Job responsibilities
You will contribute and commit
to promoting a positive
team-based attitude, striving for the
highest standards of care and achieving excellence, through continued
development and compassion.
You will work closely with the multidisciplinary
colleagues within the Clinical Services Directorate (Inpatient Unit, Living
Well Centre Team Carer Support Worker, Counselling Team and Spiritual Care
Team) in order to assist and support them alongside providing person centered
support and care to patients and those important to them. In addition, the postholder will work closely
with to provide safeguarding guidance and advice within the hospice and liaise
with external bodies and regulators as appropriate.
The list below
is to outline the main duties involved; however, this is subject to change and will vary within the given role.
We ask all employees to be
flexible in their role, to always ensure
we are delivering care of the highest standard.
The post holder will address the psychosocial, emotional,
social, cultural, and spiritual needs of patients, particularly at the end of
life, recognizing and responding to the impact of these factors on patients and
those important to them.
The post holder will actively support the vision, values, aims,
and objectives of the Hospice and will work collaboratively within the Living
Well Service team to maintain, develop, and promote a modern, professional, and
evidence-based psychosocial service.
The
post holder will establish links and work with external service providers which
address the needs of palliative patients and those important to them.
The
post holder will contribute to the delivery of relevant internal and external
education programmes including the delivery of inhouse mandatory safeguarding
training.
As a
safeguarding lead the post holder will ensure the hospice is effectively
implementing the associated legislative requirements and lead on the
development and application of relevant policies and procedures.
Clinical
Work
across all hospice services, including Inpatient and Living Well Services.
Hold
accountability for a caseload of complex patients and those important to them.
Collaborate
with patients and their families to assess and address social circumstances,
including concerns about finances, housing, and practical care needs.
Support
patients and families in managing interpersonal relationships, emotional
distress, and challenges associated with illness and palliative care needs.
Assist
patients and families in accessing, identifying, appraising, and interpreting
complex information to enable informed decision-making, as part of the wider
multidisciplinary team (MDT).
Utilize
advanced communication skills to deliver complex or highly emotive information
clearly, sensitively, and unambiguously, whether face-to-face, via telephone,
or through electronic means.
Take a
leading role in advance care planning, supporting patients and families in
making decisions about end-of-life care.
Guide
and support the MDT in appropriately applying the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and
the Care Act 2014, ensuring the rights and autonomy of patients are
safeguarded.
Assist
in the facilitation of Mental Capacity Assessments, Best Interests Decisions,
and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards processes.
Use
patient-identified goals and an understanding of psychosocial needs to
contribute effectively to multi-professional care and discharge planning,
including:
o Liaising with care funding bodies, voluntary
organizations, and community agencies.
o Assessing and negotiating for community-based
services to support families and carers upon discharge.
Lead on the discharge
planning for complex cases and support nursing staff in ensuring safe and
appropriate discharges.
Provide and maintain
comprehensive knowledge of community service provision, acting as a resource
for discharge planning advice and information.
Offer immediate support
and information to families and carers following the death of a patient.
Stay current with
legislation, welfare rights, and reforms that impact advocacy and practice,
ensuring the best possible outcomes for patients.
Conduct home visits, as
appropriate, to support effective discharge planning.
Management /
Supervision and Training
To engage in regular 1 to1 meetings with Direct Line
Manger, working towards personal and relevant organisational
objectives
To develop, plan, implement and evaluate formal and
informal safeguarding training and education programmes related to palliative
care for all health and social care professionals
To provide informal education to patients/carers and
other groups at appropriate levels
To maintain and develop professional knowledge and
skills meeting annual CPD requirements in line with the professional
competencies framework.
To develop and maintain relationships with
colleagues from the wider specialist palliative care team and other Hospices in
their social work networks.
To keep and maintain accurate patient records as per
hospice and professional guidelines
To participate in regular clinical supervision
As one of the leading
members of the Clinical Team and the MDT, the Hospice Social Worker will bring
significant clinical expertise, strategic insight, and a collaborative approach
to patient care.
To contribute to complex
case planning.
Represent the social
work function at internal and external forums and ensure that social care is
integrated into the wider model of hospice and palliative care.
The role involves being
a member of the clinical management team and oversee service planning, policy
development.
Evaluation, Research
and Audit
Regularly evaluate the quality of own work and that
of the wider team, encouraging a culture of continuous improvement.
Actively participate in
clinical audits as indicated, responding to identified needs by developing or
modifying practice as required.
Engage with and
participate in research activities as needed to support and enhance the
clinical service.
Professional
Maintain compliance with
the standards, code of conduct, and professional practice requirements of the
relevant professional body, ensuring ongoing expertise and knowledge through
continuous professional development (CPD).
Foster positive working
relationships with the local safeguarding board and other hospices within the
Northwest region.
Participate in
reflective practice and access in-house training opportunities, including
compliance with all hospices mandatory training requirements.
