Social Worker
Job Title: Social Worker
Job Location: Park Lodge, Woverhampton
Pay: £43,500 - £45,000 pro rata depending on experience
Main Purpose of The Role:
To contribute to the development of an effective safeguarding culture across the service.
Taking the lead responsibility for all safeguarding and child protection matters arising at within the hospital. Working closely with the safeguarding nurse and medical lead to support all other staff in dealing with any child protection concerns that arise.
To be responsible under the terms of the NHS and Community Care Act 1990 and the Care Program Approach, for assessing the social care needs of children and young people with complex mental health needs (including autism, eating disorders, attachment difficulties, learning disabilities and development conditions) and who may be detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.
To design, arrange and develop social care elements of individual care programs and to monitor and review these in conjunction with the multi- disciplinary team.
General:
The post- holder will have access to a wide range of confidential information relating to patients, staff and the company which must not be divulged to any unauthorised person in any circumstances.
This role description may be subject to amendment to take account of changing circumstances but such amendments will only be made following consultation between the post- holder and the Hospital Director.
The post holder will be subject to the usual DBS and Safeguarding checks both pre-employment and ongoing as required.
Undertake other specific tasks which arise up to a level consistent with the principle roles and responsibilities of the post.
Managing Referrals:
To take lead responsibility for:
1. Referring all cases of suspected abuse relevant Local Authority children's social care, ensuring that a response is received and recorded;
2. Supporting other staff who have made referrals to Local Authority children’s social care;
3. Taking part in strategy discussions and inter-agency meetings and/or supporting other staff to do so, and to contribute to the assessment of children;
4. Referring cases to the Channel program (and supporting staff who make referrals) where there is a radicalisation concern;
5. Making referrals to the police where a crime may have been committed which involves a child;
6. Maintaining accurate and organized records of all safeguarding and child protection concerns brought to the attention of the hospital by staff, members of the public or other professionals ;
7. Acting as a source of support, advice and expertise to staff on matters of safety and safeguarding and when deciding whether to make a referral by liaising with the relevant agencies;
Raising Awareness
1. Participate in delivering safeguarding supervision as required
2. Ensure that parents are aware that referrals about suspected abuse or neglect may be made to children's social care, and the school's role in this;
3. Maintain links with the local Safeguarding Children Partnership to ensure staff are aware of training opportunities and the local policies on safeguarding;
4. Share information about the welfare, safeguarding and child protection issues that children are experiencing, or have experienced within transfer and discharge processes.
Care and Treatment:
1. Be responsible for maintaining positive links with patient’s family, friends and interested others.
2. Be responsible for ensuring the highest standard of person centered clinical practice is achieved and that the social care delivered to patients is of a consistently high standard.
3. Work closely with other professional staff ensuring a consistent pattern of care for each individual patient.
4. Establish and maintain high standards of professional practice and levels of care.
5. Help to ensure that the admission, leave and discharge of patients is appropriately and sensitively organised and achieved with the minimal amount of disruption to the patient.
6. Act as ‘appropriate adult’ in respect of PACE interviews and procedures.
7. To work with colleagues to bring about service improvement and a strengthening of the social work role in the delivery of mental health services.
8. To ensure service developments and policy changes are implemented and that change leads to service improvement.
9. To undertake the supervision and appraisal of junior staff as delegated by the Clinical Manager and/or Hospital Director.
10. Provide support to the social work team and ensure there is provision for all staff to access adequate clinical and professional supervision.
11. Maintain appropriate records of work undertaken and complete the required administrative procedures.
12. Complete comprehensive social work assessments as required from the pre admission to discharge stage incorporating individual need and risk assessment/management.
13. Participate in multidisciplinary team working with individuals, liaison with originating authorities (Health, Social Services Departments and Probation Services) pre or at admission through to discharge stage.
14. Attend clinical team meetings; - major clinical reviews, S117 Mental Health Act 1983 and C.P.A. meetings.
15. Offer a wide range of social work interventions to individuals, families and carers ensuring interventions and practices which reflect anti- discriminatory practice.
16. Ensure individuals and their families are involved in the decision- making process regarding their care wherever possible.
17. Prepare reports as required for Mental Health Review Tribunals and appeals to Hospital Managers.
18. Attend hearings as required.
19. Facilitate access to welfare rights, housing, advocacy services and associated support services.
Financial:
1. Assist patients to obtain their full entitlement to benefits and to maintain a high level of knowledge and expertise in this area.
2. Act as financial appointee for patients if required.
Administration and Training:
1. Provide comprehensive reports as required for use in clinical meetings, MHRT, CPA meetings, Hospital Managers reviews and the Courts.
2. Ensure that all policies and procedures are observed, implemented and strictly adhered to.
3. Attend and participate in statutory and mandatory training as required.
4. Ensure that there is a high standard of record keeping and general
administration in respect of individual patients’ needs and progress.
5. Be the named professional for Safeguarding Alerts, CQC notification and reporting on same to clinical governance meeting of the Hospital.
6. Ensure that all personal training is up to date in line with local policy.
7. Ensure that all patient records are contemporaneously recorded and reflect accurate and relevant information on which to base care decisions.
Professional:
1. Have a relevant professional qualification and experience of direct work with the client group.
2. Undertake professional assessments in subject specific areas (such as ADOS) and report on same.
3. Take responsibility for ensuring that the multi-disciplinary team have an up to date working knowledge of developments in Social Work practice.
4. Develop a comprehensive knowledge of resources and make this available to colleagues so that they are fully informed of choices, options and any other assistance available.
5. Be competent in the performance of professional procedures and practices.
6. Have an understanding of the Care Standards Act 2000 and practice within the requirements of this legislation.
7. Contribute to family orientated work through co-working arrangements with other therapists in the MDT to deliver family support and evidence based interventions.
8. Participate in the training of social workers and other professionals.
9. Attend supervisory, team meetings and staff meetings and undertake professional training and development as appropriate.
10. Contribute towards the overall development of the service
11. Attendance at meetings, working parties and forums.
Note:
All employees should be aware that because of the nature of work Arcadia Care Healthcare undertakes there are elements of risk relating to challenging behaviour, lifting, and handling and passive smoke. Appropriate training will be offered, and staff will be expected to participate. This Job Description is a guideline and is in no way restrictive or definitive. This document is subject to review in line with changes to requirements of service provision.