Job Title
Medical Social Worker
Department
Allied Therapy
Reports to
Allied Therapy Manager
Date
2026
Contract
3 Month Contract
Overall Purpose of Job
To provide a professional medical social work service to patients referred to the Medical Social Work Department.
To carry out psychosocial assessments with patients, their families and carers.
Facilitate discharge planning – supporting patients to discharge safely from hospital and linking them into community resources.
Provide guidance and support to patients and their families.
Key Responsibilities
To provide support, counselling and information as appropriate to hospital patients and their families within the specific area of work allocated to him/her.
To carry out psycho-social assessments where social issues are a factor in illness management and advise the multidisciplinary team on the outcome.
To formulate discharge care plans for patients together with the multidisciplinary team.
Work as part of a multidisciplinary team, liaising and working with medical, nursing and other disciplines in the hospital, to ensure patients receive a comprehensive psychosocial service.
Work closely with HSE, statutory and voluntary bodies as part of the discharge planning pathway for a patient.
Work within current legislation, guidance and organisational policies and procedures.
Maintain accurate records in accordance with professional standards and departmental policies.
To contribute to the management of the Medical Social Work Department by taking on specific responsibilities/projects as agreed with your manager.
To keep abreast of new developments in Medical Social Work, and assume responsibility for their own professional development.
All posts in Beacon Hospital require a high level of flexibility to ensure the delivery of an effective and efficient service. The post holder will be required to demonstrate flexibility as and when required by their manager or hospital management.
Person Specification
Qualifications / Experience
National Qualification in Social Work (NQSW) or equivalent.
Current CORU registered Social Worker.
Experience in acute hospital setting.
Member of a specialist interest group.
Audit or Quality Improvement experience.
Post graduate or qualification course in relevant area.
Core Competencies
Experience managing their own caseload.
Demonstrate excellent knowledge and understanding of collaborative team working ideally within a hospital setting.
Demonstrates excellent multi-disciplinary team working and can promote Medical Social Work within a hospital setting.
Demonstrate excellent knowledge of current issues in Medical Social Work.
Demonstrate sufficient clinical knowledge and evidence-based practice to carry the out duties and responsibilities of the role.
Demonstrate the ability to plan and deliver care in an effective and resourceful manner within a model of person-centred care.
Demonstrate an ability to manage and develop self and others in a busy working environment.
Demonstrate a commitment to assuring high standards and strive for a user centred service.
Display effective communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to collaborate with colleagues, families, carers, etc.
Demonstrate flexibility and openness to change.
Demonstrate ability to utilise supervision effectively.
Demonstrate a willingness to develop IT skills relevant to the role.
Demonstrate an ability to write reports, correspondence and procedural manuals.
Demonstrate ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from doctors, hospital staff, patients and patient's families.
Experience in group work.
Experience in Project work.
This job description is intended to be an outline of the areas of responsibility and deliverables at the time of writing. As the Hospital and the post holder develop, this job description may be subject to review in light of the changing needs of the hospital.
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