Social Worker

• To work with individuals with a life limiting illness (and their families and carers) who are in need of emotional support due to the impact of a terminal diagnosis and illness.
• Assess and evaluate patients emotional, social, practical, and financial needs in collaboration with the Hospice multi-disciplinary team, and support or signpost accordingly.
• To make referrals on to the Local Authority Social Service Departments as appropriate and in accordance with their differing requirements.
• Work with the in-patient unit team to plan and coordinate family meetings and discharge planning meetings to facilitate patients preferred place of care or future placement.
• Undertake bereavement work with individuals, and families/carers, with complex needs, which may require extended periods of skilled, planned interventions.
• Provide support and advice to other clinical team members regarding complex social situations.
• Understand and respond to ethnic, cultural, and religious influences on the patient, carers and family and bereaved individuals.
• Provision of information and advice for patients and their families and carers relating to all manner of practical matters such as housing, care at home and benefits.
• Establishing effective communication networks with local Social Services Departments and Primary and Secondary care teams.
• In partnership with the Family Support Team Lead develop positive working relationships with other organisations throughout North Wales (voluntary, statutory, and charitable) for the benefit of the patients and relatives.
• Provide innovative interventions to patients and their families and carers at different key stages of the Specialist Palliative Care Service.
• Collect and monitor all appropriate data as required and enable appropriate analysis and actions to be applied to collated information in order to develop services.
• Communicate effectively with all members of the Hospice multi-disciplinary team using a variety of formats both face to face and written.
• Observe confidentiality in all matters pertaining to patients and their families and carers and staff.
• Comply with professional standards for documentation and maintain records used within the service, including the use of IT systems.
• Required to be registered with the Social Work governing body and maintain registration by continuous professional and personal development.
• To possess the emotional resilience to deal with frequent exposure to highly emotional and distressing circumstances.
• To be flexible in working practice (outside core hours) to reflect the special nature of the work undertaken to the benefit of the patients and their families and carers.
• Resource for staff in adult and child safeguarding concerns to support the safeguarding lead at the Hospice.

• To manage own caseload with regards to time management.
• To supervise trainees or volunteers as necessary and required (including Social Work students where applicable).
• To deputise as necessary for the Family Support Team Lead.

• To manage clinical and organisational risk within the workplace, undertake risk assessments regarding lone working, external site visits as necessary.
• Ensure the equality, diversity and rights of patients are promoted and maintained in all areas of clinical governance and service provision.
• To work within Nightingale House policy at all times and professional regulatory framework and code of conduct.
• To ensure patients and their families and carers views are fed back through the appropriate channels to team leaders or senior management team.
• To support the work of colleagues in undertaking audit and research in the department.

• In collaboration with other specialist staff, participate in the ongoing training and development of staff within the Specialist Palliative Care Service.
• Participate in student education when appropriate and in the interests of patient and wider teams.
• To participate fully in the reflective practice and supervision process following an agreed path of personal development.
• To recognise the educational needs of families and carers and act accordingly as a result of their caring role or palliative care need?
• To access appropriate training and educational materials on behalf of patients and carers as a result of their caring role or palliative care need?
• Working with other members of the Family Support Team, be involved in design and delivery of training for staff inside and outside of the Hospice e.g. Primary and Secondary care, schools bereavement networks etc. NB: external activities must be managed within the demands for the service in-house.
• To undertake appropriate and relevant professional training and qualifications if considered to be part of agreed personal and professional development plan

• To collect data as required of service activity.
• To undertake surveys or audits as necessary to own work.
• To participate in Hospice clinical audit or research work.
• To present findings of research and audit to a variety of professional groups as appropriate to maintain the profile of the service within the wider health community.

• A positive and friendly working environment
• Excellent training and development opportunities
• Generous holiday allowance increasing with service
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Retail discount scheme
• Live Events Discount Scheme
• Staff discount inCaffiCwtch
• Refer a friend bonus scheme
• Birthday voucher

Essential

• Qualified social Worker
• BA(Hons) social work, or
• Dip SW or CQSW
• Post qualifying award