The post holder will work as a member of the GOSH social work and family support service to provide direct practical and financial advice emotional and social support services to patients and their families. A key function of the post will be to advocate for community services and resources on behalf of families and make appropriate and timely referrals to appropriate local services.

Main duties of the job

The duties of the post are:

• To provide practical support advice and assistance to families in line with the agreed framework for the provision of psychosocial support to the hospital
• To work directly with families to provide practical support and assistance, under the supervision of a social worker/senior social worker
• To work directly with children who have a range of health conditions and their families who may be highly distressed.Attend regular team meetings to consider new referrals and allocation of work according to need, taking referrals from members of the multidisciplinary team.
• To implement procedures for the effective management and dispersal of financial assistance from the various funds available, including assessing need for assistance and arranging payments.
• To work in conjunction with other psychosocial staff, clinical staff and benefits advisors within the hospital and in the community to ensure timely and effective support for patients and families.To liaise with other professionals involved in child's care, for example teachers, social workers, community nurses, etc. This may include communicating sensitive information in an appropriate manner given the high level of stress that families may be experiencing.
• To advise families (and staff as necessary) on welfare benefits, charitable support and volunteer organisations.Proactively seeking information on eligibility criteria and application processes for charitable assistance

About us

GOSH is committed to recruiting the best person for the job, based solely on their ability and individual merit as measured against the criteria for the role through a process that is fair, open, consistent and free from bias and discrimination.

We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture where all staff are valued, respected and acknowledged. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability status or length of time spent unemployed.

We particularly welcome applications from BAME communities, people with disabilities and/or long-term health conditions and LGBT+ community members.

We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants and employees are treated fairly and consistently. We are proud to be accredited as a Disability Confident Employer, a member of Business Disability Forum and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

We have active and Executive supported BAME, LGBT+ and Allies, Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions and Women's staff networks. Staff networks are employee-led groups formed around interests, issues and a common bond or background. Staff network members create a positive and inclusive work environment at Great Ormond Street Hospital by actively contributing to the Trust's mission, values and efforts specific to inclusion. All of our staff networks are open to any employee.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment/s below.

Person Specification

GOSH Culture and Values

Essential

• Our Always values
• Experience of contributing to an inclusive workplace culture.

Academic/Professional qualification/Training

Essential

• Honour's degree or equivalent in social science/psychology or related discipline or equivalent relevant experience.

Experience/Knowledge

Essential

• Experience of working successfully with children and or families in a multi disciplinary setting
• Knowledge of welfare benefits and legislation that pertain to this client population (Children Act 1989, Disability Discrimination Act1995 Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000)
• General competencies with standard IT packages
• Knowledge of Child Protection Procedures
• Understanding of confidentiality in the work place
• Flexibility initiative and self-reliance, efficiency good organisational skills and ability to affectively use supervision
• Creativity and motivation to develop the role and contribute to the ongoing growth and development of psychosocial services in the hospital

Desirable

• Understanding of needs and difficulties of children diagnosed with a wide range of health conditions.Understanding of needs and difficulties of children diagnosed with a wide range of health conditions.

Skills/Abilities

Essential

• High level of communication skills written and verbal. Including an ability to effectively work in setting in which the atmosphere may be highly emotive
• Ability to assess family circumstances, including the need for financial assistance
• Ability to communicate sensitive information to patients, carers, colleagues and other professionals
• Ability to liaise and negotiate effectively with internal and external services
• Ability to work independently, reliably and consistently with work agreed and managed at regular intervals
• Ability to maintain clarity of role and function in an environment with contrasting demands
• Ability to carry out an agreed programme of work, achieving targets and goals with defined time scales
• Excellent organisation ability and time management
• High standard of report writing/case recording

Employer details

Employer name

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Great Ormond street Hospital

Great Ormond Street

London

WC1N 3JH

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

271-NPE-6391522