Specialist Palliative Care Social Worker

St. Richard's Hospice; Worcester; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave (seven weeks)

Benenden Healthcare

Flexible working

NHS pension

Free Will writing service

On-site café

Job summary

St Richard’s Hospice in Worcester is seeking a Specialist Palliative Care Social Worker to join our Family Support Team. You will provide expert psychosocial, emotional and practical support to patients, carers and families facing serious illness, end of life, loss and bereavement, within a multidisciplinary team.

The role involves complex caseloads, safeguarding, discharge planning, advance care planning and collaboration with health and social care partners.

Qualifications

• A recognised Social Work qualification.
• Current registration with Social Work England.
• Experience of working with adults and/or children with complex needs.
• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policy and best practice.
• Excellent assessment, communication and advocacy skills.
• Experience of multidisciplinary and partnership working.
• Ability to manage a varied workload and work autonomously when required.
• Experience in palliative care, bereavement, adult social care, family support or end-of-life care would be desirable but is not essential.

Responsibilities

• Providing specialist social work support to patients, families and children affected by life-limiting illness.
• Working and taking the lead on adult and child safeguarding concerns and providing specialist advice to colleagues.
• Supporting discharge planning.
• Undertaking psychosocial assessments, advocacy and advance care planning support.
• Facilitating individual and group support interventions.
• Working collaboratively with a range of professionals including health, social care, education and voluntary organisations.
• Contributing to training, service development, audit and quality improvement activities.

Skills

Social work

Safeguarding

Assessment

Advocacy

Multidisciplinary

Autonomy

Education

Social Work qualification

Job description

Job title

Specialist Palliative Care Social Worker

Hours

37.5 hours per week

Salary

£36,059 – £39,056

Contract

Permanent

Location

Wildwood Drive, Worcester WR5 2QT

Are you a qualified Social Worker with experience of working with people who have an illness that cannot be cured, their families and bereaved people?

Are you looking to be part of a friendly and supportive team who put patient and family care at the heart of everything we do?

If so, this exciting opportunity could be for you!

The role

St Richard’s Hospice has an opportunity within our Family Support Team for a caring, committed and compassionate professional to join us as Specialist Palliative Care Social Worker.

This is a rewarding opportunity to work within a highly regarded multidisciplinary hospice team, supporting adults, children and families facing the challenges of serious illness, end of life, loss and bereavement.

As a Specialist Palliative Care Social Worker, you will provide expert psychosocial, emotional and practical support to patients, carers and families supported by St Richard’s Hospice and Bereavement Support South Worcestershire (BSSW). You will manage a diverse caseload of complex situations, undertaking holistic assessments, safeguarding interventions, advocacy and care planning to help patients achieve their preferred place of care.

This is a varied and rewarding role. The successful candidate will support patient and those important to them to access the full range of Hospice services, hold a small community case load and work on the In-Patient Unit.

The role includes:

• Providing specialist social work support to patients, families and children affected by life-limiting illness.
• Working and taking the lead on adult and child safeguarding concerns and providing specialist advice to colleagues.
• Supporting discharge planning
• Undertaking psychosocial assessments, advocacy and advance care planning support.
• Facilitating individual and group support interventions.
• Working collaboratively with a range of professionals including health, social care, education and voluntary organisations.
• Contributing to training, service development, audit and quality improvement activities.

About you

We are looking for a skilled and compassionate Social Worker who is committed to person-centred care and has the ability to build strong therapeutic relationships during challenging times.

You will have:

• A recognised Social Work qualification.
• Current registration with Social Work England.
• Experience of working with adults and/or children with complex needs.
• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policy and best practice.
• Excellent assessment, communication and advocacy skills.
• Experience of multidisciplinary and partnership working.
• The ability to manage a varied workload and work autonomously when required.

Experience in palliative care, bereavement, adult social care, family support or end-of-life care would be desirable but is not essential.

This post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

What we offer

We offer a competitive salary and a wide range of benefits including;

• Fantastic team where everyone is welcomed and empowered to give their best
• Supportive management – keen to develop you
• Generous annual leave (seven weeks including bank holidays)
• Benenden Healthcare offering diagnosis, treatment, 24/7 GP and mental health advice lines, discounts etc. or Cash plan giving cash back for day to day healthcare such as optical or dental costs
• Opportunities for flexible working
• Family friendly policies
• Fabulous subsidised on-site café
• Pension scheme and opportunity to continue NHS pension for clinical staff
• Free Will writing service

Find out more

If you would like to find out more information, please contact:

Matt Tudor, Recruitment Co-ordinator on 01905 763963 or email [e-mail]

Or Rebecka Sparks, Head of Family Support on [e-mail]

Closing date

3rd November 2026

Interview date

11th November 2026