You will be responsible for the Social Worker Assistant team in the Inpatient Unit, overseeing discharge planning and the provision of practical, social and emotional support services for patients and their families.
You will also act as a resource person for all members of the MDT in relation to psychosocial aspects of patient and family care, providing social work support and advice to the Community teams and Outpatient Services.
You will participate in the implementation, audit and review of policies, procedures and systems for the delivery of an effective specialist palliative care service and lead on / contribute to the development of service improvement initiatives across Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care.
You will provide expert advice, guidance and training for members of the MDT on safeguarding concerns and referrals, maintaining effective links with relevant external partner organisations.
Main duties of the job
1. The post holder will oversee practical and psychosocial support to inpatients and their families / carers and the discharge planning process (working with statutory providers of care).
2. The post holder will provide social work support and advice to the Community teams and Outpatient Services, including assisting in setting up welfare clinics.
3. The post holder will manage the Social Worker Assistant, developing and supervising students, overseeing a team of wellbeing volunteers and ensuring there is adequate cover throughout the week to provide appropriate support for patients, including spiritual care.
4. This post needs an enhanced DBS check as you will be working with children as well as adults, for example through family support.
5. Provide monthly safeguarding training for clinical staff as part of the clinical induction programme, including MCA, DoLS, chaperone and support the Safeguarding Lead on relevant policies and guidance regarding these topics.
6. Be a member of the Patient Safety Group - Safeguarding special interest group. To lead on specific project work that supports agreed service developments, including the development and maintenance of the carers' pathway and work closely with the Supportive Care team.
7. To oversee the coordination of packages of care that are appropriate for patients and their families.
8. To enhance the social work provision at Rennie Grove Peace by disseminating national best practice in the field throughout the organisation.
Job responsibilities
1. To proactively contribute to the assessment and documentation of patient / carer and family needs within the Inpatient Unit, focusing on the psychosocial, welfare rights and practical aspects of their care.
2. In partnership with the other team members establish timely and effective support for carers, establishing links and joint working with a network of partner organisations.
3. As a Safeguarding Practitioner, to attend the relevant clinical governance group, attending and contributing to regular meetings, ensuring best practice is followed and audits are completed.
4. To contribute to the updating and new development of policy, procedures and guidelines relating to social work and safeguarding and to keep updated with current regulations and guidelines.
5. To assess risk and be alert to the impact and influence of ethnic, cultural and religious needs and to the needs of those who are especially vulnerable or dependent (e.g. children, elderly, mentally frail, people with learning difficulties or mental health problems, and those who have special communication needs).
6. To attend the weekly IPU MDT and other MDTs, including the weekly clinical meeting to provide social, practical, emotional and financial expertise and guidance to the wider clinical team.
7. To proactively lead on discharge planning for the Inpatient Unit alongside the nursing team, ensuring the pathway is updated, and to chair and coordinate care planning meetings when appropriate, ensuring clear documentation and communication.
8. To lead on obtaining packages of community care provision and CHC funding for patients, building relationships and negotiating with other external agencies involved in patient care, coordinating packages of care in collaborating with Continuing Health Care.
9. To manage the evolving social needs of the patients / families and carers, prioritising and triaging the caseload accordingly.
10. To ensure that practice is in accordance with Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care policies at all times and to be aware of Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care strategic plans and the Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care code of conduct policy.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Minimum of a degree or Dip Q or CQSQ or equivalent.
* Qualification in the field of exercise / palliative care / physiotherapy.
Experience
* The post holder must be registered with the HCPC.
* Experience of working in a related care setting.
* Experience of working as a social worker.
* Understanding of palliative care and hospice philosophy.
* A good understanding of technology with a working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages i.e. Word, Excel and Outlook.
* Understanding of the ethnic, cultural and religious influences on patients and their families and how these affect (or are affected) by life threatening illness or bereavement.
* Able to build good working relationships.
* Experience of working and communicating with people pre and post bereavement.
* Experience of leading service developments and projects.
* Able to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
* Good administrative and record keeping skills and able to work with good attention to detail.
* Strong organisational skills.
* Ability to attend occasional evening / weekend meetings (time in lieu to be given).
* Commitment to professional development and regular supervision.
* Experience of being part of a multi-professional team.
* Experience working within palliative care.
* Experience of working with, leading and motivating teams of volunteers.
* Strong problem-solving skills and able to implement new initiatives.
* A full UK driving licence and use of car.
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.
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