience within a clinical healthcare setting is preferred, with experience in palliative care, hospice care or a related healthcare environment particularly welcomed.

Person specification

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Commitment to and ability to demonstrate Prospect Hospice values and behaviours at all times.
• Have a track record of working inclusively and a genuine appreciation of the value of diversity.
• Able to maintain the highest professional standards at all times, and act as a true ambassador for the Hospice and encourage others to do the same.
• To be authentic, open honest and transparent.
• Compassion and emotional intelligence.
• Reflective, resilient and patient centred.
• Flexible and committed to professional development.

Experience

Essential

• Experience delivering 1:1 psychotherapy in complex emotional settings.
• Knowledge and experience in supporting people with psychospiritual presentations pertaining to illness, palliative and end of life, as well as grief, trauma, death and bereavement.
• Ability to maintain a professional, calm, empathic, sensitive and respectful approach when working in stressful and emotional situations within a busy environment.
• Working autonomously.
• Providing supervision.

Desirable

• Experience delivering 1:1 psychotherapy in complex emotional settings,
• including healthcare environments.

Skills

Essential

• Strong assessment and formulation skills.
• Ability to work independently as sole psychotherapist.
• Self-motivated with a person-centred attitude and approach.
• Leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Able to model an open, mature and disciplined approach to psycho-spirituality.
• Close working with the MDT. Ability to lead and work as part of a supportive and diverse multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to manage risk and work effectively in a team to ensure patient safety.
• Excellent communication and documentation skills using electronic patient records.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered or accredited membership of a recognised UK professional body at level 6/7.
• For example:
• Counselling qualifications:
• Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling (CPCAB)
• Diploma in Counselling (validated by BACP / CPCAB / universities).
• Professional Diploma in Counselling.
• Psychotherapy qualifications (Postgraduate Diploma in
• Psychotherapy).
• MA / MSc in Counselling or Psychotherapy
• Advanced Diploma in Psychotherapy.

Desirable

• Qualification (s) in pastoral theology, psychology.