Family Counsellor - Chestnut Tree House

Job summary

Chestnut Tree House is the children's hospice for East and West Sussex and South East Hampshire providing specialist palliative care for children and young people with life-shortening conditions.

We are looking for a Family Counsellor to join the Child and Family Team. You will provide specialist emotional support and counselling/ psychotherapy to families (children, young people and adults) who are under the care of Chestnut Tree House. You will also facilitate training and support for staff, and group activities for families and children/young people as required.

Due to the remote location and lack of public transport, access to your own transport is essential.

Main duties of the job

Essential criteria

Qualified Counsellor/ Psychotherapist accredited with BACP, UKCP or BPS

Extensive post qualifying experience including bereavement work

Extensive experience of working within a community setting.

Experience of working with adults and children.

Experience of working in a palliative care or health care setting.

Ability to work flexibly and independently Competent computer skills

A valid UK driving licence and the ability to travel frequently throughout the working day across the catchment area for the hospice.

About us

Benefits

• Company pension scheme or NHS pension scheme for eligible employees
• Up to 35 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays
• On-site education support and study leave opportunities
• Option to access Bupa and cover your everyday cost of healthcare for less
• Free parking, subsidised meals and various social activities
• Corporate rate gym membership, discounts with local complementary therapies and Blue Light Card
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Death in Service

We warmly welcome applications from all sections of our community. We also invite applications from suitably experienced people for all industry sectors who can demonstrate the skills, ability and enthusiasm to work with a people-centric organisation like ours.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

Your application and interview should give us an accurate and authentic picture of your skills and experiences. Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience.

Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy before the published closing date where applicant volume is high.

Some of our roles are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it may be necessary for a disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Details

• Date posted: 01 September 2026
• Pay scheme: Other
• Salary: £39,443 a year Pro rata as part time role
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Part-time
• Reference number: B0265-26-0027
• Job locations: Chestnut Tree House, Dover Lane, Poling, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9PX, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

This role supports the provision of palliative care to children, young people and families living with a life limited condition across Sussex and South East Hampshire. Palliative care includes the provision of respite breaks, enabling children opportunities to have fun, make memories adding life to shortened years.

The hospice delivers end of life care to a small number of children, working with specialist teams providing training and advice to manage childrens symptoms effectively. You will work as part of a large team comprising of clinical staff, activities coordinators and the child and family support team.

The team accept referrals from professionals when a child has died suddenly in the community. This means that counsellors might be supporting bereaved families in a range of sudden death circumstances.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).