Grief Counselor

Grief Counselor Position Summary: The Counselor is responsible for the provision of counseling and group services to clients of the Grief Counseling Center. The Counselor continually assesses the developmental, educational, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of clients experiencing loss due to illness, death, or other life-changing event.   Grief Counselor Position Duties & Responsibilities: Conducts initial and/or ongoing assessments (as appropriate) of Hosparus Health Grief Counseling Center (HGCC) clients’ needs with respect to grief and loss, including risk factors Identifies unmet needs in clients’ functional, adaptation and resource states Continuously assesses and identifies changing service needs, reflecting a goal-directed approach to practice Identifies clients’ educational needs with respect to illness, grief, loss and coping Identifies and differentiates between clients’ need for grief counseling and grief therapy Demonstrates knowledge of the illness, grief and loss process, accepted standards of practice and appropriate interventions and applies them to the assessment, intervention and care-planning process Identifies needs related to grief and loss and assures the development and updating of a plan of care that is current with client needs Consults and collaborates with external providers of care as appropriate Identifies roles for volunteer services and, as appropriate, interdisciplinary (patient) team members. (Hosparus Health clients only) Initiates contact and/or responds to client contacts in a timely manner according to protocol Completes assessments in a timely manner Documents contacts with/on behalf of clients according to timeliness standards Documents progress and related clinical information that is concise and reflect assessment, planning, intervention, follow up, evaluation and closure and that address needs reflected in the plan of care Work reflects productive and efficient practice according to departmental goals and expectations Demonstrates effective communication and relationship building skills with clients Implements counseling interventions identified in the counseling plan of care Provides goal-directed grief counseling and ensures counseling addresses specific and current needs reflected on the plan of care Educates clients about illness, grief, loss and coping as appropriate Demonstrates knowledge of group process and facilitation and applies it to the provision of services Facilitates appropriate referrals when clients’ needs are beyond the scope of the program Provides counseling to hospice patients/family members prior to death upon referral from interdisciplinary team Provides pre-closure planning and closure as appropriate Assists in the development, provision and evaluation of special programs and events as assigned Communicates clearly, concisely and in a timely manner with team members Collaborates with team members to assure coordination in delivery of care Consults with Bereavement Team to develop/revise plans of care that furthers counseling goals Demonstrates collaborative and collegial relationships with teams (work group, bereavement and patient care) to achieve quality outcomes Evaluates progress toward goals and the effectiveness of interventions, revising plans of care to ensure current needs and specific counseling goals are identified Evaluates effectiveness of individual practice, identifying and acting upon strategies to increase skill and effectiveness Ensures evaluation of all services provided according to Center’s expectations Participates in the evaluation of overall department functions, identifying trends and areas for improvement as appropriate Acts as a professional mentor/role model Serves as a professional resource for grief, loss and related concerns Supervises student interns as assigned Develops educational and therapeutic materials/programs as assigned to address grief, loss and related concerns Grief Counselor Position Qualifications:  Master’s degree in an accredited program of expressive art therapy, counseling psychology, clinical social work or related field Professional licensure or certification, and state board approved clinical supervision, as required by state law Minimum of one year experience in counseling, expressive therapy or counseling of bereaved persons preferred Experience in group facilitation and process preferred Use of technology-based tools, including electronic medical record, strongly preferred