JOB DESCRIPTION



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Weldmar Hospicecare

Job Description and Person Specification

Job Title: Social Work Assistant Practitioner

Location: Central, South and North Dorset

Hours of work: 37.5

Grade: Band 4

Reports to: Weldmar Specialist Palliative Care Social Worker

Responsible for: A delegated caseload (predominantly of carers and family members of patients), of non-complex social work tasks to support patients and those that are important to them.

Job Context

Weldmar Hospicecare is an independent charity that provides specialist end of life care to patients and those that are important to them throughout Dorset. This care is given in the comfort of patients own homes by Weldmar Community Nurses, via Day Services held across the county or as inpatients at our hospice in Dorchester. Our team of dedicated staff and volunteers ensure that we can continue to support patients through one of life’s most difficult journeys. We work closely with other health care providers including the NHS to ensure that our patients receive the highest possible care.

We do receive some funding from the NHS but the majority of our income is generated by our fundraising and retail teams, which plays a vital part in securing income to fund our care, both now and in the future.

The role of Social Work Assistant Practitioner is to support the Weldmar Specialist Social Worker in the delivery of high quality and palliative care to patients and their carers and families predominantly in their own homes or Weldmar Day services.

Job Purpose

Under direction of the Specialist Palliative Care Social Worker the post holder will work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team, participating in the assessment of care needs and the implementation of delegated care programmes to ensure delivery of the highest standard of palliative and end of life care to patients and their carers/ families.

The post holder will be expected to undertake a broad range of social work support activities and duties, primarily related to carer support.

Although the post holder will be predominantly working in the patient’s/carers own home or day services or Joseph Weld Hospice, Dorchester, the post holder will be expected to work flexibly across care settings when this is conducive to meeting the holistic needs of the patient and their carer/family.

Scope and Limits of Authority

The post holder will be an experienced Assistant Practitioner who has the ability to:

• Deliver care and support to carers and family members with minimum direct supervision

• Contribute to patient and family/carer support through effective delivery of the delegated care programme, advocacy and emotional support.

• Promote a holistic and individualised approach to care.

• Recognise their own limitations and know when to refer onto a senior social or health care professional.

• The post holder has no direct budget responsibility but must be aware of cost implications and make effective use of resources.

Job tasks

Provision of Patient and Carer/Family Services

• To be a safe practitioner and work within Weldmar Policies, Procedures and Guidelines.

• To deliver quality care to a diverse caseload of carers/ families, as delegated by the Specialist Social Worker; working with minimum direct supervision.

• To be able to recognise and appropriately report changes in a patient’s or carer’s condition or circumstances, that requires the input of a registered social care or other professional.

• To maintain accurate, legible and contemporaneous records on all patients, to ensure documentation meets agreed standards and adheres to Caldicott guidelines.

• To communicate with Weldmar’s Specialist Social Worker and other professional colleagues regarding changes and ongoing care and support needs of patients and their carers/families on a regular basis.

• To establish and maintain effective communication with other members of the multi-disciplinary team and members of the wider health and social care community team.

• To provide emotional support and advocacy allowing patients and carers/families to express their feelings/ concerns utilising listening and empathetic skills.

• To communicate relevant information to patients and carers/ families whilst maintaining confidentiality.

• To promote independence and well- being by ensuring:

Ongoing assessment of the home environment and support networks to identify any additional needs including equipment, care packages or carers support.

• To record on Crosscare (Weldmar’s patient electronic data system) summary of contacts and interventions with the patient and or their carers/family.

• To undertake support tasks as delegated by the Specialist Social Worker, including routine follow up home visits and the coordination of day services.

• To assist patients and their carers/family with the completion of attendance allowance forms, requesting AA packs, other benefit entitlements, Blue Badges and equipment requests.

• To provide emotional support and care if applicable, immediately after a patient’s death with respect and compassion.

• To alert the specialist social worker or other senior member of the wider team if patients or their carers/family’s behaviour causes concern and merits referral onto Safeguarding Supports, Weldmar Bereavement services or other networks and agencies as appropriate.

• To initiate appropriate action in the event of an emergency situation

Organisational and Administration Responsibilities

• To ensure that appropriate accurate and up to date records are documented according to Weldmar policies and procedures.

• To ensure all other information, documentation and reporting requirements are completed including service related communication e.g. AIRS.

• To participate in agreed audit, research, surveys or other clinical governance activities as appropriate.

• To ensure the efficient and cost effective utilisation of all resources (workforce, physical and financial)

• To participate in supervision and performance review processes

• To understand and adhere to Weldmar Infection Prevention and Control and Health and Safety Policies.

Communications and Relationships

• To establish and maintain effective communication with other Weldmar team members and members of the wider health and social care community team.

• To work collaboratively with colleagues across all areas and departments in order to support and enable cross department working and provision of best practice.

• To act as an ambassador for the organisation.

Personal and Professional Development

• To act in a manner to safeguard and promote the interests of individual patients.

• To practice safely according to all Weldmar Hospicecare policies, procedures and competencies ensuring no action or omission within the sphere of post holder responsibility is detrimental to the interests, condition or safety of the patient or their carers/family.

• To continue own personal and professional development within palliative and end of life care and the provision of integrated services to patients and families.

• To proactively participate in opportunities for shared learning and personal and professional development

Any Other Duties within the Framework of the Post

This job description is not exhaustive but is intended to give an overall picture of the role. Other duties within the general scope of the post may be required from time to time. The duties of the post and job description can be reviewed via the agreed Weldmar process.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications and Knowledge

• Developed knowledge of a range of carer support requirements within a specialist healthcare environment and ability to apply this within own work, including support plans.

• Understanding of the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of patients and their families/carers

• Knowledge equivalent to NVQ III (either gained through qualification or several years effective experience)

• Foundation degree in health and social care or working towards

• Level 3 QCF award in End of life care or willing to undertake

• Willingness to undertake specified education and training programme for this role.

• Awareness of the protection of vulnerable adults legislation and local procedures

Experience

• Experience of working in palliative care or a related specialist area

• Experience of working collaboratively with professionals from other health and social care providers

• Experience of working with carers in a variety of settings.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work without direct supervision

• Demonstable interpersonal skills, including listening and negotiating

• Good verbal, non- verbal and written communication skills

• Good self/ time management skills

• Ability to use own initiative and organise own workload

• Good organisational skills e.g. organising activities, groups, delivering a programme of care

• Ability to work effectively within a team

• Ability to induct and mentor volunteers supporting this work

• Possess good IT skills i.e. ability to utilise a range of software including word, outlook and patient data base systems

• Flexible positive and proactive approach to work

Other Requirements

• Commitment to the values and ethos of Weldmar Hospicecare

• Act as an advocate and ambassador for the Charity

• Commitment to and understanding of equality and diversity and how this translates

into good practice

• Understands and conforms to Weldmar Hospicecare infection prevention and health and

safety policies and actively promotes best practice at all times.

• Commitment to own continued (professional and) personal development

• Ability to travel which requires a full valid driving licence and business insurance (if

applicable).

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