St Columba’s Hospice Care is run to the benefit of people with palliative care needs from Edinburgh and the Lothians and their families. They are independent, which means they can adopt the types of service most beneficial to their patients and region. Hospice care is not about a hospice building. Hospice care is about providing people with the very best care in the way that best suits their unique circumstances. Often that means caring for people in their own communities and at home. Their state-of-the-art Inpatient Unit meets the varied and changing needs of patients with advanced illness, with a focus on quality of life for each individual and support for family and friends.

As well as the amazing care of the inpatient unit, there are many other services that St Columba’s Hospice Care provides within the community, including:

Helping people to continue to live independently

If it’s the right thing for you, their Community Palliative Care Team will help you manage your symptoms and provide you with access to the services you need to live well in your own home. Their multidisciplinary team of nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists provide outpatient consultations by phone and secure video conference. Working closely with your own GP, they ensure you and your family have all the support you need.

Wellbeing service

Their wide range of supportive services are available to inpatients, outpatients and the wider community. From physiotherapy and counselling to family support and practical help at home, there is a service that is right for everyone.

Building compassionate communities

The Compassionate Communities team works alongside communities and neighbourhoods across Edinburgh and East Lothian who wish to build on their shared strengths, skills and experiences to support one another through difficult times of worsening health, social isolation, loss and bereavement.

The Business Development Lead will research and develop new business development opportunities for St Columba’s Hospice Care, working closely with team members across the organisation and with key stakeholders. This role will help deliver funding for new business development ideas and will also be responsible for leading on the implementation of key ideas that help provide new funding sources in order that the Hospice can achieve its strategic aims and objectives. The postholder will work with the newly established Advisory Group for Income Growth, and will be responsible for taking forward new ideas, creating business plans, identifying opportunities and ultimately to helping set up and deliver new ideas. These ideas may come from a number of areas across the Hospice, however they will share a common theme in that they will all involve developing new business opportunities for the Hospice which will create income that will run our services. Monitoring and evaluating success will be important, as will carefully using existing and new resource (especially staff time and expenditure on plans) to ensure the very best return on investment for the cause.

The post holder will have excellent written, communication and business development skills and be able to work to a very high standard within tight deadlines and excel as a communicator at all levels. They will also have the vision and planning skills to identify and develop ideas and initiatives.

Scotland’s first modern hospice, St Columba’s Hospice Care first opened its doors in 1977. Over the years it has grown and evolved into an exemplary provider of specialist palliative care for thousands of people with life-limiting illnesses in Edinburgh and the Lothians, while also providing support to their relatives and loved ones. Our patients face a range of conditions, including cancer, respiratory disease, heart failure and MND.

St Columba’s Hospice Care has involved volunteers since it opened. We now have an exciting opportunity for an Administrator to join our Volunteer Services team, working with approximately 600 amazing volunteers in all areas of Hospice activity. You will provide comprehensive administrative support and will assist with the promotion and development of volunteering; including new volunteer initiatives and roles across St Columba’s Hospice Care, in our retail shops and in the community.

We are looking for an individual with a combination of strong database, administrative and people skills. You will maintain our volunteer database (Better Impact) on a day-to-day basis. You will review and improve our database procedures, ensuring the quality of data we hold, offer training and support to other users, and carry out a range of administrative functions including inputting data, carrying out data cleansing activities, extracting information and reports, and troubleshooting issues. You will offer a range of administrative and organisational functions within the Volunteer Services department, dealing with staff, volunteers and the public online, by telephone and face to face.

You should possess strong communication, organisational and MS Office skills and will ideally have some experience of volunteer management. Most importantly, you’ll be an enthusiastic and friendly individual, who enjoys dealing with people from a wide range of backgrounds.

For an informal discussion about the post please call Julie Golding, Volunteer Services Manager on 0131 551 1381.

Scotland’s first modern hospice, St Columba’s Hospice Care first opened its doors in 1977. Over the years it has grown and evolved into an exemplary provider of specialist palliative care for thousands of people with life-limiting illnesses in Edinburgh and the Lothians, while also providing support to their relatives and loved ones. Our patients face a range of conditions, including cancer, respiratory disease, heart failure and MND. We currently have a part-time vacancy to join our dedicated team.

We are looking for an approachable, organised, motivated and compassionate counsellor / CBT therapist to join our specialist Family Support Team.

Working with other counsellors and as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will be instrumental in the continued development of counselling, bereavement and carer support services at St Columba’s Hospice. Working with adults living with incurable illness and facing end of life, as well as with their relatives and loved ones, you will be a registered, qualified and experienced counsellor and/or CBT therapist, accredited by BACP and/or BABCP or eligible for such accreditation, and will have specialist knowledge of illness, loss and bereavement. You will provide sessions both in-person and/or remotely via telephone and/or NHS NearMe. Able to work well as part of a team, you will have excellent communication skills, and will enjoy being involved in the recruitment, training and supervision of volunteers.

Experience of providing counselling supervision, of working in a health care setting, and of offering time-limited psychological therapies and group work would support your application.

For an informal discussion about the post please call Craig Hutchison, Family Support Team Manager, on 0131 551 1381.

Scotland’s first modern hospice, St Columba’s Hospice Care first opened its doors in 1977. Over the years it has grown and evolved into an exemplary provider of specialist palliative care for thousands of people with life-limiting illnesses in Edinburgh and the Lothians, while also providing support to their relatives and loved ones. Our patients face a range of conditions, including cancer, respiratory disease, heart failure and MND. We currently have a part-time vacancy to join our dedicated team.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, approachable, organised and compassionate practitioner to join our existing service for children and young people whose family members have been diagnosed with incurable illness.

With experience of working with children and families facing bereavement and an understanding of the social and emotional needs of children and young people, you’ll support families as they help children to understand and adjust to the changes caused by incurable illness, assist families to make plans for the future, and help ensure that children/young people are appropriately informed and involved in the decisions which affect their lives. You’ll have a relevant qualification in health, education, social care, play therapy or counselling and an understanding of the legal and structural requirements for meeting childrens’ needs, as well as a grounding in child protection.

This post is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. For an informal discussion about the post please contact Craig Hutchison, Family Support Team Manager on 0131 551 1381

Scotland’s first modern hospice, St Columba’s Hospice Care first opened its doors in 1977. Over the years it has grown and evolved into an exemplary provider of specialist palliative care for thousands of people with life-limiting illnesses in Edinburgh and the Lothians, while also providing support to their relatives and loved ones. Our patients face a range of conditions, including cancer, respiratory disease, heart failure and MND. We currently have two part-time vacancies to join our dedicated team.

We believe that neighbourhoods and communities play a vital part in supporting one another during times of increased health need, isolation, loss and grief, and an exciting opportunity has arisen to appoint two new members to our expanding Compassionate Communities team. Working alongside key partners - hospice colleagues, existing services, third sector organisations, community groups and individuals - you will support the recruitment, training and development of a growing network of compassionate neighbours; local people who give of their time, shared interests and company to other local people who are living with a life-limiting condition, and who may be lonely or socially isolated.

Your interest might be driven by personal experience with death, dying and loss and we recognise its importance and value in this type of work. It is not necessary to have previous experience of working within end of life care and we actively encourage applicants from out with the sector to consider applying. Well-developed listening skills alongside a genuine desire to support individuals and communities in caring for one another during life’s most difficult times and transitions are essential. We are looking for someone who is confident, kind and resourceful, with an ability to see the potential in others and provide the right conditions for it to develop and flourish. This will equip you to nurture relationships, grow capacity and work alongside others to create hubs of compassionate neighbours within the local communities and neighbourhoods we serve.

You will have excellent listening skills, be able to communicate with a diverse range of people and thrive on creating social connections. Relevant training or experience in health, social care or community development would be an advantage. A clean driving licence and car are essential as this role necessitates flexible working (day/evening/ weekends) and a considerable amount of travel.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Maggie Young or Lynn Darke on 0131 551 1381.