Specialist Social Worker – Paediatric Metabolic Service

Job responsibilities

Be based at Nottingham Childrens Hospital and work collaboratively across the multi-professional East Midlands Paediatric Metabolic Service.

The post holder will:

Take responsibility for a caseload of complex cases requiring high level, specialist expertise. This will include children undergoing active treatment as well as those with life-threatening conditions and palliative needs. Support will also be given to carers, siblings and other family members.

To enhance the quality of life of the child or young person and their family and assist them with adapting to managing their childs illness within the context of the demands of their day to day lives and other commitments.

To support the child or young person and their family in the transition from childrens to adult services.

To act as an expert resource, providing social work advice, information and support to children and young people, parents, relatives, carers, health and allied health professionals in relation to the psychosocial support needs.

To work in collaboration with the in-house child and adult safeguarding teams, in addition to community social care teams, to ensure continuity of care and support for children/young people and their families.

To liaise with community partners i.e. housing, to support both the patient and their immediate family where additional support is needed.

To work alongside other multi-professional team members providing both co-working and support, guidance and supervision.

To take a lead in the development, delivery and evaluation of the post and service delivery.

To identify needs, provide and manage social, environmental, emotional safety and well being for children, young people and their families.

To promote peoples equality, diversity and rights.

To liaise and provide specialist knowledge on the social and environmental needs of children with metabolic conditions. To their families, both statutory and non-statutory agencies both within the hospital and the community, including the child or young persons nursery/school/college.

To analyse, interpret and report factual data and information.

To be professionally accountable for all aspects of work according to the social workers professional code of conduct.

To undertake professional and educational activities that support continued professional development and promote excellence in line with clinical governance.

To undertake the measurement and evaluation of own work/department through the interpretation and application of evidence based practice.

To be aware of statutory legislation and practice guidance applicable to the care group and their families and ensure its implementation when planning care.

To be an active member of the multi-professional team planning care for the patient and their family.

To act as chair of multi-professional team meetings, discharge planning meetings, psychosocial meetings and other meetings as required.

To ensure participation in regular professional social work supervision provided by a qualified social work supervising practitioner.

Training and qualifications

Essential

• UK recognised qualification in social work eg BA Social work, CQSW, Diploma in Social Work
• Registered with Health and Care professionals council
• Knowledge and understanding of child and adolescent development
• Knowledge of child care legislation, statutory guidance and safeguarding procedure
• Knowledge and understanding of disability benefits
• Evidence of CPD
• Knowledge of roles and responsibilities of key agencies working with young people
• Significant experience of social work - able to work independently

Desirable

• Master's degree/working towards
• Management/leadership qualification or relevant experience

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with children, young people and families with complex needs
• Experience of safeguarding
• Experience of working in a multi-professional team
• Experience of working with people with complex emotional needs
• Ability to work well under pressure
• Experience of involving users in service development
• Experience of lone working
• Ability to respond to unpredictable work patterns and interruptions

Desirable

• Ability to work with professionals across difference disciplines and different workplaces
• Experience of research and audit
• Experience of dealing with bereavement
• Experience/understanding of inherited metabolic disorders

Analytical/Judgement skills

Essential

• Excellent problem solving skills using team when appropriate
• Able to present and receive complex information within the multi professional team
• Ability to gather information quickly and effectively to inform judgement for interventions
• Ability to use risk assessment frameworks
• Ability to make timely, safe care plans in conjunction with patients, carers, MDT and external agencies
• Ability to uphold social work principles within a multidisciplinary team
• Ability to reflect on own practice and demonstrate continuous improvement
• Ability to promote patient choice and empowerment

Desirable

• Must be able to work within Trust procedures
• oMust be able to adjust to changing environments/ priorities, be adaptable and flexible.

Planning and organisation

Essential

• Ability to prioritise own workload, work independently and on own initiative
• Able to multi-task and set goals for completion.
• Forward thinking, innovative
• Ability to work on own initiative but also as part of a team
• Time management skills

Desirable

• Project management
• Use own initiative and be imaginative in terms of moving service forward

Physical Skills

Essential

• IT skills
• Adaptable and flexible
• Positive, enthusiastic and motivated
• Confident
• Work in a variety of settings within a working day.
• Able to undertake light physical work.

Other requirements specific to the role

Essential

• Be able to attend hospital sites/patient homes within the East Midlands in a timely manner
• Flexible and adaptable
• Enthusiastic and well-motivated
• Confidence

Desirable

• UK driving licence

Communication and Relationship skills

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, written and oral
• Ability to manage conflict
• Demonstrates high level negotiation skills
• Able to motivate and support others and encourage effective team working
• Understands the importance of confidentiality and dealing with sensitive information
• Has the ability to create a rapport with patients and carers
• Ability to present complex information
• Ability to teach
• Ability to deal with high levels of emotional stress
• Ability to demonstrated compassion and empathy
• Experience of writing reports
• Experience of effective communication with patients/ families/ service users

Desirable

• Experience of conference presentation/publication

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).