Job summary
This is an opportunity to experience a different kind of social workone that is holistic, person-centred, and grounded in compassion. Youll work with people with life-limiting illnesses, along with their carers and families. We provide practical and emotional support throughout the palliative stage, through to bereavement, with a focus on maximising quality of life, dignity, and wellbeing.
Working as part of a dedicated multi-disciplinary team, youll also collaborate closely with local statutory and voluntary partners across our communities. As an ambitious charity, were developing new ways of reaching people earlier in their journey, supporting them in their own communities, and helping them plan ahead.
Main duties of the job
To work under the guidance of/support the team manager to plan and lead a strong and effective hospice social work service, delivering high quality, strengths based and timely support to patients and carers
To maintain safe management of complex/higher risk cases or those requiring literacy with relevant legislation, e.g. Mental Capacity Act, Care Act, Childrens legislation.
To support all clinical staff with social work and safeguarding knowledge and expertise.
About us
Weve spent over 40 years helping people die in peace, and with dignity. Combining compassion with clinical expertise, we provide patients with the best possible care at the end of their lives.
Were here for the people around our patients too those closest to them. Before, during and after a bereavement, we provide support thats remembered forever.
We think its that unforgettable support that inspires people to give back to St Peters. To fundraise for us. Donate. Volunteer. Were not exaggerating when we say that we couldnt do what we do without our wonderful supporters. We really cant thank them enough.
We want to help many more people to die well. And were doing this by teaching others. As a centre of educational excellence, we share our skills with other health professionals, helping the NHS and care homes to provide better end-of-life care.
Were here for all, for free, forever.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To carry out triage of new referrals to the social work team, making decisions on urgency, complexity and allocation within team.
To ensure any early work (CAB Macmillan referrals, sending CSNAT information to carers, making urgent referrals, updating with patients where allocation is delayed) is actioned
To ensure and share the cover of the teams carers support line and any duty tasks on a rota basis
Page 2 of 8
To hold a small caseload of complex cases, and to deliver short term interventions with Social Work Assistant caseloads as required.
To assess, manage and monitor safeguarding concerns, keeping Emis and Inphase systems up to date and following up tasks allocated by DSL by the set completion date.
To assess and monitor the impact of illness, dying and bereavement on individual and family dynamics, taking into consideration family circumstances, social, emotional and practical difficulties
To design, implement, monitor and evaluate individual and family interventions to promote the social and emotional wellbeing of all
To support patients and carers to access the health and social care services they need through advocacy and use of escalation procedures
To support the team manager with service development directed by the strategic aims of the charity
To provide support to social work and spiritual care volunteers
To participate in audit processes as requested
To assist in the collation of user feedback and undertake needs analysis, research and audit to inform service development as required.
To keep up to date with all relevant legislation and evidence-based practice, ensuring that statutory obligations are reflected in the delivery of the service
To ensure that health and safety and lone working policies are understood and followed by the team
Some limited out of hours working may be necessary in carrying out duties of social work, including any group sessions that require social work knowledge and expertise
Page 3 of 8
To provide ad-hoc leadership of the team in the absence of the team manager.
Communication
To role model excellent communication skills with a wide range of individuals, both internally and externally
To ensure all patient and carer records are updated clearly and effectively in a professional and timely way
To work within the rules of information governance, maintaining the trust and confidence of patients and staff
Collaboration
To take a shared responsibility with other team members to ensure urgent work is completed, prioritising as needed
To actively participate in supervision sessions and team meetings
To ensure that the social model of disability and illness inform multi disciplinary assessments and plans for care and support
To participate in the inpatient unit Link Worker rota to provide a responsive and effective service to inpatients and their carers
To convene and chair multi agency meetings where a more joined up approach is needed
To share the delivery of the day service Planning Well session
To support the work of the marketing and fundraising teams by identifying suitable patients and carers to ask about sharing their stories of our support
To engage with the fundraising team to suggest/support grant applications and appeals
To participate in events either at the Brentry office or in the community that promote the work of the hospice, as requested
Commented [JP1]: And other group sessions that require SW knowledge and expertise. Commented [EM2R1]: Have added
Page 4 of 8
To work with external colleagues to educate them on specialist palliative care social work issues.
Personal and professional development
To access any education and training that may be necessary to competently fulfil the role and ensure continuous professional development
To participate in the induction of all new staff and volunteers as requested
To participate in training activities to support the development of the social work team and other clinical teams
To participate and contribute to own individual performance review and that of social work assistants as requested
To participate in the provision of support in various community forums across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
To demonstrate values associated with social work and our hospice values in all you do
To embrace new ways of working that may emerge as the hospice responds to local need
Monitor and maintain health & safety and security of yourself and others
To participate in the assessment of risk and thereby contribute towards clinical and corporate governance agenda as appropriate
To familiarise yourself with matters relating to health and safety management as they affect you personally and/or the hospice, reporting any potential risks to life or property immediately in accordance with the hospices Health and Safety policy and procedures
To refrain from smoking in any area of the Hospice premises
Page 5 of 8
To look for potential risks to yourself and others in work activities, environment and processes including issues around lone working
To work in a way that shows understanding and complies with legislation and hospice policies
To report actual or potential problems that may put health, security or safety at risk, follow the strict guidelines around information governance
Job description
Job responsibilities
To carry out triage of new referrals to the social work team, making decisions on urgency, complexity and allocation within team.
To ensure any early work (CAB Macmillan referrals, sending CSNAT information to carers, making urgent referrals, updating with patients where allocation is delayed) is actioned
To ensure and share the cover of the teams carers support line and any duty tasks on a rota basis
Page 2 of 8
To hold a small caseload of complex cases, and to deliver short term interventions with Social Work Assistant caseloads as required.
To assess, manage and monitor safeguarding concerns, keeping Emis and Inphase systems up to date and following up tasks allocated by DSL by the set completion date.
To assess and monitor the impact of illness, dying and bereavement on individual and family dynamics, taking into consideration family circumstances, social, emotional and practical difficulties
To design, implement, monitor and evaluate individual and family interventions to promote the social and emotional wellbeing of all
To support patients and carers to access the health and social care services they need through advocacy and use of escalation procedures
To support the team manager with service development directed by the strategic aims of the charity
To provide support to social work and spiritual care volunteers
To participate in audit processes as requested
To assist in the collation of user feedback and undertake needs analysis, research and audit to inform service development as required.
To keep up to date with all relevant legislation and evidence-based practice, ensuring that statutory obligations are reflected in the delivery of the service
To ensure that health and safety and lone working policies are understood and followed by the team
Some limited out of hours working may be necessary in carrying out duties of social work, including any group sessions that require social work knowledge and expertise
Page 3 of 8
To provide ad-hoc leadership of the team in the absence of the team manager.
Communication
To role model excellent communication skills with a wide range of individuals, both internally and externally
To ensure all patient and carer records are updated clearly and effectively in a professional and timely way
To work within the rules of information governance, maintaining the trust and confidence of patients and staff
Collaboration
To take a shared responsibility with other team members to ensure urgent work is completed, prioritising as needed
To actively participate in supervision sessions and team meetings
To ensure that the social model of disability and illness inform multi disciplinary assessments and plans for care and support
To participate in the inpatient unit Link Worker rota to provide a responsive and effective service to inpatients and their carers
To convene and chair multi agency meetings where a more joined up approach is needed
To share the delivery of the day service Planning Well session
To support the work of the marketing and fundraising teams by identifying suitable patients and carers to ask about sharing their stories of our support
To engage with the fundraising team to suggest/support grant applications and appeals
To participate in events either at the Brentry office or in the community that promote the work of the hospice, as requested
Commented [JP1]: And other group sessions that require SW knowledge and expertise. Commented [EM2R1]: Have added
Page 4 of 8
To work with external colleagues to educate them on specialist palliative care social work issues.
Personal and professional development
To access any education and training that may be necessary to competently fulfil the role and ensure continuous professional development
To participate in the induction of all new staff and volunteers as requested
To participate in training activities to support the development of the social work team and other clinical teams
To participate and contribute to own individual performance review and that of social work assistants as requested
To participate in the provision of support in various community forums across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
To demonstrate values associated with social work and our hospice values in all you do
To embrace new ways of working that may emerge as the hospice responds to local need
Monitor and maintain health & safety and security of yourself and others
To participate in the assessment of risk and thereby contribute towards clinical and corporate governance agenda as appropriate
To familiarise yourself with matters relating to health and safety management as they affect you personally and/or the hospice, reporting any potential risks to life or property immediately in accordance with the hospices Health and Safety policy and procedures
To refrain from smoking in any area of the Hospice premises
Page 5 of 8
To look for potential risks to yourself and others in work activities, environment and processes including issues around lone working
To work in a way that shows understanding and complies with legislation and hospice policies
To report actual or potential problems that may put health, security or safety at risk, follow the strict guidelines around information governance
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or degree in social work
- Registered with Social Work England
Desirable
- Additional relevant training in specialist palliative care social work
Experience
Essential
- A minimum of 3 years post qualification experience
- Sound knowledge of and confidence in using key legislation such as the mental capacity act, care act, DOLS and childrens legislation
- Evidence of working with a range of health professionals
- Experience of and competence in working with people and families in emotional distress
- An understanding of the effects of illness on physical, psychological and social function of patients, carers and families
Desirable
- Experience of working with death and bereavement
- Experience of initiating and facilitating groups
- Experienced in best practice approaches to working with carers
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Ability to work autonomously within boundaries of role
- Able to plan and maintain high level of organisation
- Highly developed communication skills to develop effective therapeutic relationships with clients and carers
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
- Ability to manage competing priorities under pressure, excellent prioritisation skills
- Strong risk assessment and risk management skills
- Excellent standard of literacy and numeracy
- Computer literate and willingness to embrace new technology
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Caring and compassionate attitude
- Ability to work well with others
- Committed to equality of access to our services and to all principles relating to the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion agenda in every aspect of our work
- Committed to personal and team development
- Ability to maintain confidential and ethical boundaries
- Strong commitment to upholding human rights
- Able to understand and work with conflict
- Actively reflects on own practice and unconscious bias
- Has a valid UK driving license and access to a vehicle for daily work use
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma or degree in social work
- Registered with Social Work England
Desirable
- Additional relevant training in specialist palliative care social work
Experience
Essential
- A minimum of 3 years post qualification experience
- Sound knowledge of and confidence in using key legislation such as the mental capacity act, care act, DOLS and childrens legislation
- Evidence of working with a range of health professionals
- Experience of and competence in working with people and families in emotional distress
- An understanding of the effects of illness on physical, psychological and social function of patients, carers and families
Desirable
- Experience of working with death and bereavement
- Experience of initiating and facilitating groups
- Experienced in best practice approaches to working with carers
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Ability to work autonomously within boundaries of role
- Able to plan and maintain high level of organisation
- Highly developed communication skills to develop effective therapeutic relationships with clients and carers
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
- Ability to manage competing priorities under pressure, excellent prioritisation skills
- Strong risk assessment and risk management skills
- Excellent standard of literacy and numeracy
- Computer literate and willingness to embrace new technology
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Caring and compassionate attitude
- Ability to work well with others
- Committed to equality of access to our services and to all principles relating to the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion agenda in every aspect of our work
- Committed to personal and team development
- Ability to maintain confidential and ethical boundaries
- Strong commitment to upholding human rights
- Able to understand and work with conflict
- Actively reflects on own practice and unconscious bias
- Has a valid UK driving license and access to a vehicle for daily work use
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).
Additional information
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).