Social Worker

St Joseph's Home; Singapore; On-site; SGD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

St Joseph's Home in Singapore seeks an experienced Senior Social Worker to lead social work interventions for elderly residents. The role involves comprehensive assessments, inter-agency collaboration, and developing holistic, resident-focused care plans with the multidisciplinary team.

You will apply clinical theories to plan interventions, engage families, and manage crises while ensuring documentation and compliance with local standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited institution.
• Valid registration with the Singapore Social Workers Association (SASW).
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in social work, particularly in geriatrics, elderly care, or nursing home settings.
• Strong understanding and application of the Social Work Competency Framework in Singapore.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with elderly residents, families, and a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Engage residents and significant others in a therapeutic manner to understand their needs and underlying issues.
• Conduct a bio-psychosocial-spiritual assessment of the resident/family, integrate information from stakeholders, and initiate inter-agency conferences for admission decisions.
• Apply clinical and professional theories to plan and execute social work interventions across the resident’s trajectory of illness.
• Manage resistance to change and help residents and families develop viable plans.
• Follow up and update care plans to ensure relevance and effectiveness of interventions.
• Conduct field visits as required and develop holistic, resident-focused care plans with the MDT.
• Lead multidisciplinary team or inter-agency case conferences to advocate for residents’ dignity, confidentiality and rights.
• Provide clinical intervention for crisis situations (e.g., suicide or abuse) for residents, families, and staff.
• Document assessments and interventions timely in progress notes; issue social reports with consent for transfers or discharges.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Leadership

Organizational skills

Time management

Regulatory/Policy awareness

Education

Bachelors or Masters in Social Work

Job description

Job Description & Requirements

Key Responsibilities:

• Engage resident and significant others in a therapeutic manner to understand their needs and underlying issues.
• Conduct a bio-psychosocial-spiritual assessment of the resident/ family, integrate a range of information from relevant stakeholders, utilize social work principles, legal and ethical framework, and initiate inter-agency conference for complex case to prepare resident for admission, and to justify suitability/unsuitability for admission.
• Apply clinical and professional theories to pre-empt and execute social work intervention plans across resident’s trajectory of illness.

• Manage and overcome reluctance and resistance to change. Help residents/significant others to develop and choose strategies and formulate viable plans.
• Follow up and review residents’ changing needs and update care plan to ensure relevance and effectiveness of intervention.

• Conducts field visits as and when required.
• Develop protocols and work with residents, families, multi-disciplinary team and relevant stakeholders to arrange for holistic and resident-focused care plans.

• Lead in multi-disciplinary team or inter-agency case conferences to formulate holistic care plan, and to advocate for the protection of resident’s dignity, confidentiality and rights, and advocate for improvement of quality of life for residents.

• Provide clinical intervention for crisis (eg suicide or abuse) for the residents/significant others and staffs.

• Provide timely documentation of assessments and intervention in progress notes.
• Provide social reports with proper consent to receiving organization whenever there is a transfer/discharge of residents, to ensure continuity of care. Follow through with telephone contact or email to ensure clarity and completeness of information transferred.
• Review social reports and other documents prepared by Care Coordinators. Ensure that timely documentation of Care Coordinators is in place.

• Assist in Medifund and financial assistance application for residents and their families
• Participate in community development initiatives and provide recommendations for consideration.
• Participate in committee, workgroup, case review meetings, cross-functional or Ministry-level assignments, practice research and development to further develop skills and capability.

• Supervise SWAs/Care Coordinators.
• Oversee projects and programmes.
• Assist in clinical audits for quality assurance
• Contribute to review of department processes to increase effectiveness in meeting residents’ needs.

General:

·Any other duties as assigned by the Supervisor.

Key Requirements:

• A recognized Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Social Work from an accredited institution.
• Valid registration with the Singapore Social Workers Association (SASW).
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in social work, particularly in geriatrics, elderly care, or nursing home settings.
• Strong understanding and application of the Social Work Competency Framework in Singapore.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with elderly residents, families, and a multidisciplinary team.
• Leadership experience and a passion for mentoring junior staff.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Knowledge of community resources, financial aid schemes, and social service programs for the elderly.
• Familiarity with healthcare policies, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements for elderly care services.
• Enjoy working with elderly populations and a passion for improving their quality of life.