Family Support Worker

Reports to Childrens Clinical Nurse Specialist Professional supervision provided by the Social Worker within the Hospice. Location Based at the main Hospice in Pembury, Kent, with the requirement to work at other locations within West Kent and East Sussex. Responsible for Volunteer support workers. Scope & Job Purpose: To provide initial assessment and engagement with new families referred to the Children and Young People Service and support their access to resources. To work in partnership with families to develop new support opportunities for parents and siblings, and alongside team and colleagues to participate in events and activities for children. Key Responsibilities Deliverables/outcomes: To visit all newly referred families to assess their needs and arrange for appropriate services to be delivered. To maintain a regular link with families and offer practical and emotional support when needed. Act as a key worker for a defined caseload and liaise with external and internal
professionals as required. Maintaining electronic records and case notes concerning family details and information. Provide or arrange welfare advice or support in applying for benefits or grant applications, and advocate for the family in other engagements with statutory agencies. To develop and facilitate new activities, support networks, and groups for parents, siblings, and carers, including bereavement and memory events. Be aware of safeguarding responsibilities and duties for vulnerable children, including maintaining up-to-date knowledge and learning and participating in child protection meetings and reviews when required. Regular attendance in multi-disciplinary team meetings and family reviews. Developing and maintaining links with agencies and services relative to the child and family in the local area. Participation in multi-disciplinary reviews and meetings with external agencies and professionals when required. Supporting bereaved families and helping them access appropriate
networks and post-bereavement resources. Take responsibility for continuous professional development and training and participate in regular supervision and reflective practice sessions. Any other tasks are relevant to the development of the role as requested by the Head of Service, Lead Nurse, or Specialist Social Worker. Management & Leadership To provide guidance, advice, and support to volunteers as appropriate. Communication and Teamwork Actively listen and communicate sensitively with patients and those important to them. Recognise the need to pass on information to registered staff when necessary. Actively listen and communicate with all Children and Young People Service colleagues to support the Team and service delivery. Maintain precise details and outcomes of engagements with families on patient electronic record systems. Communicate respectfully with all others you encounter as part of the work of the Hospice, both internally and externally. Working with due diligence
Completion of accurate patient notes and record keeping in support of the clinical and medical staff. Maintain awareness of hospice policies regarding data protection, confidentiality, lone working, safeguarding, infection control, and others. Always Representing the Hospice in the Weald professionally. Training and Development Complete training essential to individualised care needs of the children and young people, and core competencies as identified in the childrens training framework Attending training and study days as identified by your manager in line with organisational needs, aims, and objectives. Be proactive in personal and professional development, identifying and seeking areas to broaden. Maintain personal development through the Hospice Personal Development Plan. Continuously updating and improving knowledge and competencies. Develop an area of interest/ specialism to share with other team members and enhance knowledge and learning. General Uphold Our Values
Maintain professionalism through adherence to recognised Codes (e.g. NMC, GMC, HCPC) and work within the boundaries of Hospice in the Wealds policies. Maintain personal development through the Annual Review process, continuously updating and improving knowledge and competencies. To attend clinical supervision. Engage in using information and communication technology (ICT) and full implementation of mobile/ remote working. Always strive for excellence.