Job summary
Are you looking for a new challenge, a
chance to apply your social work skills in a palliative care setting? This is a
dynamic leadership role with exciting opportunities.
As Senior Social Worker, you will be part of an expert, multi
professional team collectively responsible for planning and delivering
responsive, compassionate, efficient and effective specialist social work
support to people known to the hospice. You will support and enable people to
improve the quality of their lives, in the ways which are most important to
them. You will work across the services including the inpatient unit, community
settings and Wellbeing Centre.
Youll lead a small team within Wellbeing Services, consisting of staff
and volunteers and contribute to a positive working environment with an
emphasis on teamwork and co-operation. You will support the creation and
maintenance of a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring high quality
standards are maintained.
Main duties of the job
Please note, the successful candidate will be an essential car user,
therefore candidates must have a full driving license and access to a vehicle.
This post is offered on a full time basis working 37.5 hours per week, however,
we would consider part time of 30 hours per week.
This role is subject to a Enhanced DBS check. By
applying you are confirming you have read the Enhanced Check Privacy Policy for applicants https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-privacy-policies
and understand how DBS will process my personal data and the options available
to me for submitting an application.
Whilst it is not yet a requirement to be fully vaccinated against
COVID-19, we encourage all applicants to be fully vaccinated as this may be a
requirement of the role going forward.
Please
ensure you have read our employee and
recruitment privacy statement prior to applying for this role.
About us
When you join St Catherines, youll be joining a supportive
team all working towards abig ambition: to help everyone face death informed,
supported and pain free. If that sounds like something youd find fulfilling,
please apply today.
Employees at St Catherines Hospice can enjoy a variety of benefits
including:
25 days holiday, increasing with length
of service to 30 days + public holidays
Option to buy or sell up to 1 week of
annual leave
Day off for volunteering
Day off for moving house
Blue Light Card
Cycle to work scheme
Eye test vouchers
Generous Pension Up to 9% employer
contributions or honour of NHS pension
Enhanced maternity/adoption pay
Life Assurance 4x basic salary
Pay enhancement of unsocial hours
Flu Jabs
Counselling Offering
Discounted Gym
Schwartz rounds
Wellbeing Supervision (aka clinical
supervision)
Career pathway and progression
We are located in Malthouse Road, Crawley, West Sussex, which is within
commuting distance from Brighton and London and just a 5-minute walk from
Crawley railway station. In Autumn of 2023
we will be relocating to Pease Pottage where this role will then be based.
Job description
Job responsibilities
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
You will be part of an expert, multi professional team collectively responsible for planning and delivering responsive, compassionate, efficient and effective specialist social work support to people known to the hospice. You will support and enable people to improve the quality of their lives, in the ways which are most important to them. You will work across the services including the inpatient unit, community settings and Wellbeing Centre.
Youll lead a small team within Wellbeing Services, consisting of staff and volunteers and contribute to a positive working environment with an emphasis on teamwork and co-operation. You will support the creation and maintenance of a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring high quality standards are maintained.
Professional/Clinical
To lead and maintain high levels of clinical expertise through regular client/patient contact, ensuring own clinical practice is evidence-based, effective in terms of clinical outcome and person centred. This includes keeping abreast of new developments in palliative care social work and maintaining your professional registration.
To work therapeutically with patients and families to understand and support with their interpersonal relationships, concerns and distress associated with their ill health and palliative care needs.
To support patients and carers to formulate plans for end of life care including participation in advance decisions and statements.
Where appropriate, to act as an advocate for the patient with regards to systems, benefits and/or other support.
To lead, promote and maintain effective liaison, communication and relationships with the multi-disciplinary team to provide professional support and advice on social issues, including participating in multi-disciplinary and referrals meetings
To collaborate with Wellbeing Centre & Outreach Lead and other members of the Wellbeing Service to design and deliver Wellbeing Centre activities and groups across various settings
To work in partnership with local social service and health agencies, particularly where families have long standing or complex needs, offering our expertise in providing support in the context of palliative care.
To ensure appropriate information governance, data collection and record keeping to support a high quality service to patients and their families.
Attend line management and clinical supervision.
Leadership/Management
Deputise for the Wellbeing Services Manager, including the role of Deputy Safeguarding Lead, and other senior members of the Wellbeing Service as necessary.
To line manage social worker, welfare advisor and carer support worker, and support the work of volunteers within the team.
To provide positive and supportive leadership to sustain the service and its volunteers, develop a team which is adaptable and responsive to peoples needs.
To support the organisation and management of the teams workload, ensuring team resources are efficiently utilised, developing referral processes and measuring success.
Through role modelling, teaching, supervision and management support the development of all members of the team.
Actively participate in the Performance Review process to identify own learning needs and take necessary steps in order to reach professional/personal objectives.
Education and training
- Participate in the development and delivery of both internal and external teaching programmes, identifying opportunities and collaborating with the education team
- Be a mentor and/or supervise placements within the team as required.
- Drive and encourage the team to celebrate their work with wider internal and external audiences (posters, conferences, talks, teachings etc).
- Actively participate in and contribute to the ongoing educational programmes and evidence-based research of the hospice.
Job description
Job responsibilities
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
You will be part of an expert, multi professional team collectively responsible for planning and delivering responsive, compassionate, efficient and effective specialist social work support to people known to the hospice. You will support and enable people to improve the quality of their lives, in the ways which are most important to them. You will work across the services including the inpatient unit, community settings and Wellbeing Centre.
Youll lead a small team within Wellbeing Services, consisting of staff and volunteers and contribute to a positive working environment with an emphasis on teamwork and co-operation. You will support the creation and maintenance of a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring high quality standards are maintained.
Professional/Clinical
To lead and maintain high levels of clinical expertise through regular client/patient contact, ensuring own clinical practice is evidence-based, effective in terms of clinical outcome and person centred. This includes keeping abreast of new developments in palliative care social work and maintaining your professional registration.
To work therapeutically with patients and families to understand and support with their interpersonal relationships, concerns and distress associated with their ill health and palliative care needs.
To support patients and carers to formulate plans for end of life care including participation in advance decisions and statements.
Where appropriate, to act as an advocate for the patient with regards to systems, benefits and/or other support.
To lead, promote and maintain effective liaison, communication and relationships with the multi-disciplinary team to provide professional support and advice on social issues, including participating in multi-disciplinary and referrals meetings
To collaborate with Wellbeing Centre & Outreach Lead and other members of the Wellbeing Service to design and deliver Wellbeing Centre activities and groups across various settings
To work in partnership with local social service and health agencies, particularly where families have long standing or complex needs, offering our expertise in providing support in the context of palliative care.
To ensure appropriate information governance, data collection and record keeping to support a high quality service to patients and their families.
Attend line management and clinical supervision.
Leadership/Management
Deputise for the Wellbeing Services Manager, including the role of Deputy Safeguarding Lead, and other senior members of the Wellbeing Service as necessary.
To line manage social worker, welfare advisor and carer support worker, and support the work of volunteers within the team.
To provide positive and supportive leadership to sustain the service and its volunteers, develop a team which is adaptable and responsive to peoples needs.
To support the organisation and management of the teams workload, ensuring team resources are efficiently utilised, developing referral processes and measuring success.
Through role modelling, teaching, supervision and management support the development of all members of the team.
Actively participate in the Performance Review process to identify own learning needs and take necessary steps in order to reach professional/personal objectives.
Education and training
- Participate in the development and delivery of both internal and external teaching programmes, identifying opportunities and collaborating with the education team
- Be a mentor and/or supervise placements within the team as required.
- Drive and encourage the team to celebrate their work with wider internal and external audiences (posters, conferences, talks, teachings etc).
- Actively participate in and contribute to the ongoing educational programmes and evidence-based research of the hospice.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Social Work Qualification
- Registration with Social Work England
Desirable
- Leadership/Management qualification or experience
- Advanced communications skills training
- A qualification or experience in children's or family social work
- Clinical Supervision qualification
- Membership of Association of Palliative Care Social Workers
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of having worked in a senior role in a palliative or supportive care setting (health or social care)
- Ability to manage the emotional impact of working with the dying and bereaved
- Competent IT skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Proven ability to work in a multi-professional team/framework
- Experience of delivering teaching/training
- Knowledge of current legislation and policy relevant to palliative care, and social care
- Organisational and administrative skills, including ability to plan workload of self and others
- Demonstrable diplomacy and delegation skills
- A valid UK driving license and access to own transport
Desirable
- Evidence of having worked in a role that includes direct people supervision or management
- Knowledge and experience of working with people facing life threatening illness and end of life
- Experience of working with bereaved adults, families and children
- Experience of working with volunteers
- Experience of practice in a variety of settings, for example community and hospital
- Understanding of loss and grief and its impact on individuals and families and their social networks
- Experience and ability to implement change
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Social Work Qualification
- Registration with Social Work England
Desirable
- Leadership/Management qualification or experience
- Advanced communications skills training
- A qualification or experience in children's or family social work
- Clinical Supervision qualification
- Membership of Association of Palliative Care Social Workers
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of having worked in a senior role in a palliative or supportive care setting (health or social care)
- Ability to manage the emotional impact of working with the dying and bereaved
- Competent IT skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Proven ability to work in a multi-professional team/framework
- Experience of delivering teaching/training
- Knowledge of current legislation and policy relevant to palliative care, and social care
- Organisational and administrative skills, including ability to plan workload of self and others
- Demonstrable diplomacy and delegation skills
- A valid UK driving license and access to own transport
Desirable
- Evidence of having worked in a role that includes direct people supervision or management
- Knowledge and experience of working with people facing life threatening illness and end of life
- Experience of working with bereaved adults, families and children
- Experience of working with volunteers
- Experience of practice in a variety of settings, for example community and hospital
- Understanding of loss and grief and its impact on individuals and families and their social networks
- Experience and ability to implement change
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).
