Social Worker

Job responsibilities

1. To respond to the emotional, psychological and social needs of individuals and families who use hospice services and identify those people involved who may require extra support. To assess referrals and offer advice and guidance about alternatives where appropriate.

2. Offering intervention to work with these needs through:

Specialist assessment

Crisis management: to team, including volunteers or in any setting in the hospice, e.g wards

Support for patients and families in identifying changing care needs and accessing the services able to meet the needs, both practically and emotionally.

The use of counselling and therapy skills with individuals, with recognised qualifications, experience and expertise

Group work initiating a range of ways of working with user groups, based on research and response to user demand. Conducting pilots and reporting results to the Team Leader. Managing the responses if groups have to close or be suspended.

Family work engaging with all age groups affected by illness within our user groups; using specialist skills to manage complex situations, in the community as well as within the hospice advocacy

Participation in the MDT. Taking a lead in MDM on social and psychological considerations, as well as wider service issues such as how local services are operating.

Advising about issues of safeguarding, mental capacity and best interests.

3. Providing appropriate bereavement care to individuals and groups. Being responsible for the running of all bereavement groups provided, from responding to requests to join, to the supervision of the volunteers involved, ensuring enough staff are always available at each session and all participants feel safe and supported in what is often a challenging environment. Assessing, in the moment, the best way to meet a variety of presenting needs

4. Participation in our specific childrens service called Elephants Never Forget. Directing and planning the activities undertaken as part of this service, including health and safety issues arising from the use of other venues, including outdoor activities, safeguarding issues, and social concerns such as accessibility based on location and cost. Innovating and developing a service based on evidence-based research, taking into account resource implications for the hospice, identifying the best use of limited resources and alternatives within the community.

Acting as a source of advice and expertise to outside agencies such as schools, GP practices, hospital services and other agencies. Signposting enquirers to national services and resources, ordering and maintaining resources for use within the hospice. Providing training and mentoring if appropriate.

5. Acting as a resource to staff informally and formally through clinical supervision. Undertaking clinical supervision with a range of staff

6. Liaison with statutory and voluntary agencies to achieve agreed goals, e.g. discharge planning, welfare rights, specialist support. Acting as a link to partner organisations, e.g. Hope House, Social care sector, ICB

7. Generating information and expertise of local and national resources for the benefit of the Team and Hospice users.

8. Teaching within the Hospice on social care issues and psycho-social aspects of palliative care. Developing bespoke training packages for in-house education

9. Through training and supervision of volunteers in bereavement work. Devising and delivering a training scheme for volunteers. Leading sessions and mentoring newer staff to contribute to the teaching. Assessing and interviewing participants, mentoring new volunteers and running supervision groups, again whilst training newer social workers in these roles. Acting as a mentor to any volunteer working for the team, as required. Organising and running on-going training events for the whole bereavement service volunteer group.

10. Knowledge of legislation relevant to the role: Safeguarding of adults and children, MCA, DOLS and to act as a resource for colleagues, and to deliver mandatory training.

11. An ability to promote the Social Work role clearly as the growth and development of the Hospice demands. Negotiating with senior staff on wards, day units and community services to use the social work service as efficiently and economically as possible in the face of competing interests and demands, through innovation, compromise and dialogue.

12. Maintaining confidential records, in accordance with hospice policies and procedure

13. Support initiatives both hospice wide, and specific to departments to manage aspects of existing services and developments to increase good practice.

14. To supervise students, to provide supervisees across the hospice with information about the social work role and offer appropriate opportunities for direct learning.

This list of duties is not intended to be exhaustive but indicates the main area of work and may be subject to change following agreement to meet the changing needs of the department.

Additional Requirements

You must have either CQSW, CSS, Dip SW or Social work degree. You must be registered with Social Work England.

An enhanced DBS is required for this role.

Promote and incorporate equality and diversity in all aspects of the teams operations and in the public domain

The above job description is a summary of the main responsibilities of the postholder, and not an exhaustive list of duties to be undertaken. The duties may be redefined in accordance with the demands of the service. Any redefinition will be subject to discussion between yourself and your manager and be within your level of competence.

Supplementary Information and Requirements

All new Hospice employees are on a six-month probationary period.

Health and Safety

In accordance with the Hospices Health & Safety Policy all employed persons while at work are required by Section 7 of the Health & Safety at Work Act to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree
• CQSW/ CSS/ DIP SW/ Social Work Degree

Desirable

• Counselling
• Palliative Care Experience
• Supervision
• Practice Educator

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Assessment/analysis
• Decision making
• Issues around loss
• Familiarity with mixed age groups
• Computer literate
• Ability to work under pressure

Desirable

• Experience of volunteers group work
• Teacher/training
• Knowledge of multi-disciplinary work

Experience

Essential

• Post qualification experience in statutory services

Desirable

• Post qualification experience
• Work in health-related field

Aptitudes and Attributes

Essential

• Sensitive
• Enthusiastic about learning new skills/initiative
• Interested in self-development
• Able to work as part of a team and independently
• Ability to work in stressful circumstances

Desirable

• Organised
• Flexible
• Innovative and creative

Other Requirements

Essential

• Hold driving licence and have a car available for work as needed
• Prepared to work flexibly including occasional out of hours for children and family events
• Willingness to undergo further training as required
• Prepared to work anywhere in catchment area (Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, Mid Wales) as required
• Willingness to undertake home visits
• To attend regular in-house training
• Enhanced DBS Disclosure

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).