Hospice Social Worker

NHS Jobs; Minchinhampton; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Jobs in the United Kingdom is seeking a specialist role within hospice services to provide psychosocial, emotional, practical and advocacy support to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. The postholder will work within a multidisciplinary team to address social, emotional, financial, and psychological challenges throughout the hospice journey.

You will undertake comprehensive assessments, offer emotional support, facilitate advance care planning, advocate for patients,

Responsibilities

• Undertake comprehensive psychosocial assessments of patients and families.
• Provide emotional support and crisis intervention for patients and carers and family members; support understanding diagnoses, prognosis, and care options.
• Facilitate discussions regarding advance care planning and future wishes.
• Assist families in coping with grief, loss, changing family dynamics, and end-of-life issues.
• Promote patient autonomy, dignity, and informed decision-making.
• Act as an advocate for patients and families, ensuring their voices are heard in care planning.
• Liaise with health, social care, housing, financial, and community services to coordinate support.
• Support access to statutory and voluntary sector services.
• Assist with safeguarding concerns and participate in safeguarding procedures as required.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings and care reviews.
• Provide guidance on welfare benefits, housing, social care packages, and legal signposting.
• Assist families in accessing bereavement and community support services.

Job description

To provide specialist psychosocial, emotional, practical, and advocacy support to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, the postholder will support patients and carers to navigate the social, emotional, financial, and psychological challenges associated with serious illness, end-of-life care, bereavement, and loss. The role promotes patient-centred care, dignity, choice, and wellbeing, ensuring that patients and families have access to appropriate resources, support services, and interventions throughout their hospice journey.

Main duties and responsibilities

Patient and Family Support

• Undertake comprehensive psychosocial assessments of patients and families.
• Provide emotional support, and crisis intervention for patients and carers and family members.Support patients and families in understanding diagnoses, prognosis, and care options.
• Facilitate discussions regarding advance care planning and future wishes.
• Assist families in coping with grief, loss, changing family dynamics, and end-of-life issues.
• Promote patient autonomy, dignity, and informed decision-making.

Care Coordination and Advocacy

• Act as an advocate for patients and families, ensuring their voices are heard in care planning.
• Liaise with health, social care, housing, financial, and community services to coordinate support.
• Support access to statutory and voluntary sector services.
• Assist with safeguarding concerns and participate in safeguarding procedures as required.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings and care reviews.

Practical and Financial Support

• Provide guidance on welfare benefits, funding options, and community resources.
• Support patients and carers with practical matters such as housing, social care packages, and legal signposting.
• Assist families in accessing bereavement and community support services.

Bereavement Support

• Participate in hospice bereavement services and referral pathways.
• Identify patients and family members requiring specialist mental health or bereavement interventions and facilitate referrals.

Professional Practice

• Maintain accurate, confidential, and timely records in accordance with organisational policies.
• Work within professional standards, legislation, and ethical frameworks.
• Participate in clinical supervision, reflective practice, and continuing professional development.
• Contribute to service development, audits, quality improvement initiatives, and policy implementation.

Quality and Governance

• To ensure Longfield care services are evidence based and reflective of current research and best practice, reviewing new clinical evidence or models of working and making recommendations for service change and development Seeking feedback and participation from service users to guide future development

Health and Safety

• The post holder will be aware of and adhere to all hospice policies and procedures, and relevant legislation including Health and Safety at Work Act and agreed practice and policy, and that hazards are observed and reported to the appropriate office.
• This incorporates all aspects of risk assessment.

Safeguarding Duty

• It is the responsibility of the post holder to be aware of and follow the legislations and guidance regarding Safeguarding Adults and Children as stated in the Hospice Safeguarding Policy.
• This applies to all staff regardless of which member of the family is the primary client.
• The post holder is responsible for ensuring they have appropriate knowledge and information according to their role.

Scope of Job Description

• This job description reflects the immediate requirements and objectives of the post.
• It is not exhaustive but gives a general indication of the work undertaken which may vary in detail in the light of organisational changing demands and priorities.