Job Title: Social Worker
Responsible to: Director of Care
Accountable to: Clinical Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT)
Responsible for: N/A
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
As Social Worker, you will be instrumental in delivering compassionate care to patients with life‑limiting illnesses and providing essential support to their families.
Working within the Clinical Multi-Disciplinary Team, this role ensures that safeguarding practices are at the heart of patient care across all Hospice services.
You will be a key figure in enhancing patient experiences through complex case management, and the coordination of safe and efficient discharge processes for both in‑patient and day therapy patients.
DIMENSIONS & LIMITS OF AUTHORITY
Ensuring compliance with legislative standards with regards to safeguarding procedures and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) assessments.
Accountable for decision‑making within scope of role and managing a complex caseload.
Financial accountability related to social work resources for care planning and service delivery.
Reports to the Director of Care.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Social Work & Patient Support
* Assess patients’ psychological, social, and emotional needs and develop tailored, person-centred care plans with the MDT.
* Coordinate care planning and discharge meetings to ensure safe and efficient transitions, involving patients, families, and carers in all decisions.
* Support bereavement groups and provide direct support to carers and families, fostering emotional resilience during terminal illness and bereavement.
* Advocate for patients and families, ensuring their rights are upheld and facilitating access to necessary social and healthcare services.
Safeguarding & Compliance
* Ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, such as the Wales Interim Policy, HIW, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and DoLS.
* Conduct safeguarding investigations and risk assessments, coordinating with authorities to address concerns and ensure patient safety.
* Develop safeguarding protocols, train staff, and monitor adherence to best practices and legislative changes.
Collaboration & Advocacy
* Serve as a key member of the MDT, ensuring patients’ social and emotional needs are integrated into care plans.
* Collaborate with external agencies to ensure seamless care for complex cases and advocate for patients in challenging situations.
* Support patient-centred care by actively participating in case conferences and discharge planning meetings, bringing social work expertise to improve patient outcomes.
Education & Professional Development
* Design and deliver social work training to staff and external partners, enhancing service quality.
* Engage in continuous professional development, keeping up-to-date with legislative and best-practice changes.
* Contribute to reflective practice and quality improvement initiatives, supporting the integration of safeguarding across all Hospice services.
Service Development & Quality Assurance
* Participate in service reviews, audits, and data collection to assess and enhance the quality of social work services.
* Support strategic development of social work within the Hospice, identifying service improvement opportunities and implementing changes.
* Promote patient feedback to inform service enhancements and represent the Hospice in multi-agency forums related to palliative care.
Health & Safety
* Ensure a safe working environment by adhering to health and safety policies, conducting risk assessments, and addressing any incidents or breaches in collaboration with the Health & Safety team.
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