Social Worker

St Catherines is seeking a qualified social worker to join its compassionate and creative Support Team within a highly regarded local charity. The team operates across all hospice clinical services, primarily providing a social work service to individuals and their carers on the in-patient unit.

From managing inpatient discharges to carer and bereavement support, the small and dedicated team is passionate about meeting the needs of the local community in a variety of different and creative ways all with the aim of supporting people with life-shortening conditions and their families to have the best possible quality of life, whatever their personal circumstances.

The principal function of the role is to provide a social work service and advocate on behalf of individuals and families, the majority of whom have complex health and social care needs. The team also co-ordinates spiritual care inclusive of remembrance services; run a volunteer-led befriending service; manage bereavement support and a counselling service; help plan on-going care and discharge from the in-patient unit; organises monthly carers and bereavement support meetings; and leads on safeguarding. It is an incredibly varied role; every day is different and one that immensely rewarding.

Main duties of the job

Management of a caseload of individuals with complex health and social care needs

Be responsible for monitoring own case work and managing the time available to deliver key aspects of the role, recognising own limitations and seeking support, informal/formal supervision and training from line manager as appropriate.

Receive referrals from members of the multi professional team at St Catherines Hospice and undertake specialist assessments inclusive of; wellbeing assessments, carers assessments, mental capacity / DoLs assessments, and contribute to continuing health care assessments with the aim of coordinating safe and timely discharges in conjunction with the Multi-Disciplinary Team

Provision of psychological and emotional support to individuals carers/ families including those who are living with grief and loss.

Provide support, advice, and information as required with debt, housing, wills, and funerals.

Liaise with hospice, hospital and community agencies both statutory and voluntary where appropriate for the benefit of individuals with life limiting conditions.

Attend and chair meetings as and when required e.g. multi-disciplinary, safeguarding strategy, case conferences.

Undertake befriending assessments and reviews of the service inclusive of support, supervise and management of volunteer befrienders

About us

Provide a social work service mainly within the inpatient unit to individuals with life shortening conditions inclusive of their carers/ families to ensure safe and timely discharges inclusive of emotional support and practical advice.

Enable individuals both in hospice and in the community who have complex health and social care needs to make informed choices and optimise their independence and well-being. Social work support is provided to individuals along with their carers/families to ensure services are tailored to meet individual needs.

The role includes promoting the principles of the Care Act including Safeguarding and the Mental Capacity Act in addition to discharge planning and varied support to carers, the bereaved and spiritual support.