About this role
Job summary
We are looking for a compassionate and skilled Hospice Social Worker to join our dedicated Patient and Family Support Team. This is a unique opportunity to provide specialist palliative care support to patients and their families across our adult inpatient unit, Day Hospice, and Jigsaw childrens services.
At Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, we are committed to delivering holistic, person-centred care, supporting not just physical needs, but also emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing at some of the most challenging times in peoples lives.
Additional information
The role requires flexibility, including occasional weekend working
You must be able to travel between hospice sites and within the community
Main duties of the job
As a key member of our multi-professional team, you will:
Provide specialist social work support to individuals and families experiencing palliative, end of life, and bereavement care
Undertake holistic assessments and deliver tailored interventions, advocacy, and emotional support
Work in partnership with patients, families, and colleagues to achieve meaningful outcomes
Support advance care planning, ensuring people are informed and empowered in their choices
Contribute to safeguarding practice, including adults, children, mental capacity, and best interests decision-making
Work collaboratively with health, social care, and community services across North Cumbria
Support transitions for young adults and ensure continuity of care
Contribute to education and training for hospice staff, students, and wider community groups
You will also play an important role in shaping and developing social work provision across the hospice and wider Cumbria network.
About us
At Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, our work is guided by a commitment to being caring, inclusive, respectful, and innovative. We are looking for someone who shares these values and is motivated to make a difference every day.
What we offer
The opportunity to work within a highly supportive and compassionate team
Regular clinical supervision and opportunities for professional development
A chance to make a genuine impact on the lives of patients and families
Involvement in education, training, and service development initiatives
Free on-site parking Access to our Employee Assistance Programme - offering free, 24-hour support Discounted local gym membership Interview date: Wednesday 10th June
Job description Job responsibilities
Overall Aims:
To provide a specialist palliative care social service to patients and their families across all areas of the Hospice; Jigsaw, Day Hospice and the adult inpatient unit.
Be a full and committed member of the Patient and Family Support Team, representing the social psychological and spiritual needs of people experiencing palliative, end of life and bereavement care.
To work as a committed and flexible member of the whole hospice team and multi-professional palliative care team across North Cumbria.
To provide training and education opportunities for internal and external colleagues, students and community groups.
Key Areas:
Social Work
To undertake the social work role as outlined in The Role of Social Work in Palliative, End of Life and Bereavement Care (http://www.apcsw.org.uk/resources )
To undertake initial and ongoing holistic assessments of individual and systemic family needs, provide appropriate professional intervention and advocacy.
Work in partnership with individuals and families experiencing palliative, end of life and bereavement to identify and agree desired outcomes, working with other professionals to achieve goals.
Work proactively with young adults and their families to plan for transition, liaising and advocating with statutory and other community services.
Identify when individuals, families, children or young people may need additional specialist support and refer appropriately.
Introduce Advance Care Planning at an early stage to ensure that people are informed of their right to make decisions and work with the wider team to ensure that these plans are shared and understood.
Provide psychological and emotional support to both individuals and families facing and experiencing palliative, end of life and bereavement support.
Identify and respond to family and carer needs.
To proactively assess and manage risk, promoting positive taking in order for people to live where they want to and as fully as possible.
Identify and participate in the continuing health care process at the hospice and advocate for people and their families around eligibility.
Understand and respond to ethnic, cultural and spiritual influences on the patient and family .
Maintain precise and accurate record keeping of all intervention with patients and their families on the appropriate electronic systems, in line with Hospice policy.
Demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Participate in professional clinical supervision on a regular basis.
Patient and Family Support Team and Hospice
Liaise with external agencies and refer to adult social care or continuing health care as appropriate to ensure patients needs are be met on discharge, advocating to make sure that people understand their statutory rights and eligibility for care/support.
Provide leadership within the hospice with Safeguarding of Adults and Children, Mental Capacity and Best Interests, supporting the Head of Care and Chief Executive.
To support hospice events, projects and developments as opportunities arise .
With other hospices across the county to work towards the development of a coordinated, coherent specialist social work service for the people of Cumbria.
Training and Education
Contribute toward the education programme for the multi-professional palliative care team, the wider hospice workforce, and students.
Be responsible for undertaking and keep up to date with training and personal development and ensure Social Work (SW) England registration is kept up to date.
Keep up to date with relevant legislation or changes in social policy that could impact on social work practice, and act as a resource for the Hospice in relation to Safeguarding, Mental Capacity, Best Interests and DOLS issues.
General
Be aware of the security of the hospice building out of normal office hours.
Comply with health and safety requirements and all other relevant statutory regulations, policies and codes of practice.
Be aware of the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018 and follow codes of practice to ensure safeguarding and confidential information.
This job description is subject to review as part of the annual appraisal process and in case of any changed service provision.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Knowledge of relevant social work legislation and how the local health system operates
Desirable
Experience in care management and multi disciplinary team working Understanding of Data Protection Act 2018 requirements and other relevant legislation Significant post qualifying experience working with patients and families with a life limiting or terminal illness Experience of facilitating and working with groups
Skills and Abilities Essential
Understanding and commitment to palliative care Good organisational skills Developed skills in assessment and care management and a knowledge of NHS and Community Care Act Ability to work as an autonomous practitioner as well as a team player Skills/knowledge in end of life planning with patients/families/carers Ability to work in partnership with other professionals/ disciplines
Desirable
Advanced communication skills Management and leadership qualities Supervision of staff/volunteers/students Practice Educator qualification IT literate Knowledge of local and regional resources for patients/families and carers
Qualifications Essential
Degree or equivalent in Social Work Evidence of ongoing professional development
Desirable
Evidence of appropriate qualifications and experience in palliative care, counselling and bereavement support
Personal Qualities Essential
Positive attitude to change Willingness to learn Commitment to the vision, values and philosophy of Eden Valley Hospice Independently mobile with the ability to travel between the Hospice and community Caring and empathetic
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw Children's Hospice
Address Eden Valley Hospice
Durdar Road
Carlisle
CA2 4SD
Employer's website https://www.edenvalleyhospice.org/ (Opens in a new tab)