Job responsibilities
JOB PURPOSE
CARIAD is a service within the
Hospice of the Valleys that aims to improve the quality of life of people
living in community with a diagnosis of dementia. Our specialist team combine
their expertise to help those living with dementia and their carers to achieve
what matters most to them.
You will work as part of a
multi-disciplinary team providing psychosocial support to individuals living
with dementia, families and carers.
You will work effectively as an
autonomous practitioner within a multidisciplinary palliative care team,
promoting and maintaining quality of life for patients with dementia and their loved
ones.
You will deliver interventions where
high-level assessment, problem solving and decision-making skills will be
required. To provide engage in the assessment of complex symptom and
psychological problems, provide support in line with national and local
guidelines ensuring a cohesive, holistic and evidence-based approach to the
management of individuals living with dementia and their loved ones.
You will provide support,
information and guidance to people with dementia and those affected by their
diagnosis. Enabling and empowering those engaging with the service to maintain
independence, improve sense of well-being and put them more in control of their
lives.
You will engage with colleagues,
patients, patients families and carers, volunteers, supporters and visitors.
You will promote and facilitate reflective
practice to promote professional development and effective service user care.
As a social worker within the Hospice of the Valleys you will strive to promote
self-observation, evaluation, and improvement, allowing the wider clinical team
to learn from their experiences and enhance their skills.
You will promote and facilitate the
implementation of evidence based palliative care throughout Blaenau Gwent.
ROLE OF DEPARTMENT -The aim of the CARIAD service is
to provide high quality palliative care for people with dementia and their
families who are experiencing complex symptoms that are not being effectively
managed by generalist practitioners. This work aims to enable them to remain in
their identified preferred place of care, avoiding unnecessary admission to
hospital.
The service provides high
quality, comprehensive education, for health and social care professionals and
carers of people with dementia, facilitating an improved understanding of the
disease process of dementia, the value of early implementation of a palliative
care approach and recognition of the importance of advanced care planning.
Contribute to the campaign to
raise public awareness of dementia on matters relating to death and dying,
supporting families to have difficult and sensitive discussions and address the
issue of advanced care planning.
Support and facilitate choice and the fulfilment
of the wishes of people with dementia.
SCOPE AND RANGE
Carry a complex caseload and in doing so undertake the generic responsibilities required of all social workers.
To work in collaboration to deliver sustained improvements in performance, quality and consistency of practice across the team. Thereby achieving the best outcomes possible for adults living with dementia.
To develop innovative ways of working to ensure positive outcomes for those receiving the service.
To formulate, design and deliver expert evidence-based interventions.
To represent and promote the service in relevant multi agency meetings.
Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, providing a specialist palliative care social work service to CARIAD patients, their families and carers.
Support CARIAD patients, families and carers with the practical and emotional implications of living with dementia.
Support CARIAD patients, families and carers in making decisions about their future needs as they adjust to a new and changing situation, and offer appropriate interventions.
To ensure the transfer of knowledge and sharing of best practice across the Team and Services.
To promote and deliver reflective practice throughout the wider clinical team.
To work in collaboration to deliver sustained improvements in performance, quality and consistency of practice across the team. Thereby achieving the best outcomes possible.
To ensure effective partnership working and engagement to achieve and deliver these objectives.
To engage in the strategic development of the Team and Service
MAIN TASKS, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
DIRECT WORK
To build a professional relationship with service users and their families and to use that relationship to safeguard and promote positive outcomes.
To communicate effectively with service users and their families, ensuring that their views and wishes are heard and recorded accurately, and plans reflects their views.
To establish rapport and build a respectful, honest and trusted relationship with service users and their families, in order to identify and reduce risk in line with safeguarding procedures.
To understand and respect the rights of service users.
To support the completion of good quality holistic assessments, formulate a plan to support identifed needs and the analysis of risk through the use of best practice guidance.
Facilitation of group work relevant to the service provision and identified need.
Undertake mental capacity assessments as part of the completion of lasting power of attorney documentation in collaboration with the person living with dementia, their appointed attorneys and other relevant professionals.
To formulate, design and deliver expert evidence-based interventions
Maintain accurate and appropriate records, including the computerised database, and provide reports and statistics as required.
LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Act as a champion of best practice by playing a leadership role in social work practice within the organisation.
To provide professional supervision and appraisal to members of the team to achieve service aims and objectives.
To support team members in meeting continuous professional development and improvement requirements in line with Social Care Wales registration.
Act as a guardian of professional codes of practice within the organisation.
To support and implement changes in methods and approaches to work as may be required.
To assume responsibility or cover for other team members as required.
PRACTICE, EDUCATION and SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
To take personal responsibility for keeping up to date with legislation, research findings and practice knowledge, including attendance at appropriate training.
Contribute to training and practice development.
Contribute to qualifying and post qualifying social work education curricula development and in the promotion of the Social Work Career Pathway.
Provide training within the team and clinical services.
Acting as a Practice Teacher/Assessor, PQ Award Mentor or other formal role to support the provision of learning opportunities.
To comply with Gwent Safeguarding Boards Safeguarding procedures and practice.
To ensure the maintenance of such records and management information systems as appropriate.
Facilitate training and education to wider stakeholders, in line with funding acquired within the service.
Evaluate the effectiveness of social work practice, and participate in multi-disciplinary audit.
Critically evaluate research and assist in the implementation of evidence-based best practice in all aspects of patient care.
Promote a learning environment which actively facilitates learning and structured personal development for health and social care professionals.
Have a commitment to lifelong learning and continue to undertake own professional development in accordance with codes of practice of relevant professional bodies, Social Care Wales and the Social Services and Wellbeing act.
Participate in/contribute to relevant research projects.
DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENTS
High-level assessment, problem solving and decision-making skills will be required.
Decision making undertaken with a person centred and evidence based approach utilising robust outcome measures.
EMOTIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
There is a requirement that the post holder will drive.
Mental Effort
Be expected to deal with frequent interruptions due to the unpredictability of the work and service user group.
Be required to exert prolonged periods of concentration during assessments, report writing and documentation.
Problem solving for service users, their family members and carers who have complex needs.
Emotional Effort
Frequently work with service users and their carers who sometimes exhibit challenging and emotional behaviours and will potentially be exposed to distressing and emotional circumstances.
To support Hospice patients, families and carers in making decisions about their future needs as they adjust to a new and changing situation and offer appropriate interventions. This includes work with Hospice patients, families and carers coming to terms with the illness and possible death of someone close.
MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB
Working within the charity sector having to liaise with statutory services to actuate change;
Working within a palliative and end of life care environment where death and dying is a regular feature of the role.
Working with unpredictable presentations/behaviours
Working within a fast paced and ever-changing clinical environment.
Managing safeguarding concerns.
Special Conditions and Professional Requirements
Requirement to travel independently throughout the Service Area.
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring checks on appointment and at periodic intervals.
To be personally responsible for the continued registration as a 'Social Worker' with Social Care Wales.
Driving Licence and access to a car.
