Leukaemia UK Mind and Body Social Worker
The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King’s College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in the London Borough of Bromley.
We encourage all our staff to have a healthy work/life balance. In doing so, you can apply for flexible working from the beginning of your employment. We offer a range of options which are designed to suit different circumstances and priorities in line with service requirements.
flexible-working
Job overview
This Social Work role is based in a busy, inner city hospital serving a diverse population. The post-holder will provide, develop and ensure the systematic provision of a specialist, comprehensive and evidence-based social work service for adult patients within the Haemato-Oncology (haematological malignancies) and Haemoglobinopathies (sickle cell and thalassaemia) services of the Department of Haematology.The applicant is expected to have an active interest in the needs of patients living with a chronic illness and the role of Social Work within a medical setting. In addition, the post holder will recognise, advocate and empower patient choice, and promote the autonomy of the individual within the healthcare system.
The post-holder will be responsible for establishing the most appropriate mode of care to support patients and their families in a specialist setting.
The Department of Haematology at King’s upholds a holistic, biopsychosocial approach to haematological care. Ours is the largest Haematology department in the south-east of the UK and has an extensive referral base within the SE London, Kent, Sussex and Surrey area with more than 75% of regional referrals coming to King’s.
Main duties of the job
Clinical responsibilities- To assess, evaluate and support the complex social needs of haematology patients and their carers/families.
- Advocate on behalf of patients/families/carers in respect of their social, cultural, financial, emotional, and practical needs, providing or signposting patients/carers towards benefits advice or other external/statutory services as appropriate
- To provide expert social work interventions including information, advice, support to patients, their families and other healthcare professionals.
- To assess and evaluate risk for vulnerable patients and families and manage this risk appropriately.
- To establish and develop relationships with a wide range of clinical staff, Social Services, Benefit Agencies, Welfare Groups and other service providers to promote a joined-up approach to discharge planning and patient/family support.
Please see attached Job Description for more details on the duties and responsibilities of this role.
Working for our organisation
King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.8 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites.The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus.Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical responsibilities- To assess, evaluate and support the complex social needs of haematology patients and their carers/families.
- To develop a therapeutic relationship with patients and their families/carers in order to establish communication, trust and support.
- To maintain own caseload of patients/families/carers and provide one-to-one/group support for patients/carers/families.
- To develop knowledge and understanding of Haemato-Oncology & Haemoglobinopathy disorders and the way these and their related physical health conditions, care and treatment impact a person’s psychosocial needs.
- To be a source of expert advice to the multi-disciplinary team advising on statutory duties/responsibilities and evolving social work practice, social policy and legal frameworks.
- To communicate community care needs (long-term and short-term) to relevant agencies to enable patients and families to maximise their independence and minimise risk.
- Advocate on behalf of patients/families/carers in respect of their social, cultural, financial, emotional, and practical needs, providing or signposting patients/carers towards benefits advice or other external/statutory services as appropriate
- To provide expert social work interventions including information, advice, support to patients, their families and other healthcare professionals.
- To assess and evaluate risk for vulnerable patients and families and manage this risk appropriately.
- To ensure that Haemato-Oncology and Haemoglobinopathy patients are able to access Social Work support
- To develop and review referral and support pathways with the department.
- To establish and develop relationships with a wide range of clinical staff, Social Services, Benefit Agencies, Welfare Groups and other service providers to promote a joined-up approach to discharge planning and patient/family support.
- To support the monitoring and audit of social work services within the Haematology Team.
- To actively participate and contribute to training / education programmes in the Haematology team and other settings as required.
- Where relevant, attend and participate in national and international conferences on the psychosocial needs of Haematology patients, their families and carers.
- Identify, apply and disseminate research findings relating to specialist Social Work practice.
- To identify gaps in social work research and explore development
- To prepare an annual report for the social work service within the Haematology department
- As required to attend relevant Trust, Divisional and team meetings for Haematology.
- To actively contribute to relevant initiatives within Haematology and support colleagues and the senior team to achieve wider aims.
- Support the supervision of students on placement within the team.
- To ensure all records are maintained in accordance with professional guidelines and ensure the formal reporting and recording or adverse incidents in line with Trust policy.
- To work with the current Social Workers to identify and develop a sustainable model of social work support across the Trust including Haematology.
- To attend and contribute towards Trust Social Work platforms including monthly meeting, CPD events and conferences.
- To attend regular clinical supervision to discuss practice issues and the emotional impact of the role.
- To keep up to date with current literature and developments in practice that are specific to Social Work.
- To ensure ongoing registration as a social worker with Social Work England and be an active member of the trust social work network
- Identify and set professional objectives in line with role and speciality. Review and appraise objectives during meetings with line manager
- To maintain your own personal and professional development in line with professional standards and the requirements of Social Work England.
General
At King’s we are a kind, respectful team:
Kind. We show compassion and understanding and bring a positive attitude to our work
Respectful. We promote equality, are inclusive and honest, speaking up when needed
Team. We support each other, communicate openly, and are reassuringly professional- The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
- To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as the employing trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
- To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
- To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
- This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
Safe Guarding
The Trust takes the issues of Safeguarding Children, Adults and addressing Domestic Abuse very seriously. All employees have a responsibility to support the organisation in our duties by;- attending mandatory training on safeguarding children and adults
- familiarising themselves with the Trust's processes for reporting concerns
- reporting any safeguarding child or adult concerns appropriately
Infection Control Statement
The post holder has an important responsibility for and contribution to make to infection control and must be familiar with the infection control and hygiene requirements of this role.
These requirements are set out in the National Code of Practice on Infection Control and in local policies and procedures which will be made clear during your induction and subsequent refresher training. These standards must be strictly complied with at all times.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Certificate/Diploma/Degree in Social Work
- Registration with Social Work England
- Completed or working towards Post- Graduate degree in Social Work/Policy
- Obtained Post-Graduate certificate in Practice Education/Enabling Others
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria- Independent working / experience of managing own caseload
- Experience in caring for patients and families with long term health conditions
- Experience working with loss and grief
- Working knowledge of current social policy/ legislation related to safeguarding vulnerable adults and children, mental capacity, welfare rights and benefits for adults and children
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
- Evaluate complex psychosocial needs of patients & those close to them
- Experience of receiving clinical supervision
- Experience in caring for patients/ families with Cancer or Haematological conditions
- Experience in caring for patients and families in an acute setting e.g. hospital social work / critical care / trauma
- Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
- If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
- To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
- Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
- Click here to see the range of benefits we offer
- Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
- All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
- Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Annual Reports and Other Corporate Publications
King's Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre Website
King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.