Social Work Assistant (Band 4)

Integrated Care System; Bristol; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A local hospice organization in Bristol is seeking a compassionate social worker to join their team. The role involves providing emotional and practical support to patients facing life-limiting illnesses. You will work independently and with a multidisciplinary team to assess needs, manage caseloads, and enhance the quality of life for patients and their families. Candidates should have relevant qualifications and experience in social care. This position offers a salary between £21,648.80 and £23,756.80, with full-time hours.

Qualifications

• Experience in a hospice, health or social care setting is essential.
• Understanding of effects of illness and bereavement is necessary.
• Proven experience of working with diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Provide social care support using a palliative care approach.
• Manage a caseload and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
• Assess and address the social work needs of patients and carers.

Skills

Excellent standard of literacy and numeracy

Highly developed communication skills

Caring and compassionate attitude

Education

Level 3 Diploma or equivalent in Health and Social Care

Additional relevant training in health and social care

Tools

Computer literate

Job description

This is a rewarding opportunity to join our dedicated hospice social work team. We work closely with patients, families, and carers to support them with the emotional, social, and practical impact of life-limiting illness.Youll be part of a multidisciplinary team, working alongside our inpatient and community nursing teams, as well as a range of internal and external services. Your role will mainly involve supporting people in their own homes, though there will some sessions at our new community hubs and occasional work on our inpatient unit.Youll manage your own caseload with the support of our experienced team. The ability to work independently and with sensitivity is essential.

Main duties of the job

To provide social care, practical and emotional support, using a strengths based palliative care approach, enabling patients to live as fully, safely and independently as possible within the limitations of advancing disease.To work in accordance with social work values, collaborating with the multi disciplinary team within the hospice and external organisations to deliver holistic, effective and accessible support to patients and their carersTo be observant for situations placing patients and carers at risk of abuse and neglect, responding and reporting in accordance with organisation clinical safeguarding policiesTo consistently model the values of the hospice, contributing to a positive team culture.

About us

Weve spent over 40 years helping people die in peace, and with dignity. Combining compassion with clinical expertise, we provide patients with the best possible care at the end of their lives.Were here for the people around our patients too those closest to them. Before, during and after a bereavement, we provide support thats remembered forever.We think its that unforgettable support that inspires people to give back to St Peters. To fundraise for us. Donate. Volunteer. Were not exaggerating when we say that we couldnt do what we do without our wonderful supporters. We really cant thank them enough.We want to help many more people to die well. And were doing this by teaching others. As a centre of educational excellence, we share our skills with other health professionals, helping the NHS and care homes to provide better end-of-life care.Were here for all, for free, forever.

Job responsibilities

To undertake patient and carer assessments of palliative care social work needsTo work in partnership with patients and carers to identify their social work support needsTo co-plan proportionate, person-centred, creative and outcome-based support interventions to patients and carers, reviewing for effectiveness2To work inclusively with adults from diverse backgrounds, includingphysical disabilities, mental health, substance use, learningdisabilities, older adults, and carersTo demonstrate a strong commitment to human rights, the socialmodel of disability and reducing inequality experienced bymarginalised groups within our communitiesTo autonomously manage a caseload under line managementsupervision, joint working with a qualified social worker whereappropriateTo provide emotional support to patients and carers at the advancedstages of disease progression and post bereavement as appropriateTo gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within alegal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent totreatment.To facilitate support groups and wellbeing sessions for patients andcarersTo work together with the hospice multi-disciplinary team andexternal organisations, ensuring that patients and carers can accessthe care and support they need for maximising their quality of lifeTo work in accordance with the organisations clinical safeguardingpoliciesTo undertake administrative tasks related to the role when requiredTo show an ability to manage competing priorities in consultationwith line manager where necessary, so that the highest priority workis completed in a timely wayTo maintain accurate client records on the hospice electronic patientrecord system, in accordance with hospice policyTo actively participate in team meetings and individual supervisionfor the development of individual knowledge and skills, teamperformance and service improvementTo work adaptively in various community locations and forumsacross Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, inaccordance with local need and hospice strategic plan3To support internal and local strategic initiatives through promotingawareness and interest in work with internal and externalcolleagues, patients and carersTo demonstrate values associated with social work and our hospicevalues in all you doPersonal and People DevelopmentTo show a commitment to continuing professional development andmaintain evidence of this, participating actively in supervisionsessionsTo be subject to regular annual staff performance and to activelyparticipate in the processTo attend appropriate meetings, both internal and external,positively representing the team and serviceTo embrace new ways of working that may emerge as the hospiceresponds to the needs of our communitiesTo proactively reflect on ones own practice or service for learningand development needs and service improvementMonitor and maintain health & safety and security of yourselfand othersTo participate in the assessment of risk and thereby contributetowards clinical and corporate governance agenda as appropriateTo familiarise yourself with matters relating to health and safetymanagement as they affect you personally and/or the hospice,reporting any potential risks to life or property immediately inaccordance with the hospices Health and Safety policy andproceduresTo refrain from smoking in any area of the Hospice premisesTo look for potential risks to yourself and others in work activities,environment and processes including issues around lone workingTo contribute to the management of safe lone working within theteam, other internal teams and external colleaguesTo work in a way that shows understanding and complies withlegislation and hospice policies4To report actual or potential problems that may put health, securityor safety at risk, follow the strict guidelines around informationgovernanceTo work within the guidance policy for the protection of children andadults at riskTo know what to do in an emergency at work, knows how to gethelp and act immediately to get helpTo demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance andpatient safety, including compliance with Health & Safety Policiessuch as annual training in Manual Handling, CPR, Fire Safety andRisk Management and apply your learning to the work situation.Adhere to all infection prevention and control guidanceCommunicationTo maintain a high standard of personal behaviour and ensureeffective and professional and respectful communication with allmembers of the multidisciplinary team, external professionals,patients and carers.To communicate with patients and their carers in a sensitive,supportive, and caring manner, considering their individual personalbeliefs and preferences. Recognising there may be a need to utilisealternative methods of communication.To ensure all documentation is completed accurately and legibly andin accordance with hospice policy and Information Governancerequirements.To apply the principles of information governance and patientconfidentiality to all aspect of your role.To accept and act on constructive feedback, for the identification ofown and service development needsTo know what to do in an emergency at work, knows how to gethelp and act immediately to get help

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Excellent standard of literacy and numeracy
• Computer literate and willingness to embrace new technology
• Level 3 Diploma or equivalent in Health and Social Care or agreement to complete on appointment
• Additional relevant training in health and social care

Experience

• Recent, relevant work experience in a hospice, health or social care setting
• Evidence of working in a highly collaborative manner with other professionals, both in an internal multidisciplinary and external multi agency capacity
• Experience of working with people in emotional distress and presenting with social care needs.
• An understanding of the effects of illness on physical, psychological and social function, bereavement and loss
• Experience of delivering training and or willingness to assist with these activities, encouraging learning in our volunteers and community
• Experience of or willingness to develop skills in group facilitation
• Proven experience of working in diverse communities, understanding and overcoming the impact of discrimination
• Experience of working in the field of palliative care and bereavement
• An up to date knowledge of welfare benefits
• Knowledge and experience of using psycho-social interventions

Additional Criteria

• Ability to work autonomously within boundaries of role
• Able to plan and maintain high level of organisation and manage competing priorities to ensure the most urgent work is completed in a timely way
• Highly developed communication skills to develop effective therapeutic relationships with clients and carers
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written

Additional Criteria

• Caring and compassionate attitude
• Ability to work well with others with professionalism
• Works flexibly to support other team members and service delivery
• Committed to personal and team development
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and ethical boundaries

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.

£21,648.80 to £23,756.80 a yearFTE is £27,061 to £29,696