Senior Medical Social Worker

Position Summary:

The appointee will join an established team in Beaumont Hospital and will be responsible for the provision of psychosocial care to patients and their families. Skills in assessment crisis intervention and counselling family work group work and bereavement follow-up care are highly desirable for this position.

The successful appointee will join a large dynamic social work team committed to providing a quality service to patients of Beaumont Hospital. The person holding this office shall carry out duties under the management of the Principal Medical Social Worker in relation to the provision and development of social work services.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Professional/Clinical

The Social Worker Team Leader will:

• Be responsible for the management of the day-to-day provision of the social work service in conjunction with the Principal Social Worker.
• Take direct responsibility for the Caseload as required / directed by the Principal Social Worker (General Medicine) in particular cases that require a high level of experience and expertise.
• Manage/ provide an initial assessment service to relevant/ all care groups and to develop referral procedures with other social work networked services.
• Provide counselling support and information to patients and their relatives to assist them in developing strategies to cope with the psychosocial and emotional impact of hospitalisation and illness.
• Comprehensive ongoing work with patients and families using appropriate intervention models and involving other members of the multi-disciplinary team as appropriate.
• Conduct home assessments and follow-up visits when necessary and participate in pre-discharge home visits with patients. All work outside the hospital will adhere to the current Medical Social Work policy guidelines.
• Carry out psychosocial assessments where social issues are a factor in illness management and advise the inter-disciplinary team on assessment outcomes when appropriate.
• Formulate discharge care plans for patients. The discharge planning process is conducted within the context of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Plan after care programmes for patients and their families which may include referral to community based resources and support services.
• Ensure the implementation of models of best practice / evidence based practice.
• Ensure the delivery of social work services in accordance with legislation policies and procedures guidelines and protocols.
• Ensure the delivery of social work services in an integrated and multidisciplinary manner with a range of statutory and voluntary groups and organisations.
• Ensure the promotion of the social model of care and recognition of the social determinants of health and well being.
• Ensure anti-discriminatory practice and cultural competence at individual and service levels.
• Porvide an appropriate level of supervision for staff consistent with good practice and the local/ national supervision policy.
• Promote a culture that values diversity and respect in the workplace.
• Participate in working groups / committees / fora as requested by the Principal Social Worker.
• Chair attend and manage a range of meetings including case conferences as required.
• Attend court tribunals etc. as and when required.
• Seek the advice of relevant personnel when appropriate / as required.
• Take direction from the Principal Social Worker.
• Take an active role in an appropriate level of planned professional supervision in accordance with the local/ national Supervision Policy.
• Keep the Principal Social Worker fully informed and up-to-date on all significant matters.
• May be directed to undertake other duties in the hospital and at such other locations as may be required by the Chief Executive Officer or Principal Medical Social Worker

Education & Training

The Social Worker Team Leader will:

• Maintain standards of practice and levels of professional knowledge by monitoring and reviewing the standards within their area of responsibility participating in and organising continuous professional development initiatives and professional development planning.
• Keep updated on current and impending legislation and the perceived impact on practice.
• Keep abreast of developments in national policies and strategies and international best practice.
• Keep up to date with organisational developments within the Irish Health and Social Services.
• Actively engage in staff development and training by making recommendations with regard to the ongoing education mentoring training and in-service needs of social workers.
• Act as a resource by participating in and promoting the education and training of Social Work colleagues other health professionals and service user groups including clinical audit and research.
• Foster an understanding of the role and contribution of social work by providing professional consultation and education to other members of the service.

Health & Safety

The Social Worker Team Leader will:

• Comply with and contribute to the development of policies procedures and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation regulations and standards and ensure that staff comply with same.
• Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example Standards for Healthcare National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections Hygiene Standards etc. and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.
• Support promote and actively participate in sustainable energy water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable low carbon and efficient health service.

Management

The Social Worker Team Leader will:

• Provide leadership and motivation in order to optimise service delivery by developing teams and promoting change management.
• Be responsible for the probationary appraisal of staff and the completion of probationary appraisal reports as required. Make appropriate recommendations regarding whether employees standard of work during probation is satisfactory and whether appointments should be confirmed.
• Ensure compliance with and implement HR policies and procedures and guidelines.
• Manage a budget as defined by the Principal Social Worker if appropriate.
• Contribute to a range of reports including annual reports performance indicators etc. as required.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policy information sharing protocols audit systems and referral and integrated care pathways.
• Contribute to service plan process by recognising and replicating successful interventions and by identifying unmet needs and service requirements into the future.
• Ensure a high standard of documentation including service user files in accordance with local guidelines and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
• Ensure the maintenance of service user and data confidentiality.
• Deputise for the Principal Social Worker as agreed when required.
• Assist in ensuring that the social work service makes the most efficient and effective use of developments in IT.

Selection Criteria:
Selection criteria outline the qualifications skills knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post.
Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

1. Statutory Registration Professional Qualifications Experience etc
(a) Candidates for appointment must:
(i) Be registered or be eligible for registration on the Social Workers Register
maintained by the Social Workers Registration Board at CORU.
AND
(ii) Have 3 years full time (or an aggregate of 3 years full time) relevant post
qualification experience.
AND
(iii) Have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability
and professional ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.
(iv) Provide proof of Statutory Registration on the Social Workers Register maintained
by the Social Workers Registration Board at CORU before a contract of
employment can be issued.

2. Annual registration
(i) On appointment practitioners must maintain annual registration on the Social
Workers Register maintained by the Social Workers Registration Board at CORU.
AND
(ii) Practitioners must confirm annual registration with CORU to the HSE by way of the
annual Patient Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC).

3. Health
Candidates for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of
undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would
indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

4. Character
Candidates for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

Mandatory:

Must be registered in the Social Work Register maintained by the Social Work Registration board at CORU.

And

Maintain live annual registration on the Social Workers Register maintained by the Social Workers Registration Board at CORU

And

Must have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and professional ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

And

Have three years relevant experience subsequent to obtaining that qualification

Desirable:

Will have relevant post qualification experience in a healthcare setting

And/Or

Have experience of staff supervision

Informal Enquiries Only To