Senior Social Worker

NHS; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a Senior Social Worker to support children with cancer and their families. The role involves interdisciplinary collaboration, providing emotional support, and developing services tailored to patient needs. Qualified applicants should have a degree in Social Work, registration with Social Work England, and relevant post-qualifying experience. This role offers a salary range of £56,276 to £63,176 per annum.

Qualifications

• Post qualifying experience in a NHS setting as a Social Worker/supporting children and families.
• Familiarity with Social Work Theory related to loss and chronic illness.

Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing support for patients and families coping with illness and treatment.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to develop and deliver support services.
• Assess and promote the management of complex psychosocial needs.

Skills

Interpersonal communication skills

Child and young people's development knowledge

Bereavement and family therapy training

Education

Degree or equivalent in Social Work

Post graduate qualifications in Social Work or related area

Registration with Social Work England

Job description

Go back King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Social Worker

The closing date is 19 November 2025

The NICE Improving Outcomes in Children and Young People with Cancer (2005), sets out the expectation of service provision for children with cancer and their families. Recent updates of Service Specification for Paediatric Oncology Shared Care Service (POSCU) requirements 2021 state that it must have the necessary infrastructure staffing and competencies to provide the agreed level of service including:

Access to nursing expertise including to cover holidays, out of hours and emergencies

Experienced oncology and haematology medical advice

Access to services from AHPs

Adequate access to psychology services

Improved patient experience

The King's College Hospital POSCU (currently level 2 - working towards Enhanced Level B under new specification) provides oncology supportive care including chemotherapy delivery for children aged 0-18 years with a cancer diagnosis, living locally in the boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and some from Bromley (depending on travel times to Denmark Hill). They receive their Principal Treatment Centre (PTC) care at the RMH, GOS or UCL hospitals.

This Social Work position was created in 2022 as part of a newly recruited Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT) that will provide inpatient and outpatient support for children aged 0-18 with a cancer diagnosis. The work will also consider the needs of wider family members.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for motivated, enthusiastic and experienced Social Worker, to help develop this new service, lead projects and support the wider MDT. The post holder will:

Work autonomously and effectively as an integral member of the POSCU and in providing support within hospital, in the child's home and community as appropriate. The work will include liaison with social, educational and community services local to the family home.

Provide and promote a specialist, comprehensive and evidenced based Social Work service for patients cared for by the POSCU as well as their family and/or carers and attend the regular POSCU Multidisciplinary Team meetings.

Provide ongoing support for patients and families in coping with the effects of the illness and treatment regimes, and the reactionary stresses and problems that may be experienced within the family.

To recognise, advocate and empower patient choice and promote the autonomy of the individual within the health care environment.

To develop psychosocial specific outcomes to demonstrate need and benefit to patients as well as support any ongoing expansion of the Social Work team as needed

About us

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Job responsibilities

The Social Worker will join our well-established Childrens Social Work team, they will be based at Denmark Hill but also provide services in the community.

Key working relations include the wider POSCU MDT, Variety Childrens Hospital staff, Trust Social Workers, Local Authority employees, Other NHS Foundation Trust staff responsible for PTC activity and Education.

Clinical Responsibilities

To assess, evaluate and promote optimal management of the complex psychosocial needs of children and young people receiving treatment from the POSCU.

To be available to children, their families and carers, at whatever stage of their disease, for the provision of specialist information, advice, support and counselling, on a short-term basis or as part of an ongoing therapeutic relationship.

To develop a therapeutic relationship with patients and their parents/carers in order to establish communication, trust and support. In turn act as a patient advocate, ensuring that the multidisciplinary teams serve the best interests of the patient.

To assess and evaluate risk for vulnerable children and families and plan to manage this risk as appropriate.

To plan and instigate interventions that will empower parents/carers to provide care to their child that meets all his/her needs and supports the optimal functioning of the family unit.

To communicate community care needs (long-term and short-term) to relevant agencies to enable patients and families to maximise their independence as well as minimise risk.

To provide support and guidance to the POSCU Safeguarding and Child In Need concerns and/or referrals. To ensure the department is sighted with regard to specific Child and Family statutory processes relating to child protection, children in need and legislation pertaining to children being looked after.

To establish and develop relationships with other clinical staff, Social Services, Benefit Agencies, and other service providers to promote a joined up approach to patient/family support, including discharge planning where required.

To continue to advise and support children, their families and carers as they undergo treatment ensuring a proactive social work service is available to patients at all times.

To facilitate the partnership between children and families and the foundation trust by the assessing of need, the derivation of plans to support highlighted needs and the subsequent review of these plans.

To work in partnership with PTC Social Work teams in the development of robust child focused plans that promote the welfare of children at whatever stage of their disease. This can include the provision of specialist information, advice, support and counselling, on a short-term basis or as part of an ongoing therapeutic relationships.

Attend relevant Hospital meetings, as well as any other relevant meetings in the community associated with this role.

Adhere to existing working practices, methods, procedures, undertake relevant training and development activities and to respond positively to new and alternative systems relating to providing support to children and their families in response to the foundation of this new service.

To undertake direct work with children and ensure their views are considered by the wider MDT.

To provide expert social work information, advice and support to children, their families and other healthcare professionals following diagnosis and through treatment. This will include enhancing their understanding of the issues as well as helping them develop coping strategies for the impact and implications of their condition/disability and transplantation, end of life and post-bereavement work as required.

Administrative Responsibilities

To keep meticulous records on the progress and activity of the oncology role, including outcome of intervention and obtaining feedback from families on the importance of the service.

To support the Head of Social Work with regular analysis of the new position through service evaluation and audit.

To provide quarterly reports to include comprehensive breakdown of activity and outcome for children and families.

Complete administrative tasks such as writing up case notes, sending letters to families, preparing reports and building a rigorous evidence base of intervention.

Any other reasonable duties as required by the Head of Social Work.

Communication

To be able to engage directly with children and motivate family members through effective communication skills and direct work.

Provide patients, families and other carers with specialist advice or instruction to promote the understanding of the aims of the POSCU services.

To provide and receive information from children, their families and other professionals regarding a child/family psycho-social history. This will include the sharing and receiving of some complex and/or sensitive information and ensuring this information is understood by the clinical team.

To develop and maintain close working relationships with Social Work colleagues (particularly Variety Childrens Hospital Social Workers), referring clinicians and other appropriate professions and agencies in the provision of POSCU Social Work services.

To identify those children and family at risk and facilitate discussions with community partners to ensure support plans are in place to reduce risk of harm.

To identify children and families experiencing disadvantage in the community and to provide tailored support, advocacy, befriending and signposting to reduce inequalities.

To promote the service across the trust to ensure the service is taken up and is accessible for families experiencing difficulties in their bereavement.

Safeguarding

The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibility to support the organisation in our duties by

attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults

familiarising themselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns

reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately

Infection Control Statement

The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene procedures and requirements when in clinical areas.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in Social Work
• Registration with Social Work England
• Post graduate qualifications in Social Work or Social Work related subject area
• Formal training in bereavement/counselling/family therapy

Knowledge and Experience

• Post qualifying experience in a NHS setting as a Social Worker/supporting children and families
• Social Work Theory and it's application to supporting with loss/bereavement/chronic illness
• Post qualifying experience in supporting children and families
• Post qualifying experience in a NHS setting as a Social Worker

Skills and Competencies

• Skills and knowledge in the use of a number of models of social work intervention and the ability to select and use the most effective approach to meeting consumer need for the different aspects of the work.
• Knowledge of child/young people's development.
• A preparedness to explore alternative ways of delivering the social work service with this client group.
• Well developed interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with children, young people and their families

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.

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

£56,276 to £63,176 a year per annum inc HCA's