Family and Bereavement Support Worker (XR07)

Integrated Care System; Leeds; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 35,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Leeds seeks a Family and Bereavement Support Worker to deliver whole family support to individuals affected by Motor Neurone Disease (MND). This role involves assessments of emotional, social, and spiritual needs, bereavement support, and liaison with other services. Candidates should have excellent communication skills, an understanding of MND, and a relevant degree. The position is part-time (24 hours per week) and fixed-term for four years.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of Motor Neurone Disease and bereavement support.
• Desirable previous experience in a similar role.

Responsibilities

• Provide tailored whole family support service to people with MND.
• Undertake assessments of emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
• Support families with benefit applications.
• Lead development of links with family support workers.

Skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Compassion

Empathy

Education

Degree in social work, youth work, or relevant area

Job description

Family and Bereavement Support Worker (XR07)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Family and Bereavement Support Worker in the brand new Rob Burrow Centre for MND at Seacroft Hospital.

This new post is for provision of whole family support service to people with Motor Neurone Disease and their families. This includes bereavement support to children and adults and will enhance the continuity of care across the city of Leeds.

Ourideal candidate will have excellentcommunication and organisational skills and a passion for delivering thehighest standard of care. You will be compassionate and empathetic and have knowledge of MND and bereavement support. You're not only a teamplayer but also able to work and think independently. Previous experience in a similar role is desirable but not mandatory.

You must have a cleancurrent driving licence and access to a vehicle.

The post is 0.6 WTE (3 days - 24 hours per week) This is currently a fixed term role for 4 years but we expect this to be extended.

For further information or to come& meet the team, pleasecontact Katie Hodge on01133923536or via email on [e-mail]

Main duties of the job

Main Duties of this role are listed below, but please see job description for full details

The post holder will be responsible for leading and enhancing our service to provide a tailored whole family support service to people with Motor Neurone disease and their families.

To undertake assessments of people and families independently to establish their emotional, social and spiritual needs and support them.

• To support whole families with benefit applications and help them to link into services available such as through the MND Association welfare benefits service.
• Provide bereavement support to whole families of those who have died from MND.
• Perform carers assessments, help families identify their role as a carer and support them.
• Lead on the development of links with other relevant family support workers to enhance the continuity and offer for people with MND across the city.
• Lead on the provision of education and training to the wider team and external partners regarding whole family and bereavement support.
• Lead on the development and implementation of innovative approaches to improving the care and support offered to children, young people and families affected by MND.
• Enhance collaboration with other family support workers in the area
• Line Manage the Family Support Workers and take management responsibility for their personal development and performance review.

About us

This post is for the new Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease and is based at Seacroft Hospital (Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust). The candidate will also provide support for patients admitted to wards at Leeds General Infirmary and St James's Hospital.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust is one of the largest teaching hospital Trusts in Europe with access to leading clinical expertise and medical technology. We care for people from all over the country, as well as the 800,000 residents of Leeds. The Trust has a budget of £1 billion and employs 17,000 staff.

The Rob Burrow Centre is led by Dr Agam Jung, Director, Dr Shaun Foo, Co-director and is supported by a Centre Manager, 3 MND specialist nurses and multi-disciplinary team, including sub specialities e.g. respiratory and gastro-entrology.

The Centre comes under the department of Neurology, which is part of the Neurosciences CSU. Mr Robert Rathbone is the General Manager of the CSU, Dr Jonathan Bilmen is the Clinical Director and Mr Robin Darby is the Head of Nursing. Dr Maruthi Vinjam is the Clinical Lead for Neurology.

Job responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION

The MND care centre provides a co-ordinated interdisciplinary service to over 90 patients in Leeds and the surrounding area. The post holder will join the MND Association Care centre team currently responsible for this client group and must be able to work closely with them. Attendance at clinics and team meetings on a Thursday afternoon is an important part of this role.

Work may take place in hospital settings or in the patients home, so the ability to travel between locations is a requirement of this role.

Providing a therapeutic and safe environment for patients and families to discuss their problems, be it emotional, financial, or spiritual is key to providing holistic patient centred care and this role is intended to support and complement the existing support structures in place.

This role requires advanced leadership abilities, educational skills and a commitment to service improvement, staff development andmanagement of resources in line with allocated budgets.

Key relationships will be with the other social workers, family support workers, the care centre co-ordinator, medical staff, dietician, speech and language therapist and MND Associations Community Support Coordinator and Service Development Manager.

The post holder will be responsiblefor leading and enhancing our service offer to provide a tailored wholefamily support service to people with Motor Neurone disease and theirfamilies.

To undertake assessments of peopleand families independently to establish their emotional, social andspiritual needs and support them with this.

To support whole families withbenefit applications and help them to link into services available such asthrough the MND Association welfare benefits service.

To perform carers assessments andhelp families to identify their role as a carer and support them in this.

To lead on the development of linkswith other relevant family support workers to enhance the continuity andoffer for people with MND across the city and over time, WestYorkshire-wide.

Leadon the provision of education and training to the wider team and external partners regarding whole family andbereavement support.

Lead on the development andimplementation of innovative approaches to improving the care and supportoffered to children, young people and families affected by MND.

Provide emotional support topatients and whole families of patients with Motor Neurone disease.

Provide bereavement support towhole families of those who have died from Motor Neurone disease.

To enhance collaboration with otherfamily support workers in the area (e.g. in local hospices)

Line Manage the Family SupportWorkers and take management responsibility for their personal developmentand performance review.

Take a lead on training of NHS staff and other health & socialcare professionals to raiseawareness of the needs of children,young people and families affected by MND.

To be professional and legallyresponsible and accountable for all aspects of your own practice relatingto the assessment and treatment of people in your care undertakingclinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.

To provide a therapeuticenvironment to enable people with MND and their and carers/family members to talk abouttheir feelings/experiences of living feelings/experiences of living withMND.

Using advanced analytical skillsand understanding of MND to formulateindividualised management and treatmentplans.

To undertake carers assessments andprovide relevant support to families, Band 6 FSWs and other professionals.

To assess and communicate withpeople regarding their entitlement to benefits and liaise with appropriatebodies to assist with this and offer guidance/support to other members ofthe team

To advise on support regardingadvance care planning including lasting power of attorney and offersupport to Band 6 FSWs around this

To provide support to informalcarers and address their needs as appropriate

Use a range of verbal andnon-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with people toprogress treatment and rehabilitation programmes. This will include peoplewho may have difficulties in understanding, communication or havechallenging behaviour. Work with MND Association and other healthcolleagues to ensure that all knowledge of communication aids is up todate and that of your team

Ability to work in a stressfulenvironment imparting complex information regarding poor rehabilitationprognosis daily.

Ability to deal effectively withemotional and/or challenging people and / or carers daily - this willnecessitate the use of developed communications skills e.g. the ability tonegotiate, motivate and reassure and also to support staff under yourmanagement through this

Assess patient understanding oftreatment proposals, gain valid informedconsent and have the knowledge to workwithin a legal framework with people who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

To ensure a high standard ofclinical care for the people under your management and support more juniorstaff to do likewise.

To represent the family supportteam at MDT meetings and ensure the availability of FSWs at those meetings

To leadinformal training to wider care team regarding the role and purpose offamily and bereavement support.

Toeffectively communicate complex clinical information with people andcarers to maximise their independence and quality of life

To leadon education to the local health economy on the role of family and bereavementsupport for people with MND.

Managethe education needs of those under your management to ensure that theyhave all the necessary skills and knowledge to fulfil their roles.

Ensure upto date and accurate knowledge of the grants available from MNDAssociation and other partners understand the relevant criteria andensure that any grants requests made are appropriate and a good use ofcharitable funds.

Maintain and develop currentknowledge of evidence-based practice in this specialist clinical field andmanage and ensure this is also done by those that you manage throughregular supervision and support

As leader within the clinical teamyou will be required to ensure that you implement policy and servicedevelopment changes.

To be responsible for maintainingown competency to practice through continued professional developmentactivities and maintain a portfolio which reflects your own personaldevelopment.

To communicate effectively and workcollaboratively with medical, nursing and therapy colleagues to ensuredelivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service.This will include case conferences,ward rounds and discharge planning as appropriate.

Toparticipate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraise and appraiser and beresponsible for complying with your agreed personal development programmes tomeet set knowledge and competencies.

To regularly undertake themeasurement and evaluation of your work, and that of those under yourmanagement, and current practices through the use of evidence-basedpractice projects, audit and outcome measures, either individually or withcolleagues. Make recommendations for change as appropriate.

To demonstrate an understanding ofclinical governance and risk management and apply to work situation.

To maintain own continuingprofessional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any new trends anddevelopments, incorporating them as necessary into your work.

To regularly undertake thecollection of data for use in service and research projects. To undertakeresearch into specific areas of clinical practice and service deliveryusing a range of research methodologies as part of MDT audit anddepartmental research initiatives making recommendations for change asappropriate.

Identify and lead staff under yourmanagement in the implementation innovative ideas

To be responsible for a designatedarea of work and staff as agreed with the directors of the MND carecentre.

To decide on a daily basis thepriorities of your own work area and those of the team who are under yourmanagement

To maintain accurate, comprehensiveand up-to-date documentation, in line with legal and departmentalrequirements and communicate assessment and treatment results to theappropriate disciplines in the form of verbal/written reports/letters.

To be actively involved in thecollection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of thedepartment.

To be aware of Health and Safetyaspects of your work and implement any policies, which may be required toimprove the safety of your work area, including your prompt recording andreporting of accidents to senior staff, and ensuring that equipment use issafe.

To comply with the organisationaland departmental policies and procedures and to be actively involved inreviewing, updating and implementing as appropriate including thosepolicies and procedures that will impact beyond your immediate departmentand / or profession.

To undertakes any other duties thatmight be considered appropriate by the MND care centre directors.To be responsible for ensuring theeffective selection and use of all treatment resources available both inthe department and on the wards.

Tobe responsible for the line management and supervision of Band 6 FSWs withinthe MND care Centre team and ensure that they have the relevant supervision andline management in line with expectations of the Trust and MND Care CentreDirectors.

Person Specification

Experience

• Extensive knowledge of bereavement and whole family support work in the context of life limiting conditions
• Working knowledge of current professional issues and those influencing the NHS
• Standards of professional practice
• Extensive knowledge of the relevant legal frameworks affecting people, children, young people and families affected by MND.
• Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of NHS financial management.
• Experience of working in either the NHS or social care.

Behaviour/Skills

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing within a unit and multi professional team.
• Ability to prioritise, organise and allocate workload.
• Ability to teach, supervise and assess qualified, unqualified staff and students.
• Clinical leadership
• Able to develop collaborative individualised goals and objectives with people and carers resulting in shared treatment plans
• Basic IT skills

Practical Skills

• Effective team leader and team player with the ability to work flexibly in a diverse and highly demanding organisation
• Flexible, adaptable, capable of lateral thinking.
• Ability to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in a relevant area including social work, youth work, teaching, nursing etc.
• Attendance on relevant post graduate courses
• Previous experience in a similar role and knowledge of motor neurone disease.

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.