Specialist Social Worker - Infected Blood Inquiry
Job overview
This is an exciting opportunity to work in a muilt-disciplinary setting, supporting and advocating those living with sickle cell and Haemophilia. The haematology service hosts the West London Haemoglobinopathy Coordinating Centre (HCC) which facilitates the coordination of treatment for adults and children with sickle cell disorders in North West and South West London.The West London HCC is part of a national specialised services programme commissioned by NHS England. ‘Haemophilia’ here refers to all inherited bleeding disorders (IBD).
The specialist social worker post provides an opportunity to work across a wide and dynamic MDT including doctors, clinical nurse specialists, community specialist nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists and other allied health professionals working in partnership.The specialist social worker will provide ad hoc non-medical information, advice and support to clients, parents and families living with sickle cell or haemophilia or IBD to support them with their specialist needs.
You will provide expert social work input for Sickle Cell and Haemophilia patients under the care of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (ICHT) and outreach services to local communities of Hammersmith & Fulham and surrounding boroughs in NW London.You will be based between Hammersmith and St Mary's Hospitals.
Main duties of the job- Link with national organisations, local centres and develop and support local service user groups in NW London.
- Attend outpatient and other sessions e.g. ward rounds and MDT meetings at ICHT
- Provide specialist advice in housing, finances, and benefits at work and at school
- Ensure early liaison with the community teams of pending discharges direct to community.
- Support the facilitation of prompt and appropriate inpatient and outpatient discharges, ensuring continuity with community services.
- Assess and evaluate patients’ emotional, social, practical, and financial needs in collaboration with the specialist multi-disciplinary team, and support or signpost accordingly.
- Work closely with the clinical and discharge teams to help plan and support discharge planning.
- Provide information and advice for patients and their families/carers relating to all manner of practical matters such as housing, care at home and benefits.
- Develop positive working relationships with other organisations, including support groups Sickle Cell Society and Brent Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Centre, The Haemophilia Society for the benefit of the patients and relatives/carers.
- Participate and support user group meetings
- Carry out social care assessments and make relevant referrals to partner agencies.
- To work with individuals with a chronic life-long inherited IBD or Haemoglobinopathy disorder such as Sickle cell disease and thalassaemia, including their families/carers.
Working for our organisation
The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.
As a CNWL Social worker we offer ample opportunities to enhance your CPD and progress your Social Work Career This includes an opportunity to train as an AMHP, BIA/AMCP and there is a defined structure to become a practice teacher.
Overall, we are a supportive organisation that will support in developing whatever your interests and passions might be.
We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. See attached Staff Reward and Wellbeing Handbook detailing our benefits, discounts and wellbeing initiatives for staff.
Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Alongside main duties- Create and maintain strong links with the coordinator of Special Educational Needs Service Sickle Cell Centre direct referrals to the service, and joint working with the service when approaching schools.
- Hold regular meetings with the Special Educational Needs Service in order to discuss any concerns about individual children.
- Provide training and advice to clinical and non-clinical members of the organisations covered including education/teaching sessions. Raise awareness of sickle cell and IBD within the community and among professionals.
- Provide relevant information to the Special Educational Needs Service for a young person’s Education Health Care (EHC) plan.
- Support and deliver patient education as appropriate.
- Observe confidentiality in all matters pertaining to patients and their families/carers and staff.
- Act as a resource for staff in adult and child safeguarding concerns to inform and support issues as they arise and maintain links with the Trust safeguarding team
- Comply with professional standards for documentation and maintain records used within the service, including the use of IT systems.
- Be registered with the Social Work governing body and maintain registration by continuous professional and personal development
- Provide cover for colleagues as appropriate.
- Identify and report any safeguarding concerns
- Assist in producing ad hoc reports and in project work.
- Undertake any other duties requested as appropriate to the banding.
- To manage own caseload with regards to time management.
- Collect and monitor all appropriate data as required and enable appropriate analysis and actions to be applied to collated information in order to develop services
Person specification
Education / Qualifications
Essential criteria- Social Work Qualification
- Current HCPC Registration
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Professional Expertise
- Evidence of training/education in Haemoglobinopathy and or IBD
- Best Interest Assessor Qualification
Experience
Essential criteria- Significant experience at identifying and assessing the social needs of people living with long-term conditions such as sickle cell or haemophilia
- Experience if working with children, adults and their families.
- Experience of safeguarding children and adults at risk
- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
- Experience of working with diverse and hard to engage communities
- Knowledge of regulatory requirements and relevant policy and procedures i.e. Care Council for Wales Desirable
- Previous knowledge of working with patients with a chronic condition
- Experience of working within a hospital/clinical setting
- Experience of planning and delivering community engagement events
- Experience of working with sickle cell and/or inherited bleeding disorders.
Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria- Presentation skills
- Working in a culturally sensitive way
- Ability to instigate and/or assist with the development of new initiatives and create opportunities for the betterment of the client group
- Ability to write to clear and concise reports and assessments for varying audiences
- Enable clients to develop strategies for self empowerment, self reliance and advocacy
- A deep understanding of appropriate joint working with social work teams in the relevant boroughs is essential
- Ability to manage conflicting viewpoints
- Advanced communication skills in a variety of situations
- Assessment skills - care planning and coordination
- Organisational skills - case load management
- Analytical skills
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential criteria- Evidenced based strengths based social work interventions relevant to the service
- Knowledge of key issues relating to developments in Sickle Cell and Haemophilia and implication on service provision
- Knowledge of regulatory requirements and relevant policy and procedures i.e. Care Council for Wales Desirable
- Previous knowledge of working with patients with a chronic condition
- Expert knowledge of: Mental Health Act Care Act, Mental Capacity Act including Court of Protection Homelessness Reduction Act and Housing legislation
CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.
Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference.We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.
We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.
We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page
Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.
CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.
Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.
If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.