Grief Counselor

**General Statement of Duties:** The **Grief Counselor** provides grief counseling and other related grief support services to patients, families and community clients who are having difficulty coping with a death or impending death of a loved one. **Current West Virginia state licensure in good standing is required (**includes but not limited to: Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor). **Level of Responsibility:** Reports to the Social Services Manager. **Status:** Non\-Exempt; Hourly, Full Time. **Schedule:** Full\-time;Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm; occasional evening activities **Location:** Primarily serving clients in the Hospice of the Panhandle office (Kearneysville, WV) **Duties and Responsibilities:** 1\. \*Provides grief supportive services by way of face\-to\-face counseling, educational presentations, memorial services, debriefings, support groups, workshops, telephone contact and provision of grief literature to referred patients of family members, staff members and members of the community regardless of whether their loved one died under the care of Hospice of the Panhandle. 2\. \*Assesses patients, family members/ friends of patients, and community clients for grief\-related needs, and develop an individualized plan of care to meet those needs. 3\. \*Assists in the facilitation and processing of normal grief and assist in resolving complicating factors through a person\-centered plan of care that focuses on identified grief\-related needs. 4\. \*Screens as appropriate for psychopathology, substance abuse/dependence, trauma, suicidal/homicidal ideation and intent, cognitive, developmental, economic, social/interpersonal, and other factors known to increase an individual’s risk for developing complicated bereavement. 5\. \*Refers patients, family members, and clients whose needs are assessed to be beyond the scope of the hospice grief supportive services to appropriate community agencies and/or practitioners. 6\. \*Serve as a resource to Hospice of the Panhandle staff members and interdisciplinary teams by assisting with debriefing and processing difficult deaths and providing other individual and group staff grief support as needed. 7\. \*Establishes and maintains good working relationships with the patient and family, coworkers and outside agencies. 8\. When working in a facility, complies with facility\-specific requests for reporting, documentation, PPE use, and other regulatory and facility requirements. 9\. Provides community education programs, support groups, and workshops, as needed, and under the direction and supervision of the Social Services Manager. 10\. Prepares writings and articles, as needed, for media or publications. 11\. \*Documents all client interactions according to agency, local, state, and federal requirements. 12\. \*Meets visit average standards established by the organization. 13\. \*Complies with the employee standards. 14\. Other duties as assigned. * *Denotes essential job functions.* **Education and Experience:** 1\. Degree in counseling, social work, thanatology or related field preferred. 2\. Two years of experience in counseling. Grief/loss counseling experience preferred. 3\. **Current West Virginia state licensure in good standing is required** (includes but not limited to: Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor). 4\. Works on a team and independently as required. 5\. Provides own transportation, and a license to drive with current liability insurance. Driving record meets Hospice’s insurance company standards. **Physical Qualifications:** 1\. Ability to transport self to the office and clients’ care settings throughout the service area. 2\. Ability to walk from car to clients’ care settings and perform essential job functions. 3\. Ability to communicate verbally and in writing in English language. 4\. Ability to hear normal conversation in person and via phone. 5\. Ability to read normal or condensed print. **Equipment Used:** Telephone, electronic equipment, office equipment.