Bereavement Counselor - Palliative Care

Company : Akron Children's Hospital

Location : Akron, OH, 44329

Posted Date : 8 October 2025

Job Type : Part Time

Category : Community & Social Service

Occupation : Counselor

Job Details

Part-Time: 24 Hours Per Week
1st Shift: 8:30am - 5:00pm - Flexible Schedule
Monday - Friday
Department: Palliative Care
Summary:
The bereavement counselor within the bereavement program plays a crucial role in supporting families and loved ones who are grieving a loss. This position involves providing emotional and psychological support, as well as helping individuals navigate the grieving process.
Responsibilities:

Assess the emotional well-being of family members and loved ones to determine the level of support needed and identify high-risk individuals who may require more intensive support or intervention due to complicated grief.
Provide in-person, telephone, and/or virtual counseling and grief support to families and loved ones following the death of a patient, including both one-on-one sessions and group sessions.
Provide resources such as grief education, coping strategies, and referrals to other services, such as support groups or mental health professionals.
Facilitate grief support groups for family members who have experienced a loss, providing a safe space for them to share their experiences and connect with others in similar situations.
Maintain regular contact with grieving families through calls, letters, or other forms of outreach.
Document interactions with grieving families, keeping detailed records of counseling sessions and progress.
Report on program outcomes and any areas where families may need additional support.
Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care for the physical, psychological, social, educational, and safety needs of the clients served regardless of age.
Other duties as required.

Other information:
Technical Expertise

Experience in bereavement/grief counseling is required.
Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, are required.
Strong organizational skills are required.
Experience working with various levels within an organization is required.
Proficiency in MS Office (Outlook, Excel, Word) or similar software is required. Epic software or similar EMR software is preferred.

Education and Experience

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Social Work or Clinical Mental/Behavioral Health Counseling is required. Master's Degree preferred.
Licensure: Licensed Social Worker (LSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in state of Ohio is required.
Certification: GC-C (Certified Grief Counselor) required within 5 years of date of hire.
Years of relevant experience: Minimum 1 year experience providing bereavement/grief counseling required.
Years of supervisory experience: None

Part Time FTE:
Status: Onsite