Job Description

As a non-profit charitable organization, Oceanside Hospice Society is composed of a team of caring employees and trained volunteers who provide grief support services and programs to those facing advanced illness, death and bereavement. Oceanside Hospice Society is community funded and volunteer driven, allowing us to provide our services with dignity and compassion at no cost to those in need.

Job Summary

Under the guidance of the Executive Director, the Grief Support Specialist plays a vital role in providing compassionate, specialized care to individuals and families facing palliative end-of-life experiences and the bereavement process. This position offers emotional and psychological support to those coping with loss and contributes to grief education efforts. This team member is responsible for creating a safe, non-judgmental environment where individuals feel empowered to express their grief, while also equipping them with practical tools for coping and healing.

Key Responsibilities include:

Grief Support

Provide time-limited individual and/or group support to palliative end-of-life and grieving individuals, their family member and/or other significant caregivers; Offer a safe, supportive environment for participants to share and process their grief experiences; Develop grief support group curriculum and materials; Collaborate with the Intake Coordinator to assess the needs of individuals and provide appropriate recommendations for OHS programs and services or further support or referrals; Supports volunteers who provide 1:1 care and group facilitation, by providing ongoing education and regular contact with volunteers in these roles; Refer clients to external resources, such as partner organizations, based on client needs (e.g. complicated grief, complex trauma).

Educational Outreach

Provide ongoing engagement opportunities, including education sessions to volunteers, in coordination with the Volunteer Coordinator; Develop and distribute grief-related educational materials for clients, their families, and the community, including managing resources on OHS website; Collaborate with the Fund Development Coordinator and Executive Director on applicable social media campaigns; Serve as the organization's ambassador at community events and in group forums, where you raise awareness of grief support services and deliver compassionate grief education.

Case Management

Maintain accurate and confidential client records in accordance with organizational guidelines; Work with the Intake Coordinator to track the progress of clients and ensure they receive the appropriate services and resources to meet their needs.

Education required:

Two years of post-secondary education in counselling, social work, palliative care or related field; Demonstrated knowledge of the dying and grief process; Demonstrated knowledge and experience with trauma-informed practice; Applicable knowledge and understanding of the philosophy of end-of-life care and the needs of the dying, their families and the bereaved.
Note: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Experience & skills:

Excellent interpersonal communication skills for one to one client, volunteer and team relationships; Ability to support and mentor volunteers, and the skill to communicate efficiently and effectively with them; Proficient in volunteer- client management software and Microsoft Office Suite; Committed, reliable, compassionate and sensitive to the vulnerabilities of patients in a palliative, end-of-life care setting; Excellent communication skills in English (spoken, written, reading and comprehension); other languages are considered an asset; Ability to communicate in a friendly and informative manner with people from a wide variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and lifestyles; High level of critical and logical thinking, analysis, and/or reasoning to identify underlying principles, reasons, or facts; Attention to detail, with strong organizational and time-management skills.

How to apply:

To apply for this opportunity, please submit a cover letter and resume to executivedirector@oceansidehospice.com. Applications will be received until the position is filled. Only those qualified candidates selected for an interview will be contacted- no phone calls please.

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: $37.00 per hour

Expected hours: 28 per week

Benefits:

Extended health care Paid time off
Work Location: In person