POSITION TITLE: Social Worker Grade 1

POSITION TITLE: Social Worker Grade 1

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DIVISION: Social Work

McKellar Centre and University Hospital Geelong

REPORTS TO: Senior Social Worker, UHG

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DIRECT REPORTS:

APPROVED: Fiona Brennan

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APPROVAL DATE: 2016

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

The Grade 1 Social Worker is required to provide quality care to clients through use of competent clinical skills, effective communication, and active participation within the Social Work service and multidisciplinary teams.
BARWON HEALTH VISION – To be Australia’s Leading Regional Health Service – Building a Healthier Community

PRIORITIES

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VALUES

Your Health

We will work with the community to deliver significantly improved health outcomes

Our Service

Our health care service will be well-connected to ensure a positive experience for those we serve

Our Region

We will have strong partnerships with all providers who influence health in our region

Our People

Our workforce will be thriving, collaborative and highly skilled

Mission

To provide accessible high quality healthcare services to our Barwon South western region communities /

Respect

For the unique qualities of each individual, family and community, for our partners, the organisation we represent and for each other

Compassion

For the circumstances of the people we care for

Commitment

To facilitate high quality health outcomes by working collaboratively with all stakeholders

Accountability

For all our actions and outcomes by working to clear objectives in a transparent manner

Innovation

To lead the way and develop creative initiatives to address the health needs of our community

POSITION DIMENSION & DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY:

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KEY COMMUNICATION CONTACTS (INFORMED):

Without referral to Manager (RESPONSIBLE)
Without referral to manager –
·  Provide psychosocial assessment involving the patient, family and engaged agencies.
·  Work along side treating team, providing consultation where required.
·  Provide clinical intervention ensuring that the needs of the client and family are attended to.
·  Refer patients to appropriate Barwon Health departments or external agency as appropriate.
·  Maintain appropriate records as required by Barwon Health and statutory authority.
After Consultation with Manager or others (CONSULTED)
·  Participate in wider service meetings, education opportunities and working groups.
·  Management of complex risk situations
·  Training and Leave Arrangements
Referred to Managers or others (CONSULTED)
·  Formal complaints
·  Sentinel Events / Purpose/Frequency of Contact / Contact/Organisation
·  Informally as required.
·  Fortnightly Clinical Supervision
·  Monthly Case Load Management Supervision
·  Annual Performance review
·  Weekly within Peer review process
·  Informally as required
·  AS required
·  AS required / ·  Clinical Supervisor
·  Department Manager
·  Allied Health Manager
·  Director and Executive Director of Medical Services

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Key Result Area /

Major Activities

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Performance Measures

1. Direct Practice: /

Appropriateness of social work assessment, intervention and outcomes

·  Demonstrate basic professional competencies in: undertaking comprehensive psychosocial assessments, clinical reasoning, and formulating appropriately targeted treatment plans/interventions with achievable goals for clients (with regard to context and time constraints).
·  Demonstrate understanding of, and sensitivity to, ethical and multicultural issues
·  Practice in accordance with the relevant health care or industry standards. / ·  Complete and record all patient contacts identifying reason for referral, plans for intervention and activity.
·  Document assessment indicating relevant multicultural issues which may impact on intervention planning.
·  Adherence to applicable health care or industry standards.
Knowledge, skills and resources of the social worker
·  Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of discharge planning practices.
·  Demonstrate an understanding of relevant community resources and systems.
·  Demonstrate an understanding of relevant social work theory and its relationship to clinical practice.
·  Demonstrate knowledge of professional bodies associated with area of clinical practice and professional group.
·  Demonstrate effective communication with sound verbal, non-verbal and written skills within the social work service, multi-disciplinary team, organisation, and with external agencies.
·  Demonstrate basic conflict resolution and negotiation skills and a willingness to seek appropriate support/assistance as required.
·  Demonstrate a willingness to seek clarification, or support, with clinical duties as needed.
·  Participate in group-work approaches as appropriate / ·  Record social work intervention contributing to discharge planning
·  Maintain up to date information about community resources and professional bodies relevant to patient care and provide this information to colleagues at staff meetings, peer supervision or department presentations.
·  Report back on professional development attendances.
·  Actively contribute to staff meetings, multidisciplinary meetings.
·  Participate in staff meeting Chairperson and note taker roster.
Multidisciplinary work environments
·  Actively participate in a coordinated team approach to client care including participating in (or facilitating) family meetings (as appropriate).
·  Contribute to the maintenance of positive relationships within the service, health sector, and community that promote appropriate service delivery and patient care.
·  Effectively participate in meetings (eg departmental team meetings, relevant ward/unit meetings).
·  Promote an understanding of the professional social work role within the organisation. / ·  Attend & participate in team meetings
·  Participate annually in a Social Work department planning day and
social work promotion
Client involvement·  Demonstrate a commitment to client-centred practice (eg involve clients/carers/external providers in decision-making and advocate on their behalf as necessary) and providing education and/or information to clients/carers appropriate to their needs. / ·  Document patient goals
Supervision
·  Actively participate in supervision.
·  Seek out and utilise informal consultation opportunities as required.
·  Develop own learning plan in conjunction with supervisor.
·  Respond appropriately/professionally to feedback on performance.
·  Acknowledge limitations of professional knowledge and experience, and seek assistance as required. / ·  Participate in fortnightly supervision
·  Participate in peer supervision monthly
Recording and record keeping
·  Complete departmental documentation/statistical input promptly and fully (as required). / ·  Complete stats weekly
Referral/termination/interruption of service.
·  Identify client(s) needs for ongoing assistance and refer on as appropriate / ·  Document all referrals to other support services.
2. Service Management: / ·  Demonstrate sound organisational skills through efficient time management and professional responsibility including the ability to appropriately prioritise workload.
·  Demonstrate efficient and effective use of resources.
·  Demonstrate appropriate professional behaviours in all areas of practice, including punctuality and appropriate dress.
·  Exhibits a commitment to Barwon Health’s values including team based above and below behaviours.
·  Comply with Health Service and Departmental policies and procedures (eg annual staff appraisal).
·  Demonstrate willingness to assume extra responsibilities/duties consistent with employee’s skill level and classification, by negotiation or as required.
·  Perform all other duties as directed within the limits of skill, competence and training to maximise flexibility and effectiveness. / ·  Arrive at work on time & work ready
·  Participate in STARS time & attendance recording
·  Accept allocated referrals for social work intervention and respond appropriately.
·  Barwon Health’s values modelled at all times.
·  Performance review.
3. Organisational Development and System Change / ·  Demonstrate an understanding of the organisational structure and where/how social work services contribute to organisational goals.
·  Actively participate in a departmental committee portfolio (as appropriate).
·  Conduct self in a manner that will not endanger self or others.
·  Follow Barwon Health's Occupational Health and Safety policies and procedures.
·  Report all incidents through incident management system.
·  Undertake special projects or reports required by the social work department on a wide range of issues. / ·  Participate in portfolio areas
·  Demonstrated use of incident management system.
·  Performance review.
4. Policy: / ·  Demonstrate an awareness of relevant legislation
·  Comply with relevant Barwon Health policies and procedures. / ·  Adherence with Barwon Health policy and procedures.
5. Research: / ·  Demonstrate a basic understanding of quality improvement and accreditation processes.
·  Participate in quality improvement activities.
·  Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of evidence-based practice and their applicability to the workplace. / ·  Participate and / or contribute to a quality initiative annually.
·  Active participation in required quality improvement activities.
6. Education and Professional Development: / ·  Demonstrate initiative and responsibility for individual professional development.
·  Actively seek out appropriate learning opportunities and maintain ongoing professional learning through participation in internal and external continuing education as identified within supervision plan (eg show evidence of continuing development of clinical skills and reflective practice through extended reading).
·  Under direction, provide social work student supervision (or co-supervision) at least biennially (after 2 years professional experience).
·  Under direction, provide education and training within the social work department or to other network or community staff (as appropriate).
·  Present (or co-present) at seminars, workshops, and conferences as appropriate.
·  Complete mandatory training and education. / ·  Attend at a minimum 2 professional development experiences annually
·  Participate in all Social Work department initiated professional development opportunities.
·  Provide social work student supervision (or co-supervision) at least biennially (after 2 years professional experience).
·  Demonstrated completion of mandatory training.
OTHER DUTIES / ·  Exhibits a commitment the Barwon Health’s Values including team based above and below behaviours
·  Undertake special projects or reports required by the manager on a wide range of issues
·  Report all incidents through the incident management system
·  Practice in accordance with the relevant health care or industry standards
·  Complete mandatory training and education
·  Comply with relevant Barwon Health policies and procedures
·  Participate in quality improvement activities
·  Perform all other duties as directed within the limits of skill, competence and training to maximise flexibility and effectiveness
·  Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate behaviours when engaging with children / ·  Barwon Health values modelled at all times.
·  Performance Review
·  Demonstrated use of incident management system
·  Adherence to applicable health care or industry standards
·  Demonstrated completion of mandatory training
·  Adherence with Barwon Health policy and procedures
·  Active participation in required quality improvement activities
·  Performance Review
·  Adherence with Child Safe Standards

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA – LEADERSHIP CAPABILITY FRAMEWORK:

Barwon Health Leadership Capabilities

Leadership Behaviour 1 – SHAPES STRATEGIC THINKING
Articulates how they contribute to the big picture.
·  Shows interest and deals effectively with ambiguous information
·  Understands and interprets complex information.
·  Quickly grasps the main ideas of an argument.
·  Acknowledge their strengths and development needs.
Leadership Behaviour 2 – ACHIEVES RESULTS
·  Uses sound judgement to ensure tasks are performed correctly and safely.
·  Is responsive and completes tasks within set timelines.
·  Takes a proactive rather than reactive approach to activities.
·  Reschedules and reorganizes work to reflect changes in priority.
·  Contributes positively to change.
Leadership Behaviour 1 – FORGES RELATIONSHIPS AND ENGAGES OTHERS
·  Works effectively with others by building sound relationships to achieve outcomes.
·  Shares ideas and opinions openly with others and invites them to do the same.
·  Takes the first step to settle conflict between themselves and others.
Leadership Behaviour 1 – EXEMPLIFIES PERSONAL DRIVE AND PROFESSIONALISM
·  Clearly delivers information and influences an outcome where appropriate.
·  Communicates effectively both verbal and in writing.
·  Demonstrates a professional approach to service delivery.
Leadership Behaviour 1 – DRIVES BUSINESS EXCELLENCE
·  Builds trust by treating people fairly and with empathy. And respecting confidentiality.
·  Gains credibility by showing reliability and consistency in principles, values and behaviour.
·  Adopts a flexible attitude towards changing circumstances, adapting if necessary.
·  Acknowledges that different situations require different approaches.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA – SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE:

QUALIFICATIONS

ESSENTIAL:
·  An AASW accredited Bachelor Degree or entry level Master’s Degree of Social Work that provides eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
DESIRABLE:
·  Current AASW CPE accreditation.
·  Understanding of health care systems.
·  Knowledge of a clinical area relevant to the position.
·  Computer literacy (eg Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

EXPERIENCE and/or SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE:

·  Sound theoretical knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge
·  Excellent verbal and written communication skills
·  skills in the effective participation in a multi-disciplinary team and in working as a member of the social work team
·  The ability to maintain effective work relationships and clinical effectiveness in an environment which is often pressured and characterised by competing demands
·  Skills in conducting investigative literature searches.
·  Ability to apply principles of evidence to inform practice
·  Participation in a variety of tasks, as delegated, commensurate with experience