Senior Social Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Social Worker will join our well-established Childrens Social Work team, they will be based at Denmark Hill but also provide services in the community.

Key working relations include the wider POSCU MDT, Variety Childrens Hospital staff, Trust Social Workers, Local Authority employees, Other NHS Foundation Trust staff responsible for PTC activity and Education.

Clinical Responsibilities

To assess, evaluate and promote optimal management of the complex psychosocial needs of children and young people receiving treatment from the POSCU.

To be available to children, their families and carers, at whatever stage of their disease, for the provision of specialist information, advice, support and counselling, on a short- term basis or as part of an ongoing therapeutic relationship.

To develop a therapeutic relationship with patients and their parents/carers in order to establish communication, trust and support. In turn act as a patient advocate, ensuring that the multidisciplinary teams serve the best interests of the patient.

To assess and evaluate risk for vulnerable children and families and plan to manage this risk as appropriate.

To plan and instigate interventions that will empower parents/carers to provide care to their child that meets all his/her needs and supports the optimal functioning of the family unit.

To communicate community care needs (long-term and short-term) to relevant agencies to enable patients and families to maximise their independence as well as minimise risk.

To provide support and guidance to the POSCU Safeguarding and Child In Need concerns and/or referrals. To ensure the department is sighted with regard to specific Child and Family statutory processes relating to child protection, children in need and legislation pertaining to children being looked after.

To establish and develop relationships with other clinical staff, Social Services, Benefit Agencies, and other service providers to promote a joined up approach to patient/family support, including discharge planning where required.

To continue to advise and support children, their families and carers as they undergo treatment ensuring a proactive social work service is available to patients at all times.

To facilitate the partnership between children and families and the foundation trust by the assessing of need, the derivation of plans to support highlighted needs and the subsequent review of these plans.

To work in partnership with PTC Social Work teams in the development of robust child focused plans that promote the welfare of children at whatever stage of their disease. This can include the provision of specialist information, advice, support and counselling, on a short-term basis or as part of an ongoing therapeutic relationships.

Attend relevant Hospital meetings, as well as any other relevant meetings in the community associated with this role.

Adhere to existing working practices, methods, procedures, undertake relevant training and development activities and to respond positively to new and alternative systems relating to providing support to children and their families in response to the foundation of this new service.

To undertake direct work with children and ensure their views are considered by the wider MDT.

To provide expert social work information, advice and support to children, their families and other healthcare professionals following diagnosis and through treatment. This will include enhancing their understanding of the issues as well as helping them develop coping strategies for the impact and implications of their condition/disability and transplantation, end of life and post-bereavement work as required.

Administrative Responsibilities

To keep meticulous records on the progress and activity of the oncology role, including outcome of intervention and obtaining feedback from families on the importance of the service.

To support the Head of Social Work with regular analysis of the new position through service evaluation and audit.

To provide quarterly reports to include comprehensive breakdown of activity and outcome for children and families.

Complete administrative tasks such as writing up case notes, sending letters to families, preparing reports and building a rigorous evidence base of intervention.

Any other reasonable duties as required by the Head of Social Work.

Communication

To be able to engage directly with children and motivate family members through effective communication skills and direct work.

Provide patients, families and other carers with specialist advice or instruction to promote the understanding of the aims of the POSCU services.

To provide and receive information from children, their families and other professionals regarding a child/family pyscho-social history. This will include the sharing and receiving of some complex and/or sensitive information and ensuring this information is understood by the clinical team.

To develop and maintain close working relationships with Social Work colleagues (particularly Variety Childrens Hospital Social Workers), referring clinicians and other appropriate professions and agencies in the provision of POSCU Social Work services.

To identify those children and family at risk and facilitate discussions with community partners to ensure support plans are in place to reduce risk of harm.

To identify children and families experiencing disadvantage in the community and to provide tailored support, advocacy, befriending and signposting to reduce inequalities.

To promote the service across the trust to ensure the service is taken up and is accessible for families experiencing difficulties in their bereavement.

Safeguarding

The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibility to support the organisation in our duties by

attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults

familiarising themselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns

reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately

Infection Control Statement

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas.

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role. These

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or equivalent in Social Work
• Registration with Social Work England

Desirable

• Post graduate qualifications in Social Work or Social Work related subject area
• Formal training in bereavement/counselling/family therapy

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Post qualifying experience in a NHS setting as a Social Worker/supporting children and families
• Social Work Theory and it's application to supporting with loss/bereavement/chronic illness
• Post qualifying experience in supporting children and families

Desirable

• Post qualifying experience in a NHS setting as a Social Worker

Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Skills and knowledge in the use of a number of models of social work intervention and the ability to select and use the most effective approach to meeting consumer need for the different aspects of the work.
• Knowledge of child/young people's development.
• A preparedness to explore alternative ways of delivering the social work service with this client group.
• Well developed interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with children, young people and their families

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).

Employer details

Employer name

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

King's College Hospital

Denmark Hill

SE5 9RS

Employer's website

https://www.kch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)