UHWA Principal Social Worker

*********PLEASE COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM FULLY, CV'S ARE NOT ACCEPTED*******

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The Social Worker, Principal will:

Professional / Clinical

• Deliver a quality service to service users ensuring professional standards are maintained in accordance with the requirements as set out by CORU https://coru.ie/files-education/swrb-standards-of-proficiency-for-social-workers.pdf
• Ensure the delivery of social work services is in accordance with CORU’s Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for the Social Work profession, relevant legislation and HSE policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines.
• Provide clinical and professional leadership in the delivery of a high quality social work service.
• Contribute to the overall development of the social work service so as to meet current and emerging trends and unmet needs of Maternity, ED, Oncology, Paediatrics and General medicine Service users in conjunction with other relevant social and statutory agencies.
• Seek the development of fair and equitable social policy and where inequalities are identified, lobby for change.
• Contribute, as a member of local and area level management teams, to the delivery and future development of an effective service that adheres to statutory requirements and meets the emerging needs of service users.
• Facilitate clear channels of communication to relevant management structures in relation to social work service issues.
• Be responsible for the overall management and performance of social work activity within the designated area in keeping with good professional practice and subject to agreed policy directives and priorities.
• Develop good working relationships with other Heads of Service, professionals, specialist services, community and voluntary organisations to provide integrated quality care to service users.
• Take direct responsibility for a defined caseload as required.
• Ensure anti-discriminatory practice and cultural competence, at individual and service levels.
• Provide professional leadership at meetings, committees and/or other fora as required.
• Chair and participate in case conferences with the appropriate staff when the need arises.

Education & Training

• Ensure that the requirements of CORU are met in relation to social work practice, continuous professional development and adherence to the code of conduct and ethics.
• Maintain standards of practice and levels of professional knowledge by ensuring the completion of mandatory training and attendance at courses and events as appropriate.
• Engage in career and professional development planning, and ensure professional development planning with all social workers is undertaken at regular intervals.
• Be responsible, in partnership with local General Management, for the practice education of student social workers through provision of placements and through support for social workers who are practice educators within their departments.
• Oversee the provision of a framework for the promotion of staff development and training by making recommendations with regard to the ongoing education, mentoring, training and in-service needs of social workers.
• Encourage and facilitate social workers to undertake the required training to be a practice teacher for social work students.
• Act as a resource by participating in the education and training of Social Work colleagues and other health professionals as required.
• Build and communicate an understanding of the role and contribution of social work within 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.
• Engage in the HSE performance achievement process in conjunction with your Line Manager and staff as appropriate.

Quality and Risk, Health and Safety Management

• Contribute to the development of policies, procedures, guidelines and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards and ensure that staff comply with same.
• Document appropriately and report any near misses, hazards and accidents and bring them to the attention of designated individual(s) in line with best practice.
• Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to the safety of self and others.
• Be aware of risk management issues, adequately identify, assess, manage and monitor risks within their area of responsibility and take appropriate action.
• Comply with procedures with regard to assessment, recommendation and / or manufacturing of all assistive devices.
• Promote a culture that values diversity and respect.
• 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.
• Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

Management

• Participate in and contribute to service planning and development.
• Formulate and review the social work service plan and contribute to the overall plan for the hospital.
• Provide service delivery reports as required e.g. service plan, annual report and ensure that there are appropriate systems in place to gather relevant information.
• Provide leadership and motivation in optimising service delivery by developing teams and promoting change management.
• Report and advise on social work staffing needs for their area of responsibility.
• Oversee the implementation of appropriate induction and probationary systems.
• Oversee the implementation of an appropriate performance management system for the delivery of a high quality medical social work service.
• Ensure the Social Work service complies with relevant HR and other policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Keep updated on; current and impending legislation and the perceived impact on practice; developments in national policies, strategies and international best practice to ensure that service delivery complies with same; developments within the Irish Health Service.
• Contribute to the development of policies, procedures and guidelines in relation to the social work service, engaging staff as appropriate.
• Be responsible for the delivery of the social work service within the budget allocation.
• Ensure compliance with a high standard of documentation, including service user files in accordance with local guidelines, Freedom of Information (FOI) and GDPR Acts.
• Oversee service user and data confidentiality.
• Collaborate with the Area Manager or equivalent in developing the role of the Principal Social Worker and the team e.g. through planning, audit, production of standards, continuing education, quality improvement initiatives and research.
• Ensure that the social work service makes the most efficient and effective use of developments in IT.
• Act as spokesperson for the Organisation as required.
• Demonstrate pro-active commitment to all communications with internal and external stakeholders.

The above Job Description 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.