Bereavement counselor job description

Job Details:

The Perinatal Bereavement Counselor provides supportive services to families suffering from a perinatal loss as well as training and support for maternity staff.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

* Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to bereaved parents and family members of any age within the hospital or in the community.
* Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development of the life span, possesses the ability to assess status of grieving patient and/or family, ability to work with patient or patient's family in identifying needs in order to provide the necessary bereavement support and care.
* Provides follow up bereavement support services to patients or families who have suffered a perinatal loss including bedside visits, phone support, support group facilitation, and special events.
* Plans, coordinates and conducts special bereavement support events such as the annual Walk to Remember and the annual Candlelight Memorial Service.
* Educates staff, physicians, and members of the community about the impact of perinatal loss.
* Functions as a role model for staff, emphasizing the value of an interdisciplinary approach in supporting bereaved families.

QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS:

Experience with grieving families and group facilitation preferred. Resolve Through Sharing (RTS) Bereavement Counselor/Coordinator training or equivalent.

EDUCATION:

Degree in social work, nursing or related field. Other degrees considered with appropriate experience.

OTHER:

If applicable, the individual performing this job may reasonably anticipate coming into contact with human blood and other potentially infectious materials. Individuals in this position are required to exercise universal precautions, use personal protective equipment and devices, and learn the policies concerning infection control.

About Us:

Good Samaritan Hospital

Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, NY, is a 286-bed hospital providing emergency, medical, surgical, obstetrical/gynecological and acute-care services to residents of Rockland and southern Orange counties in New York; and northern Bergen County, NJ. The hospital is home to a recognized cardiovascular program, comprehensive cancer-treatment services, the area's leading Wound and Hyperbaric Institute and outstanding maternal/child services that includes a Children's Diagnostic Center. Good Samaritan Hospital also provides social, psychiatric and substance-abuse services and its certified home-care agency supports residents of the Hudson Valley and beyond.

Day, 8am - 5pm

May be required to work 1-2 evenings a week.

Functions:

75% of this role is working with adult programming

Assists with review of all referrals, distribution of initial bereavement materials, and scheduling contacts.

Assesses all primary bereaved adults to determine level of service for bereavement support.

Addresses high-risk needs and assures timely ongoing assessment of bereaved individuals’ needs.

Facilitates support groups; manages supportive services which may include a specific loss series or event.

Available for counseling needs in times of crisis to both hospice families and community bereaved; makes home visits as needed.

Participates in planning and implementation of commemorative events and year-round bereavement programs.

Responds to community inquiries and requests for education and support.

Attends weekly interdiscpinary team meetings and offers anticipatory grief and bereavement resources, education and consultation to team members, as well as patients and families as needed.

Contributes statistical data for timely and accurate reports reflecting departmental activities.

Assures timely, accurate and appropriate documentation of bereavement contacts.

Contributes to the development of content for bereavement collateral materials as needed.

25% of this role is working with kids/teens programming

Coordinates adult support groups for the Coping Kids & Teens Family Support Series

Assists with Coping Kids & Teens Assessments as needed

Qualifications:

Master’s degree in counseling, social work, psychology or related degree required.

Must be experienced with groups and have strong clinical work experience.

Training and experience in grief and bereavement preferred.

We offer a full range of benefits including:

• Health Insurance *
• Dental and Vision Insurance ^
• Short and Long Term Disability- Employer Paid *
• Life Insurance/Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) - Employer Paid *
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) ^
• 401(k) and Roth 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Paid Holidays ^
• Paid Time off (PTO) ^
• Shift Differentials
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Tuition Reimbursement Program ^
• Free Flu Shots
• Mileage reimbursement
• Educational Opportunities
• AAA Membership – Employer Paid ^
• Chair Massages – Employer Paid
• Fresh Fruit during the summer
• Semi-Annual “All Staff” meetings
• Fun, employer-sponsored activities and recognition events

* Must work a minimum of 64 hours per two-week pay period

^ Must work a minimum of 40 hours per two week pay period

Must be vaccinated for COVID-19 and influenza or be granted a religious/medical exemption.

EOE

• Minimum of one (1) year experience in health care/hospital setting or combination of hospice/hospital/assisted living facility/nursing home setting internship and work experience

• Experience in health care/hospital setting preferred

• Familiarity with and working knowledge of the concepts and practices of death and dying and/or bereavement with children and adults

• Previous experience working with an EMR/EHR (Electronic Medical/Health Record) system

• Ability to communicate effectively (written and verbal) in English

• Ability to remain calm and professional and to trouble shoot and manage patient/family crisis situations

• Mobile Driver - Valid driver's license and automobile insurance per Company policy

• Ability to travel to off-site locations

• Ability to physically access any home, hospital, nursing home, and assisted living facility (i.e., navigate stairs, narrow stairs, narrow spaces, lack of air conditioning, etc.)

Competencies:

• Satisfactorily complete competency requirements for this position.

Responsibility for all Employees:

• Represent Company professionally at all times through care delivered and/or services provided to all clients.

• Comply with all state, federal and local government regulations, maintaining a strong position against fraud and abuse.

• Comply with Company policies, procedures and standard practices.

• Observe Company's health, safety and security practices.

• Maintain the confidentiality of patients, families, colleagues and other sensitive situations within Company.

• Use resources in a fiscally responsible manner.

• Promote Company through participation in community and professional organizations.

• Participate proactively in improving performance at the organizational, departmental and individual levels.

• Improve own professional knowledge and skill level.

• Advance electronic media skills.

• Support Company research and educational activities.

• Share expertise with co-workers both formally and informally.

• Participate in Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement activities as appropriate for the position.

Job Responsibilities:

• Participates in interdisciplinary group (IDG) meetings; providing feedback about patients and family members.

• Attends staff and department meetings, in-service trainings and continuing education workshops.

• Maintains bereavement documentation in a manner reflecting timeliness, completeness, accuracy, legibility, clarity of goal, evaluation, plan, and intervention.

• Responsible for Volunteer training (Social Services/Bereavement), as assigned.

• Evaluates the bereavement care needs for survivors (i.e., adults, children, families) in accordance with Company policy.

• Provides grief guidance and support to maintain the Plan of Care.

• Facilitates bereavement and holiday support groups for children and adults throughout the county and the year.

• Participates in and supports development of Bereavement Programs: Groups, Camps, Memorial Services, etc.

• Performs other duties as assigned.