Senior Social Worker

ST JOSEPH’S HOSPICE

JOB DESCRIPTION–SPECIALIST PALLAITIVE CARE

SENIOR SOCIAL WORKER

BAND: Band 7

REPORTS TO: Social Work Manager

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Head of Supportive Care

BACKGROUND STATEMENT:

The post holder is located within the social work team, which provides specialist palliative care social workto hospice and Community Palliative Care Teampatients and their families. They will work across all hospice services as members of the multi-professional teams providing emotional psychosocial and social support services to people with complex needs. They will be expected to work in a flexible way, adapting the service provided to meet the differing and changing needs of patients in receipt of specialist palliative care from a wide range of social and cultural backgrounds. They will also provide training and consultation and supervision for internal and external staff.

THE WORK SETTING:

The community served is culturally diverse and comprises of boroughs with high levels of social deprivation. Health and social services are generally overstretched with many posts in frontline service delivery remaining unfilled due to chronic recruitment problems. Many families do not have English as a first language and the use of interpreters is paramount in a significant proportion of work undertaken. The housing stock is also subject to great pressure with many families living in overcrowded accommodations with poor access. A lengthy history of immigration to the East End continues with the more recent difficulties associated with asylum seekers, “economic migrants”, and illegal immigrants. Financial difficulties form the backdrop to many patients and families and much time is spent in advocacy or linking people with specialist agencies.

JOB PURPOSE:

The post holder will utilise their specialist knowledge and skills within the context of multi-professional teams to form relationships with patients, their families, and service providers to formulate an accurate assessment of psychosocial needs and assess for services in line with local and National policies. They will take referrals from all MDTs for social work, and work closely with the psychological care team, bereavement services, and welfare benefits service. They will provide a seamless service regardless of the patient’s locality, following patients in the community into the hospice and vice versa for our 3local boroughs. They will provide psychosocial support for patients with terminal illness/life threatening illnesses and their families. They will advocate for patients, carers, and families around complex emotional and practical needs. Training and consultation on complex psychosocial issues will be provided on both a planned and impromptu basis to staff and volunteers from all relevant disciplines.

MAIN DUTIES

CLINICAL:

Make an assessment of patients, carers, and family’s psychosocial concerns taking into account cultural, spiritual, psychological, social and financial issues and an evaluation of risk, in partnership with other members of the multi-professional team as appropriate.
Assess family’s emotional resilience, coping skills, strengths, and difficulties through the use of counselling and social work skills and discussion with the multi-professional team.
Based on this assessment, formulate appropriate interventions to meet client needs in conjunction and liaison with other members of the multi-professional team, the patient’s personal networks and other community resources, documenting such interventions and plans in the patient’s case notes.
Evaluate and review the patient and families’ needs regularly and readjust care plans if necessary.
Work with health advocates and interpreters to establish accurate communication with people lacking fluency in English.
Respond quickly to urgent requests for help from distressed patients and relatives.
Undertake home visits either alone or with another member of the multi-professional team.
Take lead responsibility for providing consultation to the multi-professional teams regarding ‘safeguarding ‘issues, and making referrals to statutory services regarding child protection and elder abuse concerns.
Be aware of risk as it may relate to patients, carers, children and the safety of professionals.
Take special responsibility for recognising and addressing the needs of those with mental health problems, learning disabilities, and other vulnerabilities.
Identify the need for planned respite for community patients in conjunction with other members of the community team and refer to triage to make appropriate arrangements for admission to the Hospice.
Offer psychosocial consultation to professionals and informal carers involved in caring for distressed patients, families, and carers.
Work in partnership with other service providers to provide specialist palliative care advice and services in line with the national and local policies and strategies, such as NICE and the North East London Cancer Network, and to act as a link between these organizations and specialist palliative care for patients, families, carers, and professionals both in the hospice and in the community.
Liaise with community agencies in order to maximise users’ access toappropriateresources and make referrals to community services.
Offer basic advice, support, and information regarding Department of Work and Pensions benefits, health benefits, financial, legal and housing problems. Refer on to the welfare benefits team (or other professional agencies), to assist with form filling and more complexfinancial distress when necessary.
Provide emotionaland psychosocial support to patients and their relatives, using individual, group, and family techniques with an aim to improve communication within the family/professional network and help to resolve difficulties. Referring those in need of formalised counselling to the psychological therapies team.
Assist parents to plan for their children’s future when a parent/carer has a terminal illness and talk with families about the importance of communicating with children about death and dying, and involving them in rituals following death.
Act as an advocate to ensure that adequate care and support is provided for dependent adults following their carer’s death.
Develop working partnerships with the local PCT continuing care contacts, and coordinators. Be aware of the localNHS continuing care policies and funding arrangements for nursing home placements and NHS funded home care, and for fast-tracking services for patients who wish to die at home. Work closely with the hospice multi-professional teams to access funding and care services in complex cases to enable the patient to be cared for and die in community settings when appropriate.
Assist the team leader nurses on the in-patient units to coordinate referrals to the PCT’s as part of a discharge plan and take a lead role in linking with community Social Care Agencies in complex situations.
Organise and facilitate family meetings in liaison with the multi-professional teamto ensure all relevant parties are kept fully informed,complex decisions are discussed with all concerned, and future care plans are transparent, and appropriately recorded.
Be alert to bereavement risks from the outsetfor relatives and those perceived to be vulnerable. Assess the need for practical and emotional support and refer on to the Bereavement Services and other teams as appropriate.
Investigate circumstances if a patient has no Next of Kin. If necessary, refer to the Social Work Assistant in the team to register the death and make a referral to the Local Authority Bereavement and Protection Office, and in the absence of this staff member make these referrals.
Participate on a rotational basis in a system to ensure that internal referrals are discussed and processed(Monday – Friday 9-4).
Manage an individual caseload, organisingand prioritisethe workload effectively.
Provide management supervision to a qualified social worker, and other unqualified social work staff, following the hospice procedures for managing recruitment, induction, performance, development and disciplinary matters.
Take an active part in the Hospice programme of education & audit, both as a learner and as a practitioner/trainer.

COMMUNICATON:

Work closely with members of the multi-professional care teams to obtain a multi-faceted update of patient care and advise health colleagues regarding psychosocial aspects of care.
Attend and contribute to formal multi-professionalmeetings on the IPU and in CPC to review and plan all aspects of patient’scare as necessary, chairing as appropriate.
Attend and facilitate practise meetings in open to the multi-disciplinaryteam to discuss complex cases, practise issues and innovative work.
Attend strategy meetings at the direction of the Social Work Manager to lead, develop and contribute to local policy development and community projects.
Network with local community resources to advocate for care offered to patients and their families, including health and mental health agencies, hospital, home care, nursing homes, child welfare agencies, substance abuse programs, and benefits offices.
Attend regular social work team meetings to discuss administrative and operational functions of the service, developments in the wider organisation and beyond and explore practice issues with the Manager and the wider team.
Maintain a close working alliance with the welfare benefits team, discussing and sharing work as appropriate, and meeting formally on a regular basis.

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT:

Lead by example in the multi-professional teams when working with complex families in order to upskill others (e.g. in breaking bad news, and talking with families & young children).
Take responsibility to inform and raise awareness of key issues involved in working with people from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds and highlight good practise in anti-discriminatory practise.
Devise and provide training/education programmes regarding psychosocial palliative care, and the role of the Hospice specialist palliative care Social Workerfor professionals both within the Organisation, and externally.
Undertake training, and attend and participate in conferences in agreement with / at the direction of the Social Work Manager, in order to further individual professional development, keep updated regarding research and practice, and contribute to the development of the service and the Organisation.
Attend mandatory in-house training and externally attend mandatory local safeguarding children & vulnerable adults training and keep updated regarding local policies and procedures.
Participate in the induction and orientation of new staffand students on placement from all disciplines.
Work collaboratively as a team to provide support, mentoring, supervision and appropriate work experience for social work students on practice placements, acting as Practice Educator as required.
Attend, and contribute to regularmanagerial supervision.
Take an active part in the internal clinical supervision of other qualified practitioners.
Take responsibility for keeping updated on current social work practise issues in statutory services and palliative care accessing training when necessary.
Initiate, and participate in research studies, and internal audits in agreement with, the Social Work Manager and the Director of Research.
Act within the legal and statutory professional codes of practice relating to Social Work as prescribed by the HCPC.

ADMINISTRATION:

Compose, word process and distribute by e-mail reports, letters and notes from meetings as necessary.
Update the patient database on a daily basis.
Maintain up to date, concise and legible client notesregarding any casework.
Maintain statistics, and produce as required.

EQUAL OPPORTUNIITES

Comply with and promote St Joseph’s Hospice Equal Opportunity Policy and avoid any behaviour which discriminates against colleagues, potential employees, patients/clients or their families on the grounds of sex, marital status, race, age, belief, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion, disability, creed, class, gender or sexual orientation.

MISSION ANDCORE VALUES

All Hospice staff are expected to work in line with St Joseph’s Mission & Core Values as these precepts act as a value base which directly influences how all work activities are undertaken. The ethos of the Hospice should be apparent in the behaviours and attitudes of all employees as the work they undertake, whether it is direct or indirect care is ultimately for the benefit of patients. The Mission and Core Values are an integral part of all job descriptions, the probationary period and performance and development reviews. (full details are attached)

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Ensure a safe working environment and be aware of responsibilities under the Health & Safety at Work Act, taking appropriate action in the event of an accident to patients, staff, self or any other person in the work area.

St Joseph’s Hospice operates a no smoking policy.

THIS JOB DESCRIPTION WILL BE REVIEWED IN LIGHT OF CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES ANDMAY INCLUDE OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, FOLLOWING DISCUSSION WITH JOB HOLDER ANDSOCIAL WORKMANAGER.

Revised August 2014

MISSION STATEMENT OF ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPICE

Our Mission is:

1)To treat each individual as unique

Valuing them without distinction or judgement
Respecting their culture
Respecting their beliefs – be they religious or otherwise

2)To enable all to reach their full potential until death

Valuing what they have to offer
Respecting the autonomy of the individual
Encouraging them to participate in their own care, together with

their family and friends

3)To confront the patient’s pain and distress whether physical, mental, social or spiritual

Through close co-operation between all of the disciplines involved

in the care of the patient and family members

4)To encourage openness and honesty when communicating with the patient and family members

By respecting the patient’s wish to question or remain silent
By respecting the patient’s confidentiality at all times

5)To create an atmosphere where healing can occur

Through meeting the patient’s needs as a person
Through accepting the terminal dimensions of the illness
Through a holistic approach of care

6)To show particular concern for staff at all levels

Through consultation and participation in decision making
Through staff support

7)To be committed to education, research and an ethical approach to care

Through the work of the Study Centre and Ethics Committee
Ensuring that research projects are carried out when deemed appropriate

8)To be committed to the development of palliative care

Throughout the United Kingdom
And further afield

9)To participate actively in National Associations

Of the various palliative care disciplines – medical, nursing, social work and chaplaincy

CORE VALUES OF THE RELIGIOUS SISTERS OF CHARITY

RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY

We respect human dignity when we:

Respect the sacredness of life
Care for the whole person
Demonstrate unity of purpose, while recognisingindividual differences
Value each person’s contribution
Act in a culturally appropriate manner

SERVICE / QUALITY

We provide service when we:

Create an environment of welcome and hospitality
Promote quality care and excellence
Encourage and demonstrate team spirit
Recognise the value of individual initiatives and ideas
Show an openness to constructive criticism and feedback

CARE OF THE POOR AND VULNERABLE / ADVOCACY

We care for the poor and vulnerable when we:

Listen attentively to identify unmet needs
Respond in a practical way to those in need
Collaborate with others to share resources
Create access to needed services
Provide basic resources for daily living to those in need

COMPASSION

We show compassion when we:

Act with understanding and sensitivity
Work cooperatively with others
Are available to those we serve and to each other
Respect and nurture the environment

JUSTICE

We promote justice when we:

Act with integrity
Respect the rights of others
Take responsibility for our actions
Preserve resources
Provide quality without extravagance
Demonstrate fairness in decision making
Affirm, celebrate and develop the gifts and talents of each person
Model justice in all aspects of business practice