Job responsibilities HEART OF KENT HOSPICE JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: Welfare Advisor Assistant 2 year contract Hours of Work: 15 hours per week Reports To: Family Support Team Manager Location: Preston Hall, Aylesford, Kent Number of Direct Reports: None 2 volunteers Number of Colleagues 10 Colleagues in the Team: Accountable To: Patient Services Director Responsible For: Working as a member of the multidisciplinary specialist palliative care team (Family Support Team) comprising of Social Work, Counselling, Spiritual Care, Compassionate Neighbours and Welfare Support, you will be supporting the welfare advisor by providing advice, consultation and information to patients, their families and carers regarding welfare benefits and financial support. This advice will be given both pre and post bereavement. 1. Main Responsibilities 1. Professional 1.1 To provide advice and information relating to all welfare benefits, including assisting clients with form filling and contacting agencies such as the Department for Work & Pensions on their behalf. Support may be offered in person, during hub drop-ins, via the phone and online, providing information and support to patients, their families, carers and the Hospice Team both in the Hospice and in the community. 1.2 To assess the financial needs of patients their families and carers pre and post bereavement and deliver and evaluate the appropriate advice. 1.3 A keen interest in social justice and in the empowerment of marginalised people 1.4 Commitment to the principles of equal opportunities and diversity 1.5 To make appropriate applications to other organisations for financial support to meet the needs of patients, their families and carers. 1.6 To liaise and develop positive working relationships with other external agencies including Department of Work and Pensions, Job Centre Plus, Inland Revenue, Kent County Council, Macmillan Cancer Support, Housing Departments, legal agencies and other welfare agencies both statutory and voluntary. 1.7 To signpost to other organisations or specialist agencies as appropriate. 1.8 When appropriate act as an advocate and/or mediator for patients, their families and carers. 1.9 To assist the welfare advisor in managing the referral process and responding to referrals to the welfare team in a timely manner. Attending the Family Support Team meeting weekly. 1.10 To ensure up to date records and notes, compliant with GDPR regulations and confidentiality. Use of internal systems to record client contact and activities. Responding to calls, emails and teams messages in a timely manner. Excellent organisational skills required. 1.11 Covering the welfare advisor as and when required and supporting the welfare volunteers with supervision and support as and when required. 1.12 Working independently, as part of a team and with excellent communication skills to support patients and their families who are facing life limiting illnesses. Providing appropriate emotional support during contact with patients and their families. Ensuring referrals are made internally for those presenting with further emotional and psychological needs, working within the boundaries and limitations of the welfare assistant role. 2. All Colleagues To participate in the Hospice performance review and appraisal process which is known as your Snapshot. Attend all statutory and mandatory training and undertake training and development. as identified through individual performance reviews. To keep up to date with current professional practice issues. To attend meetings pertinent to organisational and professional responsibilities. To assist in producing management/service reports as required. To promote close working relationships and good communication links with colleagues at all levels throughout the Hospice. To liaise with internal departments and a wide range of external organisations and individuals as appropriate. To be aware of, and comply with, all Hospice and Statutory Policies and Procedures as appropriate. To support the Hospice clinical governance programme. To take personal responsibility for risk management in his/her work and undertake to review practices and learn from experience. To participate in the development, review and audit of quality standards and contribute to the process of continuous quality improvement throughout the Hospice. To comply with the Hospices policy and procedure in handling any complaints. To maintain accurate up-to-date statistics in both computer and written form as required. Comply with Information and Data Protection requirements at all times. To take reasonable care of the health and safety of yourself and others that may be affected by what you do while at work, and to co-operate in the implementation of the Hospices Health and Safety policy. Ensure volunteers have a good understanding of and take responsibility for health and safety and maintaining security, and that all Hospice health and safety policies and procedures are adhered to. To work as a member of the Hospice team, to foster the Teams caring mission and to have commitment to have commitment to the overall purpose of the Hospice. At all times to behave in a manner befitting the post and professional dignity of the Hospice and ensure that the Hospice is positively represented to the public and other stakeholders. To maintain an appropriate standard of confidentiality. Any disclosure of confidential information (including personal information kept on computer or other media) made unlawfully outside the proper course of duty will be treated as a serious disciplinary offence. To commit to our culture framework which outlines how we expect everyone at Heart of Kent Hospice individually and as a team to ensure the best possible experience for our patients, their families, our supporters, and our local community. Champion best practice in equality diversity and inclusion in everything we do. To preserve the confidentiality of information acquired by virtue of the position. Have fun and challenge yourself at work, championing our values and behaviours and abiding by our policies and procedures. To participate in the production of promotional material and support fundraising/volunteer events as appropriate. To carry out such other duties which may reasonably be requested. This job description is a broad reflection of the current duties. It may be amended and developed in the light of experience and will be the focus for objective setting in an annual appraisal.