Job summary
The post holder will provide a Paediatric Social Work service to the multidisciplinary team working with patients and their families from the outpatient, referral and pre-assessment stage, through their journey as an inpatient to a safe and timely discharge back to the community.
The post holder will compile detailed social histories and undertake comprehensive Social Work assessments for paediatric patients at the RNOH.
The post holder will contribute social work skills, a social care perspective and statutory functions to the assessment and treatment of adults and children at RNOH. The social worker will ensure children and families have access to Local Authority children social care services and resources to which they are entitled and to ensure social care duties are fully discharged, either by the Trust or directly by relevant Local Authorities.
The post holder will be an integral part of the multidisciplinary team at RNOH in the assessment, consultation and treatment of patients.
The post holder will liaise and advocate with the patient's local Children's Social Services department and continuing health care teams and ICB's regarding the provision of support and care for safe discharges.
They will support the senior paediatric social worker at discharge planning meetings between families, internal and external agencies.
Main duties of the job
1. To work alongside the Senior paediatric Social worker to provide a Social Work service for children identified as having complex care needs from the pre-admission clinic and through the patients journey in the hospital.
2. To be responsible for carrying out statutory Social Work assessments on behalf of Social Services teams to facilitate discharge planning.
3. To undertake assessment for patients and their carers relating to social, emotional, economic and environmental factors affecting admission, hospitalisation and discharge planning needs with appropriate support identified.
4. To advocate on behalf of patients and carers with complex health, social or communication issues
5. To prepare comprehensive social histories at the pre-admission stage in order to enhance the MDT's knowledge and understanding of patients with complex social issues and the support required to safely discharge.
6. To communicate complex and sensitive information to patients and their carers that requires empathy, negotiation and persuasion skills.
7. To prepare comprehensive social histories at the pre-admission stage in order to enhance the MDTs knowledge and understanding of patients with complex social issues.
8. To ensure that all patients (and carers where appropriate) are fully informed regarding onward referrals, obtaining consent when required in line with Caldecott guidelines and documenting this appropriately
About us
The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital is the UK's leading specialist orthopaedic hospital with an international profile for outstanding patient care, research and education. The Social Work department is part of the bed management and complex discharge team. The unique role of the team is to provide a specialist and personalised Social Work service to adult and paediatric patients attending RNOH as either in-patients or out-patients from across the UK. The department provides an assessment, advocacy and discharge planning service in addition to complex casework with patients with life changing and life limiting conditions. The service follows patients throughout their hospital journey from pre-admission assessment to ensuring safe personalised discharge plans. Experience of multidisciplinary working within a hospital setting is essential.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will provide a Paediatric Social Work service to the multidisciplinary team working with patients and their families from the outpatient, referral and pre-assessment stage, through their journey as an inpatient to a safe and timely discharge back to the community.
The post holder will compile detailed social histories and undertake comprehensive Social Work assessments for paediatric patients at the RNOH.
The post holder will contribute social work skills, a social care perspective and statutory functions to the assessment and treatment of adults and children at RNOH. The social worker will ensure children and families have access to Local Authority children social care services and resources to which they are entitled and to ensure social care duties are fully discharged, either by the Trust or directly by relevant Local Authorities.
The post holder will be an integral part of the multidisciplinary team at RNOH in the assessment, consultation and treatment of patients.
The post holder will liaise and advocate with the patients local Childrens Social Services department and continuing health care teams and ICBs regarding the provision of support and care for safe discharges.
They will support the senior paediatric social worker at discharge planning meetings between families, internal and external agencies.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
9. Professional Social Work qualification BSc, BA, DipSW,, or equivalent.
10. Registration with SW professional body
Desirable
11. Further postgraduate qualification in a relevant area
Experience
Essential
12. 1 year post professional qualification
13. Safeguarding experience with Adults and/or Children.
Desirable
14. Knowledge of NHS Continuing Healthcare
Skills
Essential
15. Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
16. Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills
Desirable
17. An ability to teach students and other health care professionals both formally and informally