Job Description

Overgate Hospice

Social Worker

1 Year Fixed Term Contract

Salary

32,050.16 - Full Time Equivalent

Hours

16 hours per week

Responsible to

Head of Patient Family Support Team

Accountable to

Deputy Director of Clinical Services

Overgate Hospice is an independent charity with a mission to ensure that patients and those close to them live with the best possible quality of life. This is enabled by provision of the highest standard of compassionate and evidence-based specialist palliative and end of life care for adults in Calderdale who have active, progressive life limiting illness.

However, the current constraints of our ageing facilities are making this more difficult than ever. Our ambitious redevelopment plans will modernise and expand our existing facilities to transform the environment in which we care for our patients, as well as meaning we can care for more people who need us. In April 2024, Overgate Hospice launched a capital appeal, the Big Build Appeal, to raise the funds needed to make these transformational plans become a reality.

Job Summary

The post holder will work as a social worker and will be part of the Patient and Family Support Team (PFST) working within both the Inpatient Unit, Day Hospice, and lone working in the community.

The role will involve acting in a responsible and efficient manner to ensure that patients, carers, and families receive the necessary psychological and social assessment and ongoing support they need.

The role involves therapeutic interventions, legal and ethical responsibilities, care coordination, and advocacy.

The post holder will act as one of the organizational Safeguarding Leads.

The post holder will act as one of the organisational Mental Capacity Act (2005) (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) (Liberty Protection Safeguards) leads.

Duties and Responsibilities

Complete holistic, psychosocial assessments that reflect the views and needs of the individual and those important to them.

Provide care coordination, discharge planning, and advocacy.

Offer emotional support to patients and families coping with terminal illness and bereavement.

Support patients and carers with discharge planning, care packages, benefit advice, wills, and advanced care planning.

Support children and young people through age-appropriate resources, school liaison, and referrals for child psychotherapy.

Facilitate legacy work such as creating memory boxes.

Use analytical skills and evidence-based practice to inform assessments and interventions.

Collaborate with others to create effective, personalised plans for positive outcomes.

Promote independence, empowerment, well-being, choice, and control.

Assess and manage risk appropriately, ensuring safety and upholding human rights.

Advocate for individuals with life-limiting illness and their families, responding to changing needs.

Ensure timely transfer of care across health and social care systems.

Identify and anticipate bereavement needs, participating in follow-up, handover, and referral as appropriate.

Manage caseload proactively, prioritising referrals and meeting performance targets.

As safeguarding lead, remain updated on legislation, maintain accurate records, provide training, support colleagues, and advocate for at-risk individuals, ensuring a preventative approach.

Clinical

Provide consultative advice, education, and support to members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) regarding Safeguarding, Mental Capacity Act (2005) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

Apply for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLs) to protect patients' rights and ensure safety within care settings.

Assess mental capacity for patients making critical decisions about their care and support needs, adhering to stringent legal and ethical standards.

Apply for NHS Funding for care; including Fast Track funding and Continuing Healthcare.

Prepare detailed reports for DST meetings and attend DST meetings and other care planning sessions.

Collaborating with healthcare providers, community agencies, and other stakeholders to develop and implement comprehensive care plans.

Attend family meetings and home visits as required.

Participate in and provide advice, as appropriate, with respect to discharge planning, working closely with the MDT to facilitate effective and successful discharge.

Maintain accurate written and computerised records to facilitate communication within the Hospice and with other agencies.

Service Development

Work collaboratively with community agencies (both statutory and voluntary) for the benefit of people with advanced life limiting illness and their family/carers.

Have a knowledge and understanding of emergent healthcare policy.

Engage in service development within PFST and wider Hospice as required.

Collect and share appropriate data as required.

Maintain accurate, concise, and up to date records.

Maintain integrity for the service by contributing to evidence based practice and adherence to the latest professional and clinical guidelines.

Effectively engage with volunteers to enhance service provision and contribute to volunteer training as required.

Network with other hospice and social work teams locally and nationally, keeping up to date in developments.

Participate in the development and review of Hospice operational policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Keep up to date with respect to Care Quality Commission inspections and information requirements with regard to patients, families, and carers, to ensure that the Hospice is compliant with statutory requirements.

Personal/Professional Development

Contribute to multi disciplinary teaching programmes internally and externally.

Support social work students.

Undertake relevant professional training and qualifications as required.

Take responsibility for own professional development in line with appraisal.

Undertake opportunities that allow reflection including team meetings, line management meetings and clinical supervision.

Adhere to and maintain standards of proficiency laid down by the Health and Care Professions Council in relation to social work practice ensuring maintenance of fitness to practice.

Promote a culture of openness, honesty, respect, and integrity observing the organisational behaviour framework.

Key Working Relationships

Patients and their Carers

Patient & Family Support Team

Clinical and Medical Teams - Day Hospice, IPU & Clinical Admin Teams.

Head of Patient & Family Support Team

Deputy Director of Clinical Services

Senior Leadership Team

Community Palliative Care Social Work Team

Integrated Care Board / Continuing Healthcare (CHC) / Gateway to Care

Additional Duties

In addition to the above functions' employees are required to carry out such other duties as may reasonably be required.

Overgate General Duties & Responsibilities

Overgate Hospice is a no smoking organisation.

The employee must maintain a safe working environment in accordance with Overgate Hospices Health and Safety policies & abide by the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974).

The employee must attend annual mandatory training sessions.

The employee must ensure that they comply with all Hospice policies and procedures at all times & participate in the development and implementation of Hospice policies.

The employee must maintain strict confidentiality at all times, applying to all aspects of Hospice business and work within the guidelines of the Data Protection Act.

Employees must demonstrate commitment to their own personal development and are required to make a positive contribution to fundraising and raising the profile of the Hospice locally and nationally.

Employees must adhere to the Hospice's Standards of Behaviour Framework in all aspects of their work.

Work closely with the Volunteer Services Coordinator as appropriate to ensure that any volunteers are supported in their roles, addressing any issues as they arise.

Use all Hospice resources economically and cost effectively.

This job description is not exhaustive and will be subject to periodic review. The employer and the employee share responsibility to review and amend it as appropriate.

Safeguarding Adults and Children at Risk

All Hospice staff are required to act in such a way that at all times safeguards the health and well-being of children and adults at risk. Familiarisation with and adherence to the Hospice safeguarding policies is an essential requirement of all employees as is participation in related mandatory/statutory training.

Valuing Diversity and Equality

All employees should carry out their duties in accordance with the values and principles of valuing diversity and equity of provision. It is the responsibility of all employees to support the Hospice vision of promoting a positive attitude to diversity and equality of opportunity, to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage in service delivery and employment, and to manage, support or comply through the implementation of the Hospice's Equal Opportunities Policy.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

Qualifications

Essential

DipsSW Diploma or Degree in SW.

Plus Registration with Social Work England.

Experience

Essential

Proven experience of working with issues of loss and life limiting illness.

Proven experience of assessment and planning intervention

Proven experience in working with adults, families and children.

Proven experience of working with adults in need or at risk including adult safeguarding

Proven experience of assessing and responding to risk

Desirable

Experience in planning, development, and co ordination of group interventions.

Experience in working in a palliative care setting

Experience in producing risk assessments

Proven experience of working in a healthcare setting

Knowledge

Essential

Good knowledge of Microsoft Applications and ability to use IT based systems

Good knowledge of MCA 2005 & DoLS

Robust knowledge of current legislation relevant to role

Knowledge of safeguarding legislation

Knowledge of the impact of illness and anticipatory grieving on individual and family functioning

Understanding of loss and bereavement

Knowledge of relevant voluntary and statutory agencies

Desirable

Knowledge and understanding of the hospice environment

Knowledge of SystmOne or Electronic Patient Records system

Skills

Essential

Enhanced communication and interpersonal skills

Understanding and experience of MDT working

Commitment to learning and development

Able to use own initiative and work autonomously

Ability to organise and prioritise work

Desirable

Skills in group work facilitation

Personal Characteristics

Essential

Approachable

Professional

Empathetic

Motivated

Enthusiastic

Flexible

Desirable

Innovative

Requirements

Essential

Current driving licence and access to own transport.

Job Types: Part-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: 32,050.00 per year

Expected hours: 16 per week

Benefits:

Canteen Company pension Free parking Life insurance
Schedule:

Day shift Monday to Friday
Licence/Certification:

DipsSW Diploma or Degree in Social Work (required) Plus Registration with Social Work England (required)
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 15/06/2025