Social Worker

Job responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Social Worker

RESPONSIBLE TO: Designated Safeguarding Lead

HOURS OF WORK: As per contract

LOCATION: LOROS Hospice, Groby Road, Leicester

JOB PURPOSE:

• To provide expertise for LOROS, and to LOROS staff and volunteers, in relation to Safeguarding children and adults at risk of abuse or neglect, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
• To manage the LOROS Social Work Liaison Officer.
• Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• To provide holistic and person centred social work assessments, care plans and interventions to adult patients at LOROS and to their carers as appropriate, working within the legislative requirement of The Care Act 2014, MCA and DoLS, and taking into consideration their family circumstances, social, emotional and practical difficulties.
• Creating and contributing towards a plan of action for patients and their carers as appropriate, taking into account personal, community, ethnic, and religious matters that affect or influence the situation(s).
• To provide advice and support to facilitate patients and carers to access appropriate welfare rights.
• To provide support to patients and their families / carers as deemed appropriate by the multi-disciplinary team during the persons life.

DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

1. To carry out social care assessments for patients with complex needs, working holistically to address issues through the provision of social work interventions.

2. To provide a flexible range of services to patients referred to LOROS and to their families and carers. Such services will include psychosocial support for individuals and their families, requiring excellent communication and relationship skills.

3. To support the Safeguarding Lead and Director of Care Services with safeguarding processes within LOROS, including direct liaison with statutory services and other professionals and the development of applicable policies and procedures.

4. To line manage the LOROS Social Work Liaison Officer.

5. Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.

6. To provide practical support as required including signposting to other agencies.

7. To provide welfare rights advice and signposting for patients and families referred to LOROS.

8. To assess carers needs and make external referrals as necessary.

9. To provide advice to staff who raise notifications of concern / incidents and safeguarding alerts, make safeguarding referrals and to update records of all such cases.

10. To support the Safeguarding Lead to deliver, provide and participate in core induction and mandatory training with regards to Safeguarding, MCA, DoLS and PREVENT as required.

11. To encourage good practice and support internal, local and national procedures, policies and legislation to protect children and adults at risk of abuse and neglect, plus advising on and supporting the integration of MCA and DoLS.

12. To be responsible for own administration tasks and recording, including the prompt and accurate completion of clinical, data based and statistical records, and to support the LOROS Social Work Assistant with the completion of theirs.

13. To attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary team meetings, and to work as part of the multi-disciplinary team in the overall coordination of services, including, where required, coordinating and chairing discharge planning meetings or case conferences in more complex cases.

14. To work in collaboration with the Social Work Liaison Officer, Ward, Enablement and Discharge Teams supporting safe and effective discharges from the hospice.

15. To provide liaison between LOROS, Adult Social Care and Children Social Services and other agencies and organisations, including local clinical commissioning groups and acute trusts.

16. Where required, to support the multi-disciplinary team to provide support and help in talking to children regarding the implications of serious illness and death.

17. To carry out such other duties as may be required from time to time and which are commensurate with the grade of the post.

18. Provide the above in a framework of anti-discriminatory and anti-oppressive practice.

PROFESSIONAL

1. To be able to plan and prioritise own workload, make a speedy and appropriate response to all work allocated and support the Social Work Liaison Officer with theirs.

2. To contribute to the MDT decision-making process through attendance at MDT meetings.

3. To develop and maintain effective working relationships with other members of the multi-disciplinary LOROS team and all patients and their families.

4. To adhere to all standards, policies and procedures of LOROS, Professional Code of Conduct and Social Work England.

5. Where required, to arrange, co-ordinate, chair and minute complex case conferences or meetings.

6. To introduce, promote and evidence high quality social work practice within the hospice.

7. To act as an advisor in regards to, or support with, Mental Capacity Assessments (MCAs), Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard (DoLS) applications, and all matters in relation to Safeguarding Adults and Children.

8. To complete personal mandatory training as necessary.

9. To participate in setting and achieving own Personal and Development Reviews (PDRs) and undertaking the necessary training to ensure own professional development and updating of knowledge.

10. To arrange and conduct the Social Work Liaison Officers Personal and Development Reviews (PDRs), and to participate in others continuing professional development where required.

11. To maintain case records and to make use of appropriate IT systems.

12. To report to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, Matron, Day Services Manager or the Director of Care Services regarding any matter affecting the smooth running of the service and Hospice.

13. To ensure knowledge about patients is maintained in the strictest confidence, and is not divulged except to professionals where it would materially assist with the programme of care or protection of the individual.

14. To participate in the collection of data for approved survey, research management, planning projects and auditing.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES

1. Some out of hours working may be necessary in carrying out duties of social work.

2. To undertake any appropriate duties as may be reasonably required, on either a short term or long term basis.

3. To ensure registration requirements to practice as a Social Worker are maintained.

4. To promote the aims and ideals of the Hospice service to the general public. This may include participating with PR and fundraising activities and supporting the organisations charitable activities.

5. To attend regular supervision and caseload supervision with chosen clinical supervisor and participate in regular service team meetings.

6. To support with the recruitment of the Social Work Liaison Officer, arrange any necessary inductions and arrange and carry out the Social Work Liaison Officers supervision and case load supervision.

7. Promote and facilitate the development of clinical audit and the management of clinical risk including patients impact wherever possible and appropriate.

8. Where required, in liaison with the necessary lead, investigate and implement lessons learned with regard to all complaints / incidents within the Hospice, ensuring that those are shared across the service as appropriate.

GENERAL:

All staff are subject to Equal Opportunities Legislation, the Data Protection Act and LOROS Confidentiality Policy.

To carry out and comply with the prevention and control of infection as per LOROS policies and procedures.

All staff are subject to LOROS policies, procedures and conditions of service, with reference to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The post holder is responsible for safeguarding the interests of children and adults who they come into contact with during their work. To fulfil these duties post holders are required to undertake mandatory training to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse, or neglect, or individuals at risk and to follow LOROS policies relating to safeguarding practice including reporting any concerns that they may have.

Take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.

Co-operate with their employer as far as is necessary to meet the requirements of the legislation.

All staff should be aware of and aim to contribute to LOROS Vision and Mission and also strive to exhibit the Values & Behaviours at all times

Other

Essential

• The willingness to work some unsociable hours including weekends and public holidays
• The ability to visit service users in a variety of settings

Desirable

• Full driving license and own transport and willingness to travel

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of the role of the Social Worker in a palliative care setting
• Awareness and understanding of equality & diversity legislation
• Safeguarding adults & children legislation, policy & practice
• Awareness of social aspects of illness / disability
• A good working knowledge of safeguarding, MCA and DoLS (including the Acid Test).
• Understanding of and the ability to explain complex legal, social and welfare situations

Desirable

• Knowledge around the Care Act Wellbeing Principle, Personalisation and Enablement agendas
• Working knowledge of The Children's Act and its relationship to those who present risks to children
• An understanding of the Prevent strategy and experience of training staff in relation to prevent awareness
• Knowledge of SystmOne and / or other electronic record keeping systems

Skills

Essential

• Able to prioritise workload and work autonomously under pressure
• Able to complete / make clear, timely and accurate assessments, reports and case records
• Good time management skills with the ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Advocacy skills
• Able to analyse and interpret information from a range of sources
• To demonstrate the ability to produce innovative plans of action for patients and carers to support discharge from the Hospice and / or increase or promote independence and autonomy whilst minimising risk
• Able to deal sensitively with people who are under stress, or who have received distressing information
• Able to identify and manage risk, including positive risk taking
• Evidence of an ability to work with people of different ages and backgrounds
• Evidence of an ability to keep accurate, computerised records and be computer literate

Desirable

• Evidence of an ability to work with individuals and families who are preparing for and experiencing significant loss
• Evidence of assessing child and family needs and risks

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience working in health / social care settings
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of working in a diverse area and with a diverse client group
• Experience of safeguarding adults and / or children
• Experience in the use of the MCA

Desirable

• Experience of working in a palliative care setting / end of life care services
• Experience of working with those facing bereavement and those experiencing loss and grief
• Experience of working with children and young people
• Experience of DoLS applications / authorisations
• Experience of leading policy and practice in relation to safeguarding, DOLS and MCA
• Experience of line managing or supervising other members of staff.

Qualifications

Essential

• Certificate of Qualification in Social Work / Diploma in Social Work / Degree in Social Work (BA or MA, CQSW, CSS, Dip.SW)
• Registered with Social Work England.

Desirable

• Advanced Communication skills Training
• Best Interest Assessor Training and Accreditation
• Professional development relating to safeguarding
• Training in Loss, Grief and Bereavement

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).