Alder Centre Counsellor

Alder Centre Counsellor

The closing date is 03 February 2026

Right to work:
We actively promote diversity and inclusion. Please note that this role is unlikely to meet the eligibility requirements for sponsorship under the Health and Care visa route. We recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position. Visit Health and Care Worker visa:
Overview -

An opportunity has arisen for a qualified counsellor to join The Alder centre team to deliver counselling to child bereaved adult clients. You will hold a minimum of a Diploma in Counselling, newly qualified counsellors welcome. Registration with a statutory body is a requirement.

The vacancy is part time over 2 days per week (10 Hrs) and for a period of 9 months covering maternity leave.

Assessing and providing counselling to clients, managing a caseload and maintaining client records working in the specific field of chid bereavement.

You will be part of a team offering support in a place like no other, providing care and education for anyone affected by the deathof a child of any age.

The Alder Centre was established in 1989, in partnership withbereaved parents, The centre team provide a variety of confidential services to people bereaved through child loss.

These include child and adult one to one counselling ,couples counselling, Therapeutic treatments, Individual and group peer support for adults and children, and a 365 day peer manned help line (The Child Death helpline).

Communication

To provide one-to-one counselling for child bereaved adult clients. This will take place within The Alder Centre in the form of face-to-face, online or phone support.

• Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information in a highly emotive atmosphere.
• Elicit highly sensitive information relating to e.g., behaviour, state of mind, attitude from clients during assessments where there is a need to reassure and empathise with the client and a need to gain an understanding from the client of an agreement of the direction and aims of therapy.
• Close communication with recently bereaved individuals, requiring an emotional robustness and sensitivity.
• Communicate with other professionals internally within the Trust and externally.
• Awareness of the effects of bereavement.
• An ability to work with traumatic grief.

Analytical skills

• Initial assessment of clients and continued assessment over an agreed period of counselling.
• Ability to analyse information from individuals who are under immense distress.
• To participate in regular caseload and performance management review.
• To participate in regular clinical and peer supervision (provided by the Alder Centre).

Planning and organising skills

• Manage ongoing caseload of clients.
• Plan and manage own time and maintain awareness of daily team commitments.

Physical skills

Responsibility for patient/client care

• Deliver therapy to meet the needs of individual clients.
• Contribute towards an appropriate therapeutic environment within the Alder Centre. This requires individual counsellors to support and assist colleagues and participate as a committed team member.

Responsibility for policy/service development

• Follow national and organisational policies applicable to their role including those implemented as a result of legislative changes.
• To comment on changes in administration procedures.
• Adhere to the Trusts Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Responsibility for financial and physical resources

• Careful use of counselling facilities and equipment.

Responsibility for human resources

• Demonstrates own duties.
• To be flexible in working hours, practices and attitude. This may include some evening and weekend working according to the pattern of the Centre's activities and service user needs.
• To assist in facilitating group support and delivery of training in relation to Child-bereavement.

Responsibility for information resources

To keep appropriate client records and observe associated Trust and Alder Centre administrative and clerical systems and procedures.

• Write up client notes following therapy sessions.
• Basic IT skills.
• Ability to keep confidential written documentation in line with GDPR.

Responsibility for research and development

• Keep up to date with new developments by reading, attending professional meetings and conferences on matters related to loss and bereavement and other areas of counselling applicable to development as a member of the Counselling Team and observance to professional status as per professional bodys requirements.
• Complete regular waiting list audits and caseload statistics.
• Attendance at team events.

Freedom to act

• Work with clients independently within policies and codes of conduct.

Physical efforts

• Accompany clients to and from reception area.
• Ability to sit for the duration of counselling sessions.

Mental effort

• In-depth proactive mental attention in client assessment and during therapy sessions.

Emotional effort

• Counselling child-bereaved…