I'm having trouble connecting to Bitcoinpool.
Do I need to configure the 'bitcoin.conf' file? Where is this file?
Do I need the Bitcoin client running too?
No you do not need a bitcoin client running to mine. You DO need it running to receive your payments from bitcoinpool.
For help with setting your miner with that particular mining pool please see their website and/or support forum.
To mine in a pool you do NOT need to touch the bitcoin.conf file (in fact by default it does not exist unless you create it and those who create it intend to mine solo - which in your case you clearly are not going to do that so therefore you should not touch/create that file)
Hope this helps.