Job responsibilities
TITLE OF POST: Family Support Worker / Social Prescriber
ACCOUNTABLE TO: Head of Family Support
JOB PURPOSE: To provide support to families experiencing short- or
long-term difficulties associated with caring for a child or young person with
a complex life-limiting condition as part of the wider service offer within
Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice.
MAIN DUTIES &
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Key Responsibilities:
Connect
with a wide variety of local system partners, community activities and support services
to signpost families to appropriate help such as for wellbeing, housing,
welfare, social support and financial advice.
Establish and
maintain links with Early Help teams across various local authorities,
utilising their outreach services to strengthen the service offer within the
hospice, advocating in multi-agency meetings when required.
Maintain
links with specialist support groups to signpost families to support unique to
their family circumstances.
Develop a defined
caseload of families requiring more regular, direct support to facilitate the
assessment of individual needs, monitor progress and ensure this is reviewed
regularly using an evidence-based approach.
Work across the key care service areas within the
hospice to identify areas of need and work together to implement a holistic
approach to supporting individual families.
Develop and maintain
relationships with various charities and wish-granting organizations, alongside
other key staff members, provide relevant, up to date information and guidance
to families.
Key Tasks
To facilitate drop-in
services and group work opportunities for families to access peer support,
advice and information.
To visit families
to conduct assessments and work
closely with them to identify areas of need and to collaborate on bespoke
package of support with measured outcomes.
Support families
to apply for wishes, grants and other funding
opportunities where appropriate.
To collaborate
with the Family Support Team to plan and develop the pastoral service offer
within the hospice to meet the needs of all families.
Develop and
maintain good working relationships with other agencies, statutory and
voluntary, representing Bluebell Wood at external meeting as and when required.
Conduct
Early Help Assessments when families have been identified as requiring
additional support, acting as the Lead Professional where necessary and
facilitating Team around the Family (TAF) meetings.
Develop
working relationships and maintain professional boundaries.
Communication
Establish and maintain effective communication with
families, including using web pages, newsletters, social media etc.
Establish and maintain effective communication with
relevant individuals and groups to support families; including key members of
the hospice; volunteers; service users; statutory and voluntary organisations.
Understand the
importance of, and maintain, the need for confidentiality in all individual and
hospice matters.
Develop mechanisms to engage with
service users enabling families to have a voice, which influences current and
future service provision.
Document a network of support
services across the geographical area covered to support other team members to
signpost and refer children and families to external services.
SUPERVISORS OF VOLUNTEERS AT
BLUEBELL WOOD ARE EXPECTED TO:
Recruit
a team of volunteers to assist with the running of the department.
Manage,
coordinate, supervise and train the volunteers.
Ensure
a sufficient number of volunteers are engaged in order to maintain the expected
level of service.
Complete
working spreadsheets on a weekly/monthly basis, including planned absentee and
holiday cover.
Allocate
appropriate work schedules to volunteers, to meet the needs of the business.
Carry
out effective inductions for new volunteers in your team.
Lead
and guide volunteers, providing the support needed to maintain morale and
enable them to work effectively.
Supervise
your volunteers appropriately in their day-to-day work and actively work to
recognise the work that they do.
Ensure
your volunteers have access to some personal time with you on a regular basis.
Ensure
that your volunteers have an annual opportunity to reflect on their
volunteering role with you.
Support
appropriate volunteer learning and development within your team.
Communicate
effectively with your volunteer team.
GENERAL
All
Bluebell Wood employees are required to:
Abide by the Health
& Safety at Work Act
Adhere to policy and
procedures around safeguarding children and young adults
Respect
confidentiality applying to all Hospice areas
Work within Hospice
policies and procedures
Demonstrable
understanding and application of the provisions of GDPR
Comply with the
Hospice no smoking policy
Participate in and
contribute to team meetings
Co-operate and liaise
with colleagues
Behave in a
professional manner at all times
Act as an ambassador for
Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice, reflecting the objectives and values, and to
always work in the best interests of the charity.
All Bluebell Wood
employees are expected to:
Demonstrate
a commitment to their own development, to take advantage of education and
training opportunities and develop their own competence.
Support
and encourage harmonious internal and external working relationships.
Make
a positive contribution to fundraising and raising the profile of the Hospice.
This job description
is not exhaustive. It will be subject to
periodic review and may be amended following discussion between the post-holder
and employer.
