Family Support Worker
| Posting date: | 12 August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | Negotiable |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 25 August 2025 |
| Location: | Harlow, CM17 9JX |
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | B0175-25-0013 |
Summary
To work directly with palliative patients and their families and carers in both the inpatient unit and in the community Work closely with the PFS team and other members of the multi-professional teams in the hospice to maximise patient/client care To offer possible solutions for patients and carers who have social, financial or emotional problems To advocate for patients and support or signpost them with issues related to their care and support, benefits, housing or other matters depending on their circumstances Provide emotional support to patients and carers facing end of life and bereavement Support patients and carers with housing issues including assisting with completion of forms, chasing up housing applications and writing supporting letters Assist patients and carers to access appropriate sources of charitable help and apply for grants on their behalf With the advice of the team, provide support and advice to patients with children Support bereaved families by advising on practical arrangements such as arranging a funeral and other tasks following death Support bereaved children by ensuring we meet the criteria of the Children in Need funding. To support and help to develop childrens cafes and youth groups and family days. To recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns, with the support of the safeguard supporters. Follow hospice policies and procedures, referring to statutory services where necessary Contribute, as appropriate to the delivery of safeguard and other training, with the support of the team when confident to do so To assist in the daily triage and screening of all patients referred into the PFSS ensuring the safety and appropriate response time of all referrals Attend the morning First Contact Triage meeting and MDTs as part of a rota and attend the daily IPU handovers To make and sustain links with external agencies and sources of social support relevant to the provision of specialist palliative care at St Clare Hospice To work closely with community engagement team members and volunteers to provide social supportive interventions, establish community links and develop the service To manage own boundaries and raise any concerns around this To participate in meetings, working groups and committees as necessary within the service To maintain concisely and accurately client / patient records on both IT systems and paper files To be aware of national guidance and standards relating to palliative care, social work support and bereavement To be aware of national, regional and local healthcare issues and targets and plans that are relevant to palliative care social work support and bereavement care Organisation Produce and maintain appropriate information resources for patients, carers and their families and for staff and volunteers of the hospice Participate in team meetings and supervision as appropriate and as requested by Social Work Lead and Team Manager Manage own workload, prioritising wok and dealing with conflicting demands in a flexible and professional manner Communication To communicate frequently and accurately within the service and to other service providers, verbally, by telephone, by letter and by email To refer on to other healthcare providers and agencies, such as GPs To liaise with other healthcare professionals and agencies To be skilled in advanced communication with patients in emotionally charged situations using tact and empathy to communicate difficult and challenging information To be responsible for and proactively initiate effective communication with other members of the team and staff in the wider hospice Professional Identify own learning and development needs in order to meet the key requirements of the post Take responsibility for linking own development needs with the hospice appraisal and objective setting process Take responsibility for own continuing development by undertaking specific areas of work/projects to develop new skills