Bereavement Counselor

Position Summary

The Bereavement Counselor is responsible for developing, coordinating, and delivering bereavement support services for JHCC patients, families, and staff across inpatient and outpatient settings. As a key member of the Pediatric Palliative Care Program, this role provides education, consultation, and direct support related to grief and bereavement, while also collaborating with interdisciplinary partners to strengthen services and resources. This position is externally funded and guaranteed for the next three years.

Essential Functions

• Develops, coordinates, and manages bereavement support services and program operations.
• Creates and maintains policies, procedures, protocols, and program evaluation tools.
• Tracks and manages data related to bereavement follow-up and service outcomes.
• Collaborates with social workers, child life specialists, RISE, and other team members to facilitate support groups, workshops, and educational programming.
• Provides grief and bereavement education, resources, and consultation to staff.
• Organizes annual tribute services and other memorial activities.
• Develops outreach and marketing materials to increase awareness of available services.
• Assists families in identifying and accessing community resources.
• Provides referrals and support based on clinical assessment and identified needs.
• Maintains counseling, educational, and group support materials for families and staff.
• Offers education and support to internal and external agencies as needed.

Qualifications

Education

Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW), Counseling, Divinity (MDiv), Child Life, Psychology, or a related field required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of individual, group, and crisis counseling techniques.
• Strong understanding of grief, bereavement, and related community resources.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and counseling skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary healthcare environment.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and strategic planning abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a demanding and emotionally sensitive setting.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for diverse audiences, including children, families, and healthcare professionals.
• Ability to develop funding proposals and support program growth.

Licensure/Certification

Licensure in accordance with degree required.

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in palliative care, hospice, or grief/bereavement work required.
• Experience in program development preferred.
• Experience working with children preferred.

Salary Range: Minimum 28.39/hour - Maximum 46.87/hour. Compensation will be commensurate with equity and experience for roles of similar scope and responsibility. In cases where the range is displayed as a $0 amount, salary discussions will occur during candidate screening calls, before any subsequent compensation discussion is held between the candidate and any hiring authority.

The Hospital reserves the right to modify employee schedules as needed.

We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, where we embrace and celebrate our differences, where all employees feel valued, contribute to our mission of serving the community, and engage in equitable healthcare delivery and workforce practices.

Johns Hopkins Health System and its affiliates are drug-free workplace employers.