Hospice charity seeks trained counsellors

Medical advances mean patients are living longer, often with multiple and complex life-limiting conditions.

As well as more demand for nursing care and coping strategies for the patient, this also creates an increased need for support for their family.

Director of nursing, Sue Varvel, said: “We’re also finding that earlier diagnosis and improvements in treatment mean that patients have a greater need for counselling. They have more time to adjust to their diagnosis and, regardless of their prognosis, this can generate a huge number of emotional and often spiritual questions and concerns that need addressing, alongside their physical care.”

The charity is seeking qualified counsellors with at least two years’ counselling experience in a fully trained capacity who will donate a few hours of their time each week to complement the support already offered by the charity’s nurses.

Volunteer counsellors provide support to patients, carers, family members and close friends from diagnosis, during treatment and through bereavement. This may involve one-to-one support in the client’s home, over the phone, in care homes or at Grove House.

Rennie Grove provides training workshops and group supervision for volunteers.

For full details, see www.renniegrove.org/volunteer