Social Worker

Job summary

If you are ready for an exciting opportunity that will be challenging and rewarding on a personal and professional level this could be the post for you. You will be enthusiastic, self-motivated and have post registration experience as a Social Worker ideally in palliative care, end of life care and/or oncology.

Experience in safeguarding and mental capacity cases is essential. You must be able to provide and maintain a high level of social work delivery. You will be patient centred, striving for excellence to achieve the best quality of life for patients, families and carers. You will need to take responsibility for the specialism and contribute to improvements in service delivery across Inpatient Unit and Living Well Centre. You must possess excellent communication skills, enjoy working as part of a team with a passion for palliative care.

We value and support our staff and volunteers with training and development. You will be supported with regular clinical supervision. We offer a workplace pension but do honour those who are already in an NHS pension. As an employee of St Cuthberts Hospice you will benefit from 25 days annual leave per year pro rata (rising to 27 after 5 years service), in addition to Bank Holidays. The salary scale is dependent upon relevant transferable skills and experience.

Main duties of the job

To seek to improve and maximise the psycho-social quality of life of patients and families, in order to ensure that they experience a coherent and integrated system of social support matched to their personal circumstances.

To provide the social care aspect in the multidisciplinary team, ensuring the care provided by the Hospice is holistic and fully integrated into statutory and other external services.

Support the protection of vulnerable adults and children accessing our services co-ordinating safeguarding cases, completing referrals to local authority safeguarding teams and liaising with local authority as part of their investigations.

Work within the Family Support Team that provides practical emotional bereavement care and support to Hospice patients, their families and carers to support the efficient and effective running this service

About us

St Cuthberts Hospice provides holistic care for patients with life limiting illnesses. We are highly regarded for our quality of service and the first Adult Hospice in the country to be graded outstanding by the Care Quality Commission. Our 11 bedded palliative care In Patient Unit provides individualised care planned to support the total wellbeing of each person, taking into account their physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs. Our Living Well Centre delivers a 12 week programme offering advice and strategies to enable people with life limiting illnesses cope better with their health and wellbeing and support them to regain control of their life. We value the contribution of all our workforce comprising of over 90 staff and 395 volunteers. We are an equal opportunities employer and believe in treating everyone with dignity and respect, encouraging applications from all sectors of the community.

Our Values: Compassionate, Respect, Integrity, Professionalism, Choice, Reputation. These define who we are and guide what we do to ensure the highest quality care for those accessing our services and the highest quality experience for staff working here. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults at risk and children.

Job description
Job responsibilities

To seek to improve and maximise the psycho-social quality of life of patients and families, in order to ensure that they experience a coherent and integrated system of social support matched to their personal circumstances.

To provide the social care aspect in the multidisciplinary team, ensuring the care provided by the Hospice is holistic and fully integrated into statutory and other external services.

Support the protection of vulnerable adults and children accessing our services coordinating safeguarding cases, completing referrals to local authority safeguarding teams and liaising with local authority as part of their investigations.

Work within the Family Support Team that provides practical emotional bereavement care and support to Hospice patients, their families and carers to support the efficient and effective running this service.

Communication and relationships

Work collaboratively with other members of the Family Support/Bereavement Service, Hospice team, external professionals and organisations including relevant social services, health, education and voluntary organisations to enable the best possible continuity of services and support for clients.

Attend both internal and external multi professional meetings and build partnerships with external organisations to ensure the highest standards of care and support is delivered to the local community.

Establish and sustain good working partnerships with the local authority to assess patients in the community, to facilitate rapid access to services and ensuring their continued support in the community

Establish relationships with patients, their families and carers pre and post bereavement in order to assist with the uncomplicated grief level 1-2 support as appropriate.

Work with the Day Services team to assist in the organisation and provision of support to volunteers involved with the Family Support/Bereavement Team.

Participate in MDT meetings to share specialist expertise to facilitate a holistic approach of palliative care from social work perspectives

Co-ordinate safeguarding cases involving information which may be highly complex and or highly sensitive, and which may be difficult to convey to those affected by this.

Produce, non-judgemental written skills in documentation and report writing

Analytical and judgemental skills

Assess patients, families & carers emotional, financial and practical needs within a holistic approach and social context in order to devise an appropriate empathetic action plan, recognising the need to seek support in more difficult and complex situations.

Assess patients mental capacity on-going and specifically when concerns relating to lack of capacity and deprivation of liberties (DOLs) are raised.

Assess patients, families and situations when concerns are raised requiring safeguarding referrals. Referral to local authority safeguarding team and associated liaison regarding investigations.

Negotiate options with the patient, family and multi-disciplinary teams to ensure that patient choice is central to decision making processes

Critically assess situations, prioritise needs and plan appropriate care in order to facilitate rapid access to services and discharges as appropriate.

Anticipate the changing needs proactively of patients, their families and carers in order to assist with facilitating appropriate levels of care required.

Planning and organisational skills

Work in partnership with the local authority and undertake the assessment of patients in the community with life-limiting illnesses, to gain access to the required services more quickly as well as ensuring continued support of patients and carers in the community.

Working with the hospice multi-disciplinary team to support decision making regarding MCA/DOLs and safeguarding referrals and input.

Ensure that all the needs of patient, carer and family have been identified and co-ordinating the implementation continuing healthcare required in order to contribute with the discharge planning from the Hospice of patients with complex needs and arrange case conferences.

Liaise with and understand referral processes with internal colleagues and external agencies concerned with Welfare Rights, Social Care and Health, and the Department of Work and Pensions to provide optimal support for patients, families and their carers.

Manage and prioritise their own work time and contribute to that of volunteers

Support the day to day operations of the Family Support Service to ensure efficient and effective service

Participate in the delivery of training to other colleagues and volunteers in relation to own specialism of practice.

Plan and organise home visits where appropriate which may involve lone working practises

To contribute to the supervision of students as deemed appropriate.

To contribute to the training of volunteers involved in the Family Support Team

Patient/Client Care

Ensure that the social care needs of individual patients and carers referred to the Hospice are identified and addressed in timely and appropriate ways

Assist the FST to ensure that practical and financial support is available to patients, families and carers by providing basic guidance related to benefits, home care, finance and family issues and referring on to other members of the MDT and/or external agencies where appropriate.

Support and help patients their families and carers through timely access to services

Provide patient-centred model of care

Maximise quality of life through access to rehabilitation and social care service

Work collaboratively and in partnership both internally and externally to all relevant stakeholders to promote effectiveness and efficiency in service provision.

Provide as necessary, information and advocacy about welfare rights, direct payments and residential and nursing home placements, personal budgets, benefits and similar types of help and liaise or refer to other agencies as appropriate.

Undertake or facilitate group work with families and carers to provide them with relevant support, care, and information related to their psycho-social, spiritual and financial needs and clinical needs relating to uncomplicated grief.

Physical Skills

Standard keyboard skills are required

Policy and Service Development

Work as a key member of the Family Support Team as the service is developed to ensure high quality service delivery in an ethical and effective manner in line with the agreed sub-strategy group

Carry out the role in accordance with current legislation, Hospice philosophy, policies, procedures and other relevant professional guidelines

Contribute towards policies and procedures within area of specialism including carers strategy development and bereavement support journey.

Financial and Physical Resources

Responsible for equipment and resources within own area of work i.e. computer equipment

Human Resources

Responsible for the day to day management of social work including participation in the recruitment process, induction, training, appraisal and disciplinary procedures at the informal stage.

Take an active role in clinical supervision as appropriate

Supervision of social work students in placement

To attend any appropriate training requirements both statutory and mandatory to comply with current Health and Safety legislation and in line with the Hospices responsibility to comply with Government Directives

As an employee of the Hospice, the post holder is required to preserve the confidentiality of any information regarding patients, staff (in connection with their employment), and the business of St Cuthberts business

Information Resources

Maintain records to meet Hospice guidelines, professional standards and standards set by statutory bodies such as the Care Quality Commission

Provide statistical information as required

Research and Development

Maintain professional competence & ensure evidence-based practice by keeping up to date with current research & developments within social work, particularly in respect of palliative care.

Be required to participate in clinical audits

Freedom to Act

Works within defined policies and procedures

Ability to recognise limitations of knowledge, skills and competencies and seek guidance from the Head of Clinical Services where appropriate

Support and guidance provided through clinical supervision.

Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge
Essential

Thorough knowledge and understanding of social work practice issues and safeguarding policy and practice
Good understanding of current social policy issues
Knowledge of local safeguarding adults procedures
Knowledge of current palliative care policy & practice
Relevant legislation and guidance including Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, DOLS
Understand the emotional, physical and financial impacts of illness, disability, and bereavement on individuals and their families
Skills in assessment, support and discharge planning
Ability to work reflectively and use supervision effectively
Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with other professionals
Effective team worker
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Good organisational skills
Good IT skills
Prioritise workload

Desirable

Knowledge and experience of facilitating groups
Supervisory management skills
Understand the role of volunteers

Personal Attributes
Essential

Ability to act on own initiative as well as a team member
Positive and friendly approach to staff, volunteers, patients, and their families
Ability to keep information confidential, including patient details
Excellent communication skills with the ability to put people at their ease
Able to form good working relationships with other staff and volunteers.
Good motivational skills
Work in an empowering, person-centred way
Tact and diplomacy in dealing with a variety of situations
Self-aware and able to deal with & identify own stress
Flexible in attitude to work, and undertaking of role
Understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and diversity procedures
Demonstrate commitment to the values of St Cuthbert's Hospice
Motivated and passionate about palliative care
Able to evidence behaviour consistent with the Hospice values of professionalism, choice, integrity and reputation.

Special Requirements
Essential

Independently mobile with the ability to travel between the Hospice & the local community.

Experience
Essential

Experience of providing social care and support to people with palliative end of life care needs
Experience of working with grief and loss
Assessing clients and setting up support on discharge
Experience of providing psychological and emotional support to meet pre and post bereavement needs
Experience of multi-professional working
Experience of safeguarding procedures and liaison with local authority safeguarding teams.

Desirable

Experience in training teaching
Experience of working with children & young people
Experience using SystmOne database
Significant experience of providing social care and support in a hospice end of life care setting.

Qualifications
Essential

Recognised qualification in social work e.g. SW degree, CQSW, DipSw Registered with Social Work England

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.