Mercy Health and Aged Care s2

MERCY HEALTH

WERRIBEE MERCY HOSPITAL

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POSITION DESCRIPTION

Social Worker Grade 1

Position title: / Social Worker – Grade 1 / Employee name:
Entity/Group:
Location: / Werribee Mercy Hospital
300 Princes Highway, Werribee Vic / Date: / 2014
Position reports to:
Responsible to: / Senior Social Worker
Senior Social Worker / Positions reporting to this one: / None however liaises closely with members of the Social Work Department, other Allied Health staff, Ward/ Unit staff, EDCC, ACAS, CRC, community services and agencies.
Position Purpose: / ¨  The Grade 1 Social Worker position encompasses a clinical caseload, involving inpatients and their families/carers.
¨  The Grade 1 Social Worker will provide cover (when needed) to all areas of the Hospital including Medical, GEM, Emergency Dept, Surgical, Palliative Care wards, the Child Birth Unit, Special Care Nursery, Renal Dialysis, Day Chemotherapy and Day Procedure Unit .
¨  The Grade 1 Social Worker will be an integral part of the Social Work Team.
¨  The Grade 1 Social Worker will also be part of a multi-disciplinary team and will be required to provide highly responsive and flexible services to patients in the units whilst upholding a high level of professionalism and practising within the core values of WMH
Qualifications & Requirements: / ¨  Recognised Degree in Social Work
¨  Eligibility for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers
¨  Excellent interpersonal skills
¨  A willingness to assume the duties of a higher grade as required
¨  Current Victorian Drivers Licence
¨  Computer skills
Resource management: / Total staff management (FTE):
Annual Operating Expenditure:
Annual Capital Expenditure: / Not applicable
Mandatory Organisational Competencies Personal Competencies required /

Job Competencies Required

¨  Orientation / ¨  Demonstrates effective leadership by being approachable, fair and adaptable in an ever-changing environment / ¨  Knowledge and understanding of the Mission, Vision and Values of Mercy Health
¨  Diversity & Equity / ¨  Consistently shows respect and compassion to all / ¨  Demonstrated ability to effectively liaise with the multi-disciplinary team and provide optimal patient care
¨  Emergency Procedures / ¨  Excellent interpersonal and effective communication skills / ¨  Demonstrated higher level of skills in clinical decision making, problem identification analysis and interpretation of clinical data
¨  Work Health & Safety / ¨  Practices with a high level of integrity and professionalism / ¨  Sound working knowledge of current evidence based practices and a commitment to continuing professional development and research
¨  Infection Control / ¨  Able to approach conflict openly and with a problem solving approach / ¨ Understanding of, and commitment to customer focused service
¨  Willingness to participate and contribute to a learning environment / ¨  Has an understanding and knowledge of OH&S and Infection Control
Key Result Areas / Standard Measures / Key Activities
MERCY VALUES
Promote and uphold the Values and Mission of Mercy Health / ¨  The values of MH are incorporated into daily work practices / ¨  Compassion - Be compassionate and provide support to others
¨  Hospitality – Always welcome people with warmth and comfort. Always seek to provide assistance where needed
¨  Respect - Consistently shows respect and values each person’s dignity
¨  Innovation - Seeks opportunities to be innovative for improvement
¨  Stewardship - Is accountable for a high standard of care
¨  Teamwork - Communicates openly and honestly as an effective team member
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
Promotes sound managerial strategies to ensure excellence of patient care within a harmonious environment / ¨  Consistently demonstrates managerial competence within the department / ¨  Assists with the day to day running of the Social Work team
¨  Provides support to the Senior Social Worker
¨  Promotes and markets the Social Work Service within the Hospital and the local community
¨  Attends appropriate community network meetings to foster strong links between WMH and local Community Services
¨  Displays a willingness to take on higher duties as delegated by the Senior Social Worker

CLINICAL CARE

Provides appropriate quality clinical care service delivery / ¨  Quality Social Work Service is provided within the policies and procedures of Werribee Mercy Hospital
¨  The patient’s medical record demonstrates documentation of appropriate levels of assessment, treatment, planning and consultation with family, the multidisciplinary team and relevant others. / ¨  Demonstrates competence in assessing and delivering high quality Social Work intervention using evidence-based practice
¨  Demonstrates appropriate prioritisation of caseload
¨  Displays understanding of the issues of managing patients within the acute and community health settings
¨  Patient care is planned in conjunction with the treating multidisciplinary team and clearly documented
¨  Recognises own level of competence and seeks advice/networks when necessary
¨  Provides appropriate patient education with assistance if required

CUSTOMER FOCUS

Ensure all services and practices are delivered with strong focus in individual client needs / ¨  Care is planned with consideration to individual needs
¨  Minimal customer complaints
¨  Pro active in managing potential customer complaints / ¨  Involves patients, family and significant others in the plan and implementation of care
¨  Demonstrates an ability to liaise with all services when acting as a patient advocate
¨  Able to diffuse potentially difficult situations with patients and their families
¨  Provides a high level of patient care in the unit and community settings

TEAM WORK

Be pro-active in promoting team development within the Social Work Team / ¨  Contribute to a strong team approach
¨  Develops and fosters a clinical workplace interest
¨  Contributes to a work rotation system
¨  Awareness of and compliance with discrimination, harassment and bullying policies and procedures / ¨  Contributes to staff meetings and hospital forums
¨  Keeps updated with the requirements of Social Work and WMH
¨  Displays flexibility in regards to work division and rotation arrangements
¨  Demonstrates the ability to manage time effectively

SAFE ENVIRONMENT

Promotes a working environment supporting OH&S and Infection control practices / ¨  Comply with risk management policies and procedures
¨  Active involvement in health and safety issues
¨  Care is provided within Infection Control guidelines and standards / ¨  Maintains knowledge of all emergency procedures and participates in disaster planning exercises
¨  Annual attendance at Fire, Disaster, Emergency Response and Aggression management training
¨  Completion of accurate incident reports
¨  Takes due care of all equipment
¨  Identifies, minimises and reports hazards, near misses and injuries immediately
¨  Responds appropriately to specific patient and community needs regarding potential Infection Control issues
¨  Adheres to the principles of standard precautions

QUALITY

Maintains a high standard of care by promoting quality improvement programs / ¨  Demonstrates an understanding of the EQuIP accreditation process
¨  Demonstrates a commitment to continuous quality improvement standards within the unit / ¨  Identifies areas for improvement in the Social Work department
¨  Contributes actively to the annual Social Work Quality Plan
¨  Participates actively in quality improvement activities
¨  Takes responsibility for incorporating recommendations into daily practice

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Promotes professional development of self and colleagues / ¨  Achievement of satisfactory performance appraisals
¨  Provides contemporary evidenced based Social Work
¨  Demonstrates a commitment to promoting education activities within unit, hospital and community
¨  Readily shares knowledge and skills and offers support to colleagues / ¨  Participates in the performance evaluation processes annually
¨  Regular attendance and participation in in-service education
¨  Demonstrates responsibility for professional development
¨  Actively participates in the orientation of staff/students
¨  Actively participates in delivery of in-service training within the hospital
Staff member signature: / Date:
Print Name:
Social Work Service Manager Signature: / Date:
Print Name:

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Werribee Mercy Hospital Grade 1 Social Worker