********PLEASE COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM FULLY, CV'S ARE NOT ACCEPETED********** Principal Duties and Responsibilities Professional / Clinical The Social Worker Medical will:
Provide a direct point of access for the local community/designated service area and offer initial and holistic social assessment and intervention to individuals, families and groups. Provide an initial assessment service to all care groups and to develop referral procedures with other social work networked services. Identify service users' individual and collective needs in partnership with them and co-create early interventions and/or social action strategies to meet those needs. Provide a psychosocial assessment and formulate a care plan in conjunction with the client/carer/family and the multidisciplinary team. Manage and prioritise a caseload appropriate to the post. Provide supportive counselling, emotional and practical support, and information to service users and their families. Adopt a holistic approach aimed at enhancing the quality of life, health and social well-being of all persons within the designated service area. Promote independence, self-reliance, self-determination and empowerment with persons in their environment, with families and local groups. Make it possible for service users to advocate for their own needs, or where appropriate advocate on behalf of service users. Link individuals with the services/resources appropriate to their particular needs. Plan, deliver and engage in systemic interventions as appropriate with individuals, families, groups, organisations and communities. · Deliver social work service in collaboration with other disciplines / agencies as required, in appropriate settings reflecting the needs of the service user. Assess where social conditions are a major factor in health and social wellbeing, consult and plan with the service user/ relevant team/ service and arrange appropriate social services for those who need them. Monitor and evaluate outcomes of person centred care plans for individual service users. Actively participate as a member of the relevant team/ service in team building and change management initiatives. Attend case conferences, meetings and other relevant fora as required. Attend court, tribunals etc as required. Work within current legislation, relevant policies and procedures, guidelines and protocols as laid down by the employer. Incorporate Social Work values and ethical principles in planning, developing, implementing and reviewing interventions. Implement models of best practice / evidence based practice. Work within a key worker / case worker system, providing a co-ordinating role for case management where appropriate. Take direction from his / her line manager. Take an active role in an appropriate level of planned professional supervision, in accordance with the local/ national Supervision Policy. Engage in reflective practice. Deputise for the Senior Medical Social Worker as agreed / appropriate. Promote a culture that values diversity and respect in the workplace. Keep the Senior Medical Social Worker/Principal Social Worker fully informed and up-to-date on all significant matters. Keep accurate signed records of all medical social work intervention and ensure that statistical data on service provision is available as requested. As a mandated person under the Children First Act 2015 you will have a legal obligation to report child protection concerns at or above a defined threshold to TUSLA & to assist Tusla, if requested, in assessing a concern which has been the subject of a mandated report. Comply with professional obligations under the HSE Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons at Risk of Abuse National Policy & Procedures (2014) Deliver a quality service to service users ensuring professional standards are maintained in accordance with the requirements as set out by CORU > of proficiency-for social-care-workers.pdf. Education & Training The Medical Social Worker will:
Maintain standards of practice and levels of professional knowledge by participating in continuous professional development initiatives and attendance at courses as appropriate. Engage in career and professional development planning in collaboration with the Senior Medical Social Worker / Principal Social Worker. Keep up to date with advances in Social Work research, and ongoing review and evaluation of literature relevant to the assigned area. Keep abreast of developments in national policies and strategies and international best practice. Keep up to date with organisational developments within the Irish Health Service. Act as a resource by participating in the induction, education and training of Social Work colleagues, other health professionals and service user groups as required. Participate in the practice education of student Social Workers. Support and train other staff in accordance with professional standards as appropriate. Foster an understanding of the role and contribution of social work by providing professional consultation and education to other members of the service. Take an active role in professional clinical supervision and engage in reflective practice in accordance with CORU requirements and the local/national supervision policy. Health & Safety The Medical Social Worker will:
Comply with and contribute to the development of policies, procedures, guidelines and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards. Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc.
and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role. Be aware of risk management issues.
Adequately identify, assess, manage and monitor risk within their area of responsibility. To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service. Administrative The Medical Social Worker will:
Maintain a high standard of documentation, including service user files in accordance with local guidelines and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. Maintain accurate up to date records and files, and submit activity data as required. Write accurate, clear, concise and purposeful reports. Ensure the maintenance of service user and data confidentiality. Contribute to the development and implementation of information sharing protocols and audit systems. Contribute to policy development, performance monitoring and budgetary control of service in conjunction with the Senior Medical Social Worker / Principal Social Worker. Collaborate with the Senior Medical Social Worker / Principal Social Worker or designate in developing the role of the Social Worker and the service e.g.
through planning, audit, production of standards, continuing education, quality improvement initiatives and research. Assist in ensuring that the social work service makes the most efficient and effective use of developments in IT. The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.