Specialist social worker

NHS; Rochester; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Rochester is seeking a Social Worker to join its palliative care team. The role includes providing a high-quality social work service for patients with life-limiting conditions. Candidates must be a qualified social worker registered with Social Work England and possess two years of post-qualified experience. The position offers opportunities across various settings with a focus on patient and family well-being, ensuring a supportive and innovative work environment.

Benefits

Pension scheme options

Flexible working arrangements

In-service training and supervision

Qualifications

• Must have 2 years post-qualified experience in social work.
• Essential to hold a valid driving license and access to a car.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality palliative care social work service.
• Develop complex caseload and support other disciplines.
• Participate in therapeutic group work programmes.

Skills

Qualified Social Worker

Proficient with IT

Understanding of grief and loss theories

Education

Registered with Social Work England

Palliative care experience

Job description

Job Summary

• Are you a qualified social worker registered with Social Work England who wishes to work in a therapeutic environment?
• Do you want to provide interventions for patients with palliative and life-limiting conditions and their loved ones?
• Do you want to work across a variety of settings including the patient unit, clinic, domestic and wellbeing and therapy centre?

If you answer yes to all these questions then we have the role for you!

Main Duties

We have an exciting opportunity for a Social Worker to join our specialist palliative care family and carers support team at Medway Community Healthcare (MCH), based at the Wisdom Hospice. The MCH team provides specialist palliative care services in the community and within the Medway NHS Foundation Trust. The Wisdom Hospice unit has 15 beds and an active Wellbeing and Therapy Centre, as well as a community team, hospital‑based team, physical therapy team, a family carers and support team, and an army of volunteers.

There will be opportunities to practice across all settings and participation in service development is expected. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in ensuring our patients and their families benefit from the highest standards of specialist palliative care.

For an informal discussion please contact Chris Boughton, Senior Social Worker / Team Lead on 01634 830456.

About Us

This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused – you'll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.

We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development.

We'll provide well‑established, in‑service training, one‑to‑one supervision, appraisals with regular support, and the chance to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.

Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS we are reminded every day of how important work‑life balance is. As a flexible‑working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for you, for our patients, and for us. Speak to us about how we might accommodate a flexible working arrangement.

The Small Print

Informal visits can be arranged on request.

We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes – the NHS Pension scheme and the Scottish Widows Group pension scheme.

MCH encourages all staff to be double COVID‑vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, their families, and their patients.

Details

• Posted: 19 December 2025
• Pay Scheme: Agenda for Change
• Band: 6
• Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working Pattern: Full‑time
• Reference Number: 813-251-1225-LB
• Job Locations: Wisdom Hospice, High Bank, Rochester, ME1 2NU

Job Responsibilities

The aim is to provide an efficient, effective, high‑quality palliative care social work service for people affected by serious illness and bereavement. The social work service contributes to a multi‑disciplinary approach to care and focuses on the psychological, social and spiritual wellbeing of service users. Core components of the role include issues of living with life‑limiting illness, impending death, anticipatory grief, loss and bereavement. Care is delivered across a range of inpatient, wellbeing centre and community settings.

The post holder will develop a complex caseload, provide support, guidance and teaching to other disciplines on good practice in psychosocial care, and participate in therapeutic group work programmes to deliver a high‑quality person‑centred service. The postholder is expected to facilitate safeguarding and reflective practice of palliative staff.

Person Specification

Registration

• Essential: Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England
• Desirable: Palliative care experience

Transportation

• Essential: Valid full driving licence; access to a car for work purposes

Experience

• Essential: 2 years post‑qualified
• Desirable: Good understanding of grief and loss theories; flexibility to work in group or 1:1 settings

IT Skills

• Essential: Proficient with IT

MCH Values

• Essential: Good understanding of MCH values

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current skilled‑worker sponsorship to work in the UK will be considered alongside other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled‑worker applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK must present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website.

Employer Details

Medway Community Healthcare

Wisdom Hospice, High Bank, Rochester, ME1 2NU

Website: https://www.medwaycommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/