Family Support Social Worker

Job summary

The children and young people's symptom and palliative care team are seeking an experienced family support social worker to join our team at the Royal Marsden. This is an exciting role in within the team.

We know it takes a very special person to care for children with cancer. We're looking for someone with dedication, compassion and strength of character that can make a difference in The Royal Marsden's 31-bed Oak Centre for Children and Young People, one of the largest children's cancer centres in Europe.

Main duties of the job

The children and young people's symptom and palliative care team are seeking an experienced family support social worker to join our team at the Royal Marsden. This is an exciting role in within the team.

We know it takes a very special person to care for children with cancer. We're looking for someone with dedication, compassion and strength of character that can make a difference in The Royal Marsden's 31-bed Oak Centre for Children and Young People, one of the largest children's cancer centres in Europe.

The Centre has been designed around the needs of our young patients and their families. In fact, many children and young people who have been treated at The Royal Marsden contributed to the layout, design and colour schemes for the interior of the Centre. Offering comprehensive and cutting-edge treatment, the department is based in the heart of our Sutton hospital which means that our young patients benefit from a wealth of expertise around them and the care they receive is tailored to their specific needs.

About us

The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is a world-leading cancer centre. Our role is to offer our patients the best cancer care available anywhere in the world, and to continue to make a global contribution to finding better ways of diagnosing and treating cancer. We employ over 4,500 staff in a diverse range of careers including nursing, medical, science, radiography, pharmacy, occupational therapy, finance and administrative services. We have two hospitals - one in Chelsea, London, and one in Sutton, Surrey - as well as a Medical Daycare Unit in Kingston Hospital.

At The Royal Marsden, we deal with cancer every day, so we understand how valuable life is. When people entrust their lives to us, they have the right to demand the very best. That's why the pursuit of excellence lies at the heart of everything we do.

At the heart of the hospital is our dedicated team. We offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment, a wide range of staff benefits, learning and development opportunities and clear career pathways. There are opportunities to work flexibly across a range of areas and specialities and we welcome flexible working requests from point of hire to support employees work life balance. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our values and can play a crucial role in our on-going achievements.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification:

The team also provides on treatment support for complex pain and symptoms. They also have a close working relationship with paediatric drug development team to support children entering clinical and drug trials.

The service has a well-established regular bereaved parents group which contributes to the paediatric palliative care service development and research.

The service provides symptom care support to any child, on or off treatment, with complex symptoms and facilitates provision of palliative care in all settings. Often the service provides a dual model of care approach with palliative care supporting alongside on-going curative or treatment targeted options. At the time of transition to palliation when symptoms are beginning to impact, a palliative care multidisciplinary team meeting is held at the Royal Marsden. When the childs condition starts to develop significant symptoms, or they are entering the deteriorating phase of their illness, a GP meeting at the familys GP surgery is held with local services and family members (if they wish to attend). The GP meeting is held in order to identify roles and responsibilities and co-ordinate community and acute services (if required) to ensure care is delivered to meet the child or young persons needs. Advance care, symptom management and emergency care plans are completed, as appropriate, for children receiving palliation and end of life care.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

Current Social Work England registration

DipSW, degree or equivalent

Minimum of 2 years post qualification experience

Evidence of on-going professional development

Desirable

Counselling qualification

Experience

Essential

Experience of working as a children's social worker in a local authority

Experience of working with adults at risk

Experience of working with individuals facing or experiencing bereavement

Experience in working with loss and grief

Experience of independent working/managing own caseload

Desirable

Experience in palliative care, complex care or disability

Teaching experience/qualification

Skills Abilities/knowledge

Desirable

Supervision training/experience

Experience of facilitating therapeutic group work with family members

Other Requirements

Essential

Flexibility to meet the needs of the service

Hold a current UK driving licence and able to travel as part of the role

Skills Abilities/knowledge

Essential

Excellent communication skills - written and verbal

Ability to evaluate complex psychosocial needs of children and their family

Working knowledge of current social policy/legislation, welfare rights and benefits for adults and children

Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team

IT skills

Ability to communicate highly sensitive information

Ability to assess highly complex situations

Ability to recognise and manage one's own stress