Team Jak aim to provide emotional social and practical support for children and young people with cancer related illnesses. Also providing support to their families and friends including bereavement support.

The Wellbeing Coordinator will plan, prepare and deliver the co-ordination, provision and evaluation of a bespoke wellbeing service ensuring children and young people, families and professionals can access high quality emotional, social and practical support. Key support will be delivered in situations where a young person or child has been diagnosed with cancer or a related illness, is in remission, or sadly has died. The coordinator will be fundamental in assessing and responding to the needs of siblings, parents, friends and the wider family.

This role will also contribute to the training and support of professionals across Scotland whose roles bring them into contact with warrior or bereaved families.

Principal Responsibilities:

• To help plan, prepare and lead the co-ordination, provision and evaluation of a children and young people’s counselling and support service from Jak’s Den via outreach to hospitals and homes and or via phone or online as required throughout Scotland.
• To further develop a bespoke wellbeing programme for Team Jak in relation to our children and young people’s cancer journey focusing on resilience, coping strategies, emotional wellbeing and bereavement support.

Our bespoke Wellbeing Programme will encompass the following:

• 121 Support - age related Wellbeing Programme with resources and discussion;
• Age related Mindfulness/Wellbeing/ Positive Post Packs;
• Group Support- age related and peer related where possible i.e. warriors, siblings, bereaved;
• Bag of Worries and TJ’s Worries programme & Teen resources;
• Befriending- 121 time with trained adult- story time discussion and play with emotions resources to encourage discussion and strategies to help on journey;
• Play Therapy/Child Counselling/Music Therapy - Structured sessions with more in depth support required;
• Seasons for Growth Programme.

Our Ideal Applicant will bring:

• Recognised health, educational, social care and counselling qualification (BACP/COSCA)
• Training in working with children, young people, adults and families
• Relevant trauma and bereavement training
• Relevant experience of working with children, adults and families, individually and in groups
• Experience of supporting bereaved families and families suffering trauma
• Understanding of peer group work/facilitation
• Experience of delivering training in loss and grief
• Knowledge of support services available for children and families
• Experience of supervision of others
• Knowledge of education, social services and primary care services
• Experience of working with traumatic grief
• Ethnic and cultural awareness
• Experience of telephone support and information provision
• Experience of service evaluation

The ideal candidate will have/be:

• The ability to work alone and within a multidisciplinary team
• Excellent communication skills
• The ability to communicate clearly and sensitively in writing
• Computer and database skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Highly motivated and able to motivate others
• Relate well to children and adults
• Positive attitude, energy and drive
• Passionate about the support needs of bereaved families
• Ability to work under pressure

Other Requirements:

• Available to provide support outside of office hours if required
• Flexible working hours and willingness/ ability to work evenings and weekends as required
• Driving Licence and ability to travel if required throughout Scotland
• Occasional need for unsociable hours - e.g. attendance at fund-raising events, meetings, conferences, training and presentations (time off in lieu will be given).

To find out more and to apply, please visit our website.

Closing date: 18th October 2021