Dorset advocacy jobs

Job title: Counselling Support and Outreach Coordinator - Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

Reports to: Therapies Assessor and Service Manager

Salary: Salary of £26,227 per annum

Location: Remote with regular travel across Wiltshire, Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week

Post No: 2WCSOCFT1

Objective:

2wish exists to provide support to anyone affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a child or young person aged 25 and under.

Aims:

• Ensure every Emergency Department and Critical Care unit has a suitable bereavement suite
• Ensure that bereavement boxes are available at each of these hospitals
• Ensure that immediate bereavement support is available for all affected by the sudden death of a child or young person
• Provide a professional counselling service and complementary therapies for those affected by the sudden death of a child or young person
• Provide support to individuals who witness the sudden death of a child or young person
• Provide support and training to professionals from any sector who may be affected by the sudden death of a child or young person
• To advocate and campaign on behalf of suddenly bereaved families

2wish Cymru & 2wish:

2wish has been established since 2012 and has grown from strength to strength. During tis time, we have worked tirelessly to embed our service and ensure that the offer of support is made at the point of death. We offer an immediate, consistent, high-quality and compassionate service to all individuals affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a child or young person aged 25 and under in Wales and the bordering counties in England, including; Cheshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Avon and Somerset, with the plan to continue to roll out support to the whole of England. We work in partnership with professionals who refer int the charity on behalf of families, so they don’t have to trawl through the internet for an organisation who may, or may not, be able to support. We provide immediate, and ongoing, support and are here for as long as our families need us.

Context of role:

2wish supports anyone affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a child or young person aged 25 and under. We are a largely self-funded charity providing support across Wales and in the bordering counties with England, providing immediate casework support, as well as ongoing aftercare services including counselling, alternative therapies, play therapy, support groups, support events and a respite cottage.

Main duties:

Service:

• To coordinate support services including counselling, complementary therapy and play therapy for bereaved individuals
• To receive and contact historic referrals directly from professional agencies, bereaved individuals, or the immediate support team
• To contact all individuals within 48 hours of receiving a support service referral
• To liaise with counsellors, complementary therapists and play therapists to arrange and coordinate support
• To recruit new counsellors and therapists within your geographical boundaries and surrounding areas and build a community of therapists to engage with 2wish
• To deliver awareness training to secondary referral partners in healthcare settings, schools and workplaces on the use of the bereavement boxes, referring into the charity and bereavement awareness
• To set up, coordinate and support in the delivery of the focus support groups
• To plan, organise and attend bi-monthly family and sibling events
• To set-up, coordinate, and chair quarterly 2wish Practitioner Forums for those working to support bereaved individuals
• Attend any other relevant forums
• To co-manage, maintain, and monitor the 2Wish Families Facebook page and ensure appropriate and upto-date content
• To co-manage, maintain, and monitor the Counsellors and Therapists Facebook page and ensure appropriate and on-going training and guest speakers as required
• To send one-year anniversary thinking of you cards to bereaved families
• To work consistently to raise awareness of 2wish in the community and with key partners
• Contribute on the social media platforms maintained by 2wish
• Support in the planning of and attend the annual 2wish Conference
• To submit monthly/quarterly/annual reports to management as required
• To signpost and/or refer to other agencies as required that can provide support as needed

General:

• To be responsible for organising own work agenda, time management and administration
• To keep clear and up to date records on database of activities with families and any ensuingaction
• To promote the on-going work and continued support that 2wish can offer
• To work as part of a team providing support to suddenly bereaved families
• To work alongside support team and maintain a seamless approach to service delivery
• To maintain a high degree of confidentiality in accordance with the charity’s policies
• To show respect and sensitivity for the cultural and religious beliefs of families
• To undertake learning opportunities and seek them out for the team
• To adhere to all company policies and procedures including Safeguarding, Confidentiality, Health and Safety and Lone Working; and to be proactive in implementing new safe working practices as appropriate
• To attend weekend and evening community events in support of the charity as necessary
• Participate as and when required in team meetings and one-to-one meetings, and undertake, as appropriate, courses/training/other developmental activities, which is relevant to the role
• To contribute to the evaluation and monitoring processes to ensure effectiveness of services and activities provided
• Contribute on the social media platforms maintained by 2wish

It is the nature of the work that tasks and responsibilities are in many circumstances unpredictable and varied. All employees are therefore expected to work in a flexible way and tasks, which are not specifically covered in their job description may have to be undertaken.

This role is subject to a DBS check.

What we do for you:

Contract type: Permanent

Annual leave: 28 days plus bank holidays. Annual leave steadily increases after five years of service. Annual leave and statutory holidays are calculated on a pro rata basis where applicable.

Pension: 2wish operate a contributory pension scheme. 2wish will auto-enrol you into the scheme in accordance with it's auto-enrolment obligations. Full details of the scheme will be provided to you once you are enrolled, including the minimum level of contributions that you will be required to make during your membership (current contributions - employer 3% and employee 5%).

Mileage: A fixed rate allowance is payable for agreed mileage in accordance with our expense policy, undertaken on 2wish business in a private vehicle, over and above your usual journey to your workplace/s.

Additional benefits for our employees:

• An 'Employee Assistance Programme, ' including wellbeing support
• Free parking on 2wish premises
• Free branded 2wish clothing
• An extra annual leave day on your birthday
• Incremental increase in holiday entitlement based on length of service
• Paid sick leave
• Discounts for personal purchases on 2wish Merchandise
• Discounted tickets to UK 2wish events for staff and family
• Extra holiday entitlement when taking part in 2wish overseas events
• Tools/equipment required for the performance of duties
• Reimbursement of work expenses
• Bright Exchange employee discounts
• Auto-enrolment into company contributory pension scheme after 3 months service

How to apply:

Please return a CV and covering letter, or a CV and two-minute video, by email.

Closing date: Friday 26th June 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. Only those applicants that have been shortlisted will be contacted for an interview.