Lead, Psychosocial, Grief and Bereavement Care
Department: Grief and Bereavement
Reports To: Senior Lead, Clinical Operations
Location: Hybrid
Employment Type: Full time
Effective Date: July 7, 2025
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Lead, Psychosocial, Grief and Bereavement Care is responsible for providing leadership, oversight, and coordination for the Grief and Bereavement program, Day Wellness, Recreational Therapy, and Supportive Care services.
This role ensures high-quality, person-centred care for individuals and families through program development, staff supervision, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The Lead will play a key role in advancing psychosocial care practices across the organization.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Leadership & Program Management
- Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Grief and Bereavement, Day Wellness, Recreational Therapy, and Supportive Care programs.
- Lead the planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of services to meet client and community needs.
- Monitor program effectiveness and ensure services are delivered in alignment with best practices and organizational values.
Staff Supervision & Team Support
- Supervise and support a multidisciplinary team of professionals and interns, including grief counsellors, recreational therapists, and supportive care providers.
- Facilitate regular team meetings and case discussions.
- Foster a positive, collaborative, and trauma-informed team culture.
Client and Family Care
- Provide clinical oversight and support for complex cases within the scope of grief, bereavement, psychosocial, and supportive care.
- Ensure services are culturally sensitive, accessible, and responsive to the diverse needs of individuals and families.
- Engage with clients and families when needed, offering direct support or referrals to appropriate services.
Community Engagement & Education
- Collaborate with community partners and stakeholders to enhance service reach and integration.
- Support education and outreach initiatives, including grief literacy workshops and public awareness campaigns.
Administration & Reporting
- Oversee program budgets, data collection, and reporting requirements.
- Support grant writing and funding proposals as needed.
- Ensure compliance with relevant policies, procedures, and professional standards.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education & Experience:
- Graduate Master’s Degree of Social Work (MSW), with a knowledge on grief and loss therapies with adults and children living with life limiting illness, their supportive caregivers, and their communities.
- Registered member in good standing with the College of Social Work.
- 3 years successful development and delivery of delivering researched based/best practice Supportive Care Programs(individual/groups).
- 5 years Management and supervisory experience.
- Experience in supporting the bereaved.
- Experience in adult and children bereavement modalities.
- Experience with complex grief including trauma and suicide.
- Diversity and inclusion community engagement/development .
- Knowledgeable of community resources related to palliative care.
Skills & Competencies:
- Excellence in program design and delivery.
- Deep commitment to compassion, empathy, integrity, and learning.
- Excellent engagement skills, including written, presentation and interpersonal.
- Thoughtful and decisive decision making.
- Driven by results aligned to mission and values.
- Trusted political acumen.
- Keen insight on systems, people, data and information.
Certifications (any of the following preferred):
- Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) – Learning Institute
- Pallium Canada – LEAP (Learning Essential Approaches to Palliative Care)
- de Souza Institute – Palliative Care Education and Certification
- University of Toronto – Certificate in Loss, Grief, and Bereavement
- SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health – Grief and Trauma Training
- Wilfrid Laurier University – Professional Development in Thanatology
WORKING CONDITIONS:
This is an in office position.
WHO WE ARE:
Kemp Care Network is more than just an organization; it’s a compassionate community dedicated to serving the emotional, physical and social needs of individuals living with a serious illness, facing their last chapter, or grieving a death.
Our History:
Thirty years ago, Dr. Bob Kemp recognized an opportunity to redefine how palliative care was offered in the Greater Hamilton Area. Foremost, a founding value was to serve all, especially the most vulnerable. And it all started with a generous donation of land by Iris Berryman.
Vision
To establish Kemp Care Network as a world-class leader in regional palliative-care in alignment with our founding values while evolving to best serve our community.
Mission
To care for every individual and their loved ones with dignity, compassion and attention to their physical, social and psychological well-being during times of serious, life-limiting illness and loss.
We lead, collaborate and drive meaningful improvements to palliative care services with partners across our community.
Values
- Dignity: We focus on quality of living and ensuring the experience of our clients and their families is based in dignity and respect.
- Compassion: Our care for clients and their families is based in compassion, empathy and kindness.
- Collaboration: We actively build relationships and work with partners and our community as part of a continuum of care.
- Inclusivity: We welcome diversity in our clients and deliver care in an inclusive manner that considers their unique needs.
- Excellence: We are dedicated to a high quality of care and strive to continually improve and contribute to the advancement of our field.
Kemp Care Network is committed to providing equal treatment with respect to employment according to the protected grounds established under the Ontario Human Rights Code. We will work to to ensure that our employees are provided with meaningful employment that is ethical and fair, and is in compliance with all applicable employment, and human rights legislation.
Kemp Care Network provides accessible employment in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation. We strive to provide an accessible and welcoming environment for everyone by identifying and removing barriers in our workplace and ensuring that new barriers are not created. The company ensures that persons with disabilities are provided with equal opportunities. We are committed to meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities in a timely and integrative manner that respects their dignity and independence. Accommodations are available on request.