Help People Find Hope After Suicide Loss
Suicide bereavement can be one of the most devastating experiences a person can face. At Leeds Mind, we believe nobody should have to navigate that journey alone.
We're looking for a compassionate and resilient Suicide Bereavement Practitioner to join our regional Suicide Bereavement Service, supporting individuals, families and communities affected by suicide across Wakefield.
This is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference to people's lives by providing practical, emotional and recovery-focused support at a time when they need it most. You'll be part of a dedicated team helping people feel heard, understood and connected, while promoting hope and reducing the risk of further suicide.
About Leeds Mind
Leeds Mind is the city's leading mental health charity. We believe in people's strengths and potential, and our services are built around supporting people to discover their own resources, improve their wellbeing, and live fulfilling lives.
Everything we do is guided by our values:
- Being Open
- Being Supportive
- Being Brave
- Being Connected
- Being Resourceful
These values shape how we work with service users, volunteers, partners and colleagues every day.
Belonging at Leeds Mind
Leeds Mind is committed to creating an inclusive environment – equity, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything that we do.
We are committed to ensuring that our colleagues, volunteers and people who access our services feel a sense of belonging at Leeds Mind that gives them the confidence to share their unique perspectives and experience.
By creating an inclusive environment that fosters belonging, we aspire to attract colleagues and volunteers who offer diversity of experience and thought. We believe this will ultimately improve the service we provide as well as the employee and volunteer experience.
At Leeds Mind, we’ve made significant progress in Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging in recent years, resulting in a diverse team. We are committed to maintaining strong representation in our workforce and always encourage applications from LGBTQIA+, culturally diverse, neurodivergent and disabled individuals within Leeds Mind.
About the Suicide Bereavement Service
The Suicide Bereavement Service is commissioned by West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and Leeds Public Health to provide specialist postvention support across West Yorkshire.
Postvention is the support offered to people affected by suicide and is recognised internationally as an important way of reducing the impact of suicide loss and helping to prevent further suicides.
The service supports people both in the immediate aftermath of a suicide and following historical losses. Support includes:
- One-to-one emotional and practical support
- Peer support opportunities
- Skills-based support groups
- Family support, including children and young people
- Memorial and remembrance events
The service operates across Bradford, Keighley & Craven, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield. This role will primarily support people in Wakefield.
About the Role
As a Suicide Bereavement Practitioner, you will work directly with people affected by suicide, providing assessment, emotional support, practical guidance and advocacy.
Working as part of Leeds Mind's regional Suicide Bereavement Team, you will deliver a range of interventions tailored to individual needs and circumstances.
Key responsibilities include:
- Assessing the needs of individuals and families and identifying appropriate support pathways.
- Delivering up to six sessions of one-to-one support, including emotional, practical and advocacy-based interventions.
- Facilitating group support, including peer support groups and skills-based programmes.
- Supporting children, young people and families affected by suicide loss.
- Working collaboratively with partners and local services across West Yorkshire.
- Maintaining a trauma-informed, recovery-focused and person-centred approach in all aspects of your work.
About You
We're looking for someone who combines empathy, resilience and strong interpersonal skills with a genuine commitment to supporting people affected by suicide.
Essential Skills and Experience
- Personal experience of being affected by a suicide and in a place where using this experience daily is manageable and non-detrimental to yourself.
- Awareness of your own wellbeing and support needs when sharing lived experience within a professional role.
- Experience supporting people who have experienced trauma, including children and young people.
- Understanding of peer support approaches and person-centred practice.
- Understanding of the principles, philosophy and practical application of peer support.
- Ability to work calmly, confidently and effectively with people experiencing grief, distress and, at times, suicidal thoughts and feelings.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- Ability and means to travel across Wakefield and wider West Yorkshire.
- Commitment to living Leeds Mind's values every day.
Why Join Leeds Mind?
- Make a lasting difference to people affected by suicide.
- Be part of an award-winning mental health charity.
- Use your lived experience to create meaningful change.
- Work within a supportive and inclusive team.
- Access learning, development and wellbeing opportunities.
- Help shape innovative mental health services across Leeds.
Key Information
Hours: 30 hours per week
Salary: £29,009 pro-rata
Contract: Fixed Term for 12 months
Location: Wakefield, with travel across West Yorkshire and some home working
Closing Date: Sunday 16 August
Assessment Centre: 26 or 27 August, 9.30am – 11.30am
Internal and External Aapplications Welcome
Interested?
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact: Lisa Bourne, telephone: 07870 488 615
Additional Information
Successful candidates will be required to:
* Provide evidence of their right to work in the UK.
* Complete an Enhanced DBS check.
Leeds Mind is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
Registered Charity Number: 1007625.