Bereavement Counselor

Location: Hazard, KY

Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm, occasional weekend events

As a BCN Hospice Team member, you will be a part of a team providing care and support to patients and their families who no longer receive treatments to cure their terminal illness, but instead choose care to improve their comfort and quality of life. Our service allows our team members to focus on one patient at a time providing care where the patient calls home. While this often is a house or apartment, we also provide care at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals. If a patient’s care needs are too complicated for home care or require a higher level of attention from nurses and other experts, we can provide care at one of our Hospice Care Centers.

At BCN we are committed to a work setting that treats all team members with fairness, dignity, and respect. We offer our team members an opportunity to grow, to develop professionally, and to work in a team environment. You can help our team make a lasting difference for our families. Join #TeamBCN where your work matters, and your time is valued.

We Offer:

• Competitive Pay
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Autonomy in your workday
• Flexible Schedules to support work/life balance (select positions)
• Mileage Reimbursement for work-related driving
• Up to 24 days of PTO accrued within the first year of employment
• 8 Paid Holidays (including day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve)
• Educational Assistance up to $3,000 per year & College Tuition Discounts
• Free Continuing Education Credits

About the role:

A team member in this position provides counseling and supportive services to help meet patient/family and community social and emotional needs in relation to the impact of a terminal illness and loss and grief. The bereavement counselor will work under the direction of the Executive Director and/or the Regional Counseling Supervisor.

• In conjunction with members of the interdisciplinary team, assesses patient/family social and emotional factors to estimate their capacity and potential to cope with the terminal illness and potential death.
• Provides bereavement support and information to individuals coping with grief through mailings, one-on-one counseling, group counseling, and/or referral to community resources.
• Provides direct counseling and support services on an individual basis to patient/family in all categories of hospice care, including crisis intervention.
• Establishes treatment problems, goals, and interventions and revise counseling plan of care as indicated.
• Assists patient/family and staff in utilizing community resources.
• Assists team members in understanding the significant social and emotional factors related to care of the terminally ill patient and their families.
• Attends team meetings to stay aware of patient/family needs as terminal illness progresses.
• Participates in agency and community programs as requested to promote professional growth and understanding of hospice care (i.e., bereavement camps, Holiday Hope programs, memorial services, etc.).
• Provides consultation to other staff regarding special problems or treatments in relation to bereavement care.
• Facilitates bereavement support groups for bereaved family members of hospice patients and community referrals.
• Educates BCN’s hospice staff as to the structure and scope of the bereavement program.
• Assists with the training program for bereavement volunteers and utilize their services as needed and available.
• Supervises all bereavement volunteers in conjunction with the volunteer coordinator in their work with individuals, families, groups, workshops and program development.
• Supervises student placements in the bereavement department.
• Participates in BCN’s activities such as in-service education, team meetings, contingency planning and staffing, and other relevant committees.
• Advances professional knowledge and skills.
• Openly displays cooperation in adhering to administrative policies and supports the philosophy, goals, and values of BCN.?
• Ensures that all areas of responsibilities are directed at supporting BCN, its mission, vision, core values, and standards of behavior.?
• Demonstrates a time-conscious attitude and consistently strives to use time effectively by completing assignments in an efficient, well organized, and self-directed manner.? Improves processes and opportunities to outsource where appropriate.
• Shares information, knowledge, concerns, and expertise through staff meetings, in-services, and assisting in the orientation and education of new team members.?
• Establishes and maintains effective communication patterns using tact, sensitivity, sound judgment, and professional attitude when relating to patients, patients’ families, co-workers, supervisors, health professionals, and physicians.?
• Assures that worked and benefit hours are appropriately documented.?
• Reports to work as scheduled.? Does not abuse PTO, is not tardy, and maintains reasonable flexibility in work schedule.?
• This position requires the team member to drive a motor vehicle as a regular part of their assigned duties.
• Maintains dress code and exhibits good grooming.?
• Attends mandatory in-services.?
• Accepts and performs other related duties and responsibilities as required.