Hospice Bereavement Coordinator / Grief Support Specialist
1 day ago
Tucson
Job Description Position Summary Sunset Hospice is seeking a compassionate, organized and emotionally grounded Hospice Bereavement Coordinator / Grief Support Specialist to support patients, families and caregivers as they navigate anticipatory grief, death and bereavement. Reporting to the Clinical Director and Director of Social Services, this position works closely with the hospice interdisciplinary group and is responsible for developing, implementing and overseeing Sunset Hospice’s bereavement program. The role includes a combination of office-based work, interdisciplinary collaboration, telephone support, community outreach and occasional visits to homes or care facilities. This is an opportunity for a knowledgeable grief-support professional to help strengthen and grow our bereavement program, including support groups, family education, community resources and memorial events. Responsibilities • Provide compassionate grief support and bereavement counseling to individuals and families within the individual’s education, training and professional scope., • Complete initial and ongoing bereavement risk assessments., • Develop, implement and update individualized bereavement plans of care based on identified needs, risk level and family preferences., • Provide anticipatory grief support to patients, caregivers and families before death, as appropriate., • Conduct bereavement follow-up through telephone calls, written communication, individual or family support and referrals., • Develop and facilitate bereavement support groups, educational programs and memorial events., • Participate in interdisciplinary group meetings and communicate relevant bereavement needs, risks, interventions and follow-up., • Recognize complicated grief, crisis situations, suicidal statements and mental-health needs requiring immediate escalation or referral., • Connect families with appropriate community grief, mental-health, spiritual and social-support resources when their needs exceed the services available through hospice., • Develop grief education and support materials for families, hospice staff, volunteers and the community., • Coordinate and supervise bereavement-related activities performed by staff and trained volunteers., • Maintain timely, accurate and confidential documentation in accordance with the plan of care, hospice policies and regulatory requirements., • Evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of bereavement services and assist with ongoing program improvement., • Participate in employee and volunteer orientation regarding grief, loss, bereavement and appropriate professional boundaries., • Engage in community outreach to increase awareness of available grief-support resources., • Travel locally for occasional family visits, community outreach, support groups and memorial events. Required Qualifications • Documented education or experience in grief or loss counseling., • Understanding of anticipatory grief, normal grief responses, complicated or prolonged grief indicators and appropriate referral practices., • Ability to provide compassionate support while maintaining healthy professional boundaries., • Ability to respond appropriately to emotionally intense situations and follow established crisis-escalation procedures., • Strong active-listening, interpersonal and written communication skills., • Strong organizational, time-management and documentation skills., • Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with an interdisciplinary hospice team., • Respect for and adaptability to different social, racial, cultural, spiritual and religious traditions, including individuals who do not identify with a particular faith., • Valid driver’s license, current automobile insurance and reliable transportation., • Ability to meet applicable background-screening, health-screening and tuberculosis requirements. Preferred Qualifications • Two or more years of experience in hospice, palliative care, bereavement support, grief counseling, social services, chaplaincy or a related field., • Degree or formal education in social work, counseling, psychology, thanatology, pastoral care or another related human-services field., • Experience completing bereavement assessments and individualized plans of care., • Experience facilitating grief-support groups, family education or memorial events., • Experience with crisis intervention, suicide-risk recognition and community mental-health referrals., • Experience working with hospice patients and families and participating in interdisciplinary group meetings., • Professional licensure or certification related to social work, counseling, chaplaincy, grief support or thanatology is valued but not required for all candidates. The Person We Are Looking For The right person will be compassionate without becoming overwhelmed, organized without becoming impersonal and comfortable supporting families whose cultures, beliefs and experiences may differ from their own. They will listen carefully, follow through consistently, document thoroughly and recognize when a grieving person needs a higher level of clinical support. Sunset Hospice is committed to providing individualized, respectful and compassionate end-of-life care. We are looking for someone who wants to help families feel supported, remembered and connected—not only during hospice care, but throughout the grieving process. Company DescriptionSunset Hospice is a locally owned, mission-driven organization dedicated to providing compassionate, patient-centered end-of-life care. We believe in treating the person, not just the disease, surrounding each patient and family with a team that supports their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. At Sunset Hospice, we are committed to creating a culture where team members feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow—because we know that when we care for our team, they can provide the highest level of care to others.Sunset Hospice is a locally owned, mission-driven organization dedicated to providing compassionate, patient-centered end-of-life care. We believe in treating the person, not just the disease, surrounding each patient and family with a team that supports their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. At Sunset Hospice, we are committed to creating a culture where team members feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow—because we know that when we care for our team, they can provide the highest level of care to others.