Job responsibilities
Overall Purpose of the Role
To act as an expert social work resource for palliative care, providing support and advice to all referred patients, family members and or carers. The service offered by the department aims to contribute to the multi-disciplinary approach that is concerned with the physical, psychological, spiritual, emotional and social wellbeing of the patient and their family/and or carers. Issues of living with life limiting diseases, impending death, loss and grief are a feature of this work. This post will cover in patients, community and day service provision.
To perform their duties according to the philosophy of St Lukes, acting at all times to safeguard the individual interests of service users.
To be accountable for their professional practice according to the Health and Care Professions Council Codes of Practice.
Please note as with all roles, it is likely that there will be a need to amend and adapt the purpose, responsibilities and reporting associated with this role as the organisation changes in the future. The job description is therefore a living document and will be reviewed from time-to-time, in discussion with the post-holder.
Key Responsibilities
Communication and Relationships
To work as part of a multidisciplinary team including participation in multidisciplinary meetings and handovers, highlighting individuals who are vulnerable due to their dependency; refer on those patients as appropriate and keeping effective channels of communication open.
To be responsible for managing an unpredictable and complex caseload. To be able to work autonomously in prioritising the most appropriate specialist care required.
To assess individual and family strengths, resources and proven coping skills exploring interventions that enable the family as a unit to overcome communication difficulties.
To assess social, emotional, psychological, spiritual, financial and practical needs.
To undertake direct supportive work with patients, families and caregivers, using individual, group or family techniques. This may involve other members of the multidisciplinary team and should involve external agencies whenever this is appropriate (e.g. statutory mental health, GP or local counselling services)
To demonstrate advanced communication skills in order that complex and emotionally sensitive situations are managed in the most appropriate way.
To maintain an awareness of changes in legislation, theories, policies and practices in order to disseminate knowledge throughout the team and contribute to the delivery of a high standard of service.
To participate in clinical supervision and individual appraisal programmes as directed by the service.
To contribute to the development of new initiatives through membership of working groups, multi-agency forums, attending training courses to develop current and new ways of working that meet service requirements.
To develop the role of specialist palliative care social worker establishing and maintaining clear boundaries and professional identity.
To maintain and develop good communication links between hospital, hospice, community, social services and the voluntary sector.
To assess the needs of patients and their carers and in complex cases to assist with discharge planning.
To provide information and advocacy regarding state and local authority benefits, housing, and charitable assistance.
To promote the development of effective links with local community agencies and represent the team at relevant external policy forums.
To offer consultation and support on complex issues related to the psycho-social needs of patients, families and carers to other members of the multi-professional team.
Knowledge, Training and Experience
To research and maintain a knowledge base of what resources are available at a local and national level in order to inform decision-making processes.
To develop a knowledge of sources of practical or psychological assistance and support for patients and their families within the statutory and voluntary sectors and refer to them appropriately.
To actively participate in palliative care educational programmes, developing new learning opportunities from a social care perspective.
To use specialist knowledge and advanced assessment skills to forward plan appropriate interventions. To respond quickly and sensitively to patient need in often rapidly changing situations.
Planning and Organisation
Actively participate in the continuing development of St Lukes Services and promote social work in future strategic plans.
Analytical and Judgemental Skills
To manage and prioritise workload within organisational policies, carrying out all duties using accountable professional judgement and knowledge based social work practices.
Assess and manage risk knowing how to intervene proportionately to ensure people are protected from harm and feel safe, while protecting their human rights.
Information Resources
To maintain clear and concise and accurate multidisciplinary written and computerised records which facilitate effective communication within St Lukes and with other agencies.
To be aware of the confidential nature of the work undertaken and of the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018. To follow local codes of practice to ensure appropriate action to safeguard confidential information.
Policy and Service Development
To ensure that clinical practice reflects national and local standards, protocols and procedures that could impact on other service areas.
To lead on and participate in service improvement projects utilising recognised service improvement tools (e.g. productive ward series).
To engage in practice-based audit, evaluation and research as required.
To have a knowledge and understanding of NICE guidance and other relevant palliative care literature.
To ensure services are responsive to individual need and informed choice.
Human Resources
To participate in the delivery of the St Lukes learning and development programme, both internal and external.
A willingness to be involved in the selection process for new staff and volunteers and to support the team in the management and supervision of volunteers.
To assume active responsibility for own professional and personal development.
To monitor own performance against agreed objectives through the process of Performance Development Review and social work registration.
Maintain up-to-date adherence to statutory and mandatory training.
General
All St Lukes employees are required to: Abide by the Health & Safety at Work Act. Attend mandatory training annually. Respect confidentiality applying to all St Lukes areas. Work within St Lukes policies and procedures. Comply with the St Lukes no smoking policy. Participate in and contribute to team meetings. Co-operate and liaise with departmental colleagues.All St Lukes employees are expected to:
Demonstrate a commitment to their own development, to take advantage of education and training opportunities and develop their own competence.
Support and encourage harmonious internal and external working relationships.
Make a positive contribution to fundraising and raising the profile of the Hospice.
Our Values
The Board and Executive agreed St Lukes organisational values in 2015 ensuring they reflect our culture and what we want to achieve together. We have four simple values which set out how we work together to achieve success at St Lukes.
No matter what area of St Lukes we work in and no matter who we work for, we are committed to the following ways of working:
- Compassionate
- Dignified
- Inspired
- Pioneering
Values are really important throughout every team here at St Lukes, we are all responsible for ensuring our values are displayed and to ensure they form a core part of everything that we do at St Lukes. They influence our behaviours, our language, the way we interact with each other as employees and also as human beings. In bringing our values to life, we have created a booklet entitled The Little Pink Book which supports all of us at St Lukes in helping us to put our values into action through our behaviours every day.
We expect staff to familiarise themselves with our values and the expected behaviours, and to ask if they feel these conflict in any way with their roles. These values and behaviours will be used as a reference in our day-to-day working lives, and how we respect St Lukes and those associated with it.
