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A Shooting Star worker decorating a supported child's hand with glittery stars at a siblings day event.

Careers in our Family Support team

Our Family Support team are the soul of Shooting Star. As part of our team you will experience both the outstanding, compassionate care we provide to families during an unimaginably hard time in their lives, and the noisy joy and laughter found in children’s hospices across the country. The work is varied and creative, taking place at the hospices, in family homes and hospitals, allowing the support to be where ever families need it. Roles within the team include family support workers, therapists, social workers, counsellors and more.
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Some of the families we support

Milan dressed in a Thor costume

Milan's story

Parents Phoebe and Zayne’s lives irrevocably changed in November 2020, when their five-year-old son, Milan, was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Humairaa's story

22-year-old Tamaana explains how Shooting Star Children’s Hospices has helped her navigate growing up with a sister who has a life-limiting condition.

Hadi's story

“His life expectancy at first was no more than six months, but against all odds he’s reached the age of five”

Featured role

West London Arts Therapist

We are recruiting versatile and empathetic qualified therapists to join our multidisciplinary team supporting bereaved parents including those who have experienced a sudden and unexpected loss of a child (through our Specialist Bereavement Pathway) and those with children who have life limiting conditions. The therapist will predominately be supporting families in West London.

A typical week for a family support worker

a small pile of children's books on a hospital bed

Hospital sitting

Spend a couple of hours sitting with a child when they are in hospital, reading books or doing activities. This allows parents a short break to support other children, make telephone calls or just have the chance to pop home.

Roses attached to a bronze leaf in our memory garden.

Bereavement check-in

Calling a bereaved parent on their child’s birthday, to check in and see how they are, or making up and sending a personalised pamper pack for them.

A supported siblings group

Siblings day

Helping out at one of our siblings’ days, which give siblings of supported children a day that’s all about them, allowing them to have fun, make friends and share their feelings in a supportive environment.

A cast of a child's hand being held by a parent's, decorated with gold paint.

Memory making

Create and decorate a cast of a child and parent holding hands. These keepsakes are treasured by families for years to come.

Key benefits

Skills development

We support all our staff in developing their skills and showcasing their expertise, with weekly learning sessions and monthly journal clubs.

Perks

You’ll be eligible for a Blue Light discount card, plus enjoy perks like free meals at our Guildford hospice.

Flexible working

We know that life can be complicated, so we are happy to discuss flexible working with you.

Apply for a role

We are currently recruiting for a West London Counsellor, and we also welcome applications to join our team of bank counsellors and therapists. If you are interested in any of these roles, please complete the application form below and we will be in touch soon.

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Name*
Address*
Email*
Do you have the right to work in the UK?*
Do you have a full, clean driving licence valid in the UK and vehicle?*
Are you related to a staff or board member of SSCH?*
Education and Qualifications*
Institution Name
Course/Qualification
Date started/finished
Grade/Outcome
 
Eg. BACP, HCPC, UKCP
Employment History*
Please list current or most recent employer first. We require your last 5 employers, plus any others you feel are relevant.
Institution Name
Course/Qualification
Date started/finished
Grade/Outcome
 
Describe your experience of working with loss and grief, and your experience of working with trauma. Specify the ages of individuals with whom you have worked (eg. under 5’s, primary school age, adults, older adults). Include details of any training undertaken in clinical supervision.