Social Worker

The Methodist Church in Britain; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 26,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS pension option

Hospice pension option

Life assurance

30 days annual leave pro rata + bank &

Generous study leave

Employee counselling service

Discounts with local suppliers

Free tea and coffee

Job summary

St Michael's Hospice in Herefordshire is seeking a qualified social worker to provide psychosocial support to patients, families, carers and children, including bereavement support, and to advise the wider team on safeguarding in palliative care.

The role is 22.5 hours per week across Tuesday to Thursday, with occasional evenings and weekends, and includes line management of the Information and Advice Navigator. Social Work England registration and enhanced DBS check are required.

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker with CQSW, DipSW degree or equivalent.
• Current Social Work England professional registration.
• Enhanced DBS check is required.
• Clean, valid UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist psychosocial assessment, intervention and support to patients, families and carers facing complex emotional, social, family or safeguarding issues.
• Provide direct psychosocial support to patients, families and carers including bereavement support.
• Design, deliver, monitor and evaluate interventions and assess impact on family dynamics.
• Coordinate interventions for psychosocial, emotional and safeguarding needs.
• Line manage the Information and Advice Navigator and allocate work.
• Advise the wider hospice team on safeguarding and legislation such as DOLS.
• Develop relationships with community agencies and partners and make referrals to external providers.
• Work with external health and social care agencies, schools and colleges to develop palliative care provision across Herefordshire.

Skills

Excellent communication

Interpersonal skills

Confidentiality

Education

CQSW or DipSW equivalent

Job description

Supportive Care team post at St Michael's Hospice, working across all hospice services and based mainly on the inpatient unit. The postholder gives psychosocial support to patients, families, carers and children, including bereavement support, and advises the wider hospice team on safeguarding in palliative care. The role is 22.5 hours a week across Tuesday to Thursday, with occasional evening and weekend work, and includes line management of an Information and Advice Navigator. Fit depends on current Social Work England registration and an enhanced DBS check.

What the job involves

• Provide specialist psychosocial assessment, intervention and support to patients, families and carers facing complex emotional, social, family or safeguarding issues linked to life-limiting illness, dying and bereavement
• Provide direct psychosocial support to patients, families, carers and children, including bereavement support, considering cultural, spiritual, psychological, social and financial issues
• Design, deliver, monitor and evaluate individual and family interventions, and assess the impact of illness and bereavement on family dynamics
• Coordinate interventions for psychosocial, emotional and safeguarding needs
• Work jointly with Information and Advice Navigators to secure practical support, statutory services and community resources
• Line manage and supervise the Information and Advice Navigator, including case consultation and allocation of work
• Accept escalations where patients need specialist social work input
• Advise and support the wider hospice team on safeguarding and legislation such as DOLS
• Develop relationships with community agencies and partners, and make referrals to external providers
• Work with external health and social care agencies, schools and colleges to develop palliative care provision across Herefordshire
• Contribute to grant applications, needs analysis, research and audit to inform service development
• Integrate the supportive care model into multi-disciplinary practice across hospice services, promoting rehabilitative palliative care

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker with CQSW, DipSW degree or equivalent

Registration & licences

• Current Social Work England professional registration

Experience

• Social work experience in complex environments, with responsibility for managing own caseload

Skills & knowledge

• Proven ability to manage own caseload and work autonomously with support from colleagues
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality

Checks & eligibility

• Enhanced DBS check, as a condition of the post
• Clean, valid UK driving licence

Other

• Able to work weekends and evenings as required

Nice to have

• Experience of working with social work students
• Experience of working with grief, loss, death and bereavement
• Experience of welfare benefits work
• Experience of working with children and adolescents
• Experience of family work
• Experience of group work
• Experience of working with volunteers

What’s offered

• Choice of transferable NHS pension or the hospice pension
• Life assurance
• 30 days annual leave pro rata, plus bank holidays
• Generous study leave allowance
• Individualised training needs analysis and advanced communication skills training
• Employee counselling service
• Discounts with local suppliers
• Free tea and coffee