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Palliative Care Social Worker
| Posting date: | 16 May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £39,500 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £39500 a year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 02 June 2025 |
| Location: | Chester, CH2 4DG |
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | B0078-25-0002 |
Summary
You will contribute and commit to promoting a positive team-based attitude, striving for the highest standards of care and achieving excellence, through continued development and compassion. You will work closely with the multidisciplinary colleagues within the Clinical Services Directorate (Inpatient Unit, Living Well Centre Team Carer Support Worker, Counselling Team and Spiritual Care Team) in order to assist and support them alongside providing person centered support and care to patients and those important to them. In addition, the postholder will work closely with to provide safeguarding guidance and advice within the hospice and liaise with external bodies and regulators as appropriate. The list below is to outline the main duties involved; however, this is subject to change and will vary within the given role. We ask all employees to be flexible in their role, to always ensure we are delivering care of the highest standard. The post holder will address the psychosocial, emotional, social, cultural, and spiritual needs of patients, particularly at the end of life, recognizing and responding to the impact of these factors on patients and those important to them. The post holder will actively support the vision, values, aims, and objectives of the Hospice and will work collaboratively within the Living Well Service team to maintain, develop, and promote a modern, professional, and evidence-based psychosocial service. The post holder will establish links and work with external service providers which address the needs of palliative patients and those important to them. The post holder will contribute to the delivery of relevant internal and external education programmes including the delivery of inhouse mandatory safeguarding training. As a safeguarding lead the post holder will ensure the hospice is effectively implementing the associated legislative requirements and lead on the development and application of relevant policies and procedures. Clinical Work across all hospice services, including Inpatient and Living Well Services. Hold accountability for a caseload of complex patients and those important to them. Collaborate with patients and their families to assess and address social circumstances, including concerns about finances, housing, and practical care needs. Support patients and families in managing interpersonal relationships, emotional distress, and challenges associated with illness and palliative care needs. Assist patients and families in accessing, identifying, appraising, and interpreting complex information to enable informed decision-making, as part of the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT). Utilize advanced communication skills to deliver complex or highly emotive information clearly, sensitively, and unambiguously, whether face-to-face, via telephone, or through electronic means. Take a leading role in advance care planning, supporting patients and families in making decisions about end-of-life care. Guide and support the MDT in appropriately applying the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Care Act 2014, ensuring the rights and autonomy of patients are safeguarded. Assist in the facilitation of Mental Capacity Assessments, Best Interests Decisions, and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards processes. Use patient-identified goals and an understanding of psychosocial needs to contribute effectively to multi-professional care and discharge planning, including:o Liaising with care funding bodies, voluntary organizations, and community agencies.o Assessing and negotiating for community-based services to support families and carers upon discharge. Lead on the discharge planning for complex cases and support nursing staff in ensuring safe and appropriate discharges. Provide and maintain comprehensive knowledge of community service provision, acting as a resource for discharge planning advice and information. Offer immediate support and information to families and carers following the death of a patient. Stay current with legislation, welfare rights, and reforms that impact advocacy and practice, ensuring the best possible outcomes for patients. Conduct home visits, as appropriate, to support effective discharge planning. Management / Supervision and Training To engage in regular 1 to1 meetings with Direct Line Manger, working towards personal and relevant organisational objectives To develop, plan, implement and evaluate formal and informal safeguarding training and education programmes related to palliative care for all health and social care professionals To provide informal education to patients/carers and other groups at appropriate levels To maintain and develop professional knowledge and skills meeting annual CPD requirements in line with the professional competencies framework. To develop and maintain relationships with colleagues from the wider specialist palliative care team and other Hospices in their social work networks. To keep and maintain accurate patient records as per hospice and professional guidelines To participate in regular clinical supervision As one of the leading members of the Clinical Team and the MDT, the Hospice Social Worker will bring significant clinical expertise, strategic insight, and a collaborative approach to patient care. To contribute to complex case planning. Represent the social work function at internal and external forums and ensure that social care is integrated into the wider model of hospice and palliative care. The role involves being a member of the clinical management team and oversee service planning, policy development. Evaluation, Research and Audit Regularly evaluate the quality of own work and that of the wider team, encouraging a culture of continuous improvement. Actively participate in clinical audits as indicated, responding to identified needs by developing or modifying practice as required. Engage with and participate in research activities as needed to support and enhance the clinical service. Professional Maintain compliance with the standards, code of conduct, and professional practice requirements of the relevant professional body, ensuring ongoing expertise and knowledge through continuous professional development (CPD). Foster positive working relationships with the local safeguarding board and other hospices within the Northwest region. Participate in reflective practice and access in-house training opportunities, including compliance with all hospices mandatory training requirements.