Social Worker - Level 2 or 3 Senior - Palliative Care

• Exciting Part-Time opportunity 28 hours per week based at Greenwich Hospital
• Dynamic team supporting people with life limiting illness
• HammondCare is a NSW Health affiliated organisation with continuity of NSW Health entitlements

About HammondCare

HammondCare is an independent Christian charity that exists to improve the quality of life for people in need. We specialise in palliative care, rehabilitation, older persons' mental health, aged and dementia care, and other related health and aged care services. HammondCare’s sub-acute hospitals and palliative care services are located at Greenwich, Wahroonga, Mona Vale and Prairiewood, stretching across Northern Sydney LHD and South-Western Sydney LHD. Hammond Care is a NSW Health Affiliated Health Organisation providing recognition and continuity of transferable NSW Health staff entitlements.

Hammond Care seeks to embed evidence-based best practices in its services, which are provided through home care, sub-acute hospitals, community health and residential aged care. HammondCare works to provide its staff with support, education, responsibility and recognition, work / life balance, and satisfying roles.

About the role

We are seeking a dynamic and energetic Social Worker with a passion for palliative care, and a commitment to work within the Mission in Action of HammondCare. This role will ensure a high standard of Social Work service is provided to our clients, working within a multi-disciplinary team context. Our specialist palliative care teams provide comprehensive multi-disciplinary assessment, symptom management, planning and support for those diagnosed with a life-limiting illness and their carers. Our focus is on quality of life, with a holistic approach that embraces physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual and practical issues.

The inpatient Palliative Care Unit provides short term admission for complex issues, including symptom management with the aim of return to the community, as well as end of life care. We work closely with our community palliative care teams across NSLHD, as well as the many referring hospitals, and health and community services across the region. This position is based within the Palliative Care Unit at Greenwich Hospital, with the capacity to travel across to other HammondCare sites as required.

This is an experienced Level 2 position with consideration of a Level 3 Senior Social Worker for a specialist candidate. The Senior Social Worker role has additional responsibilities and works in collaboration with the Manager of Social Work Services (North), to continuously develop a high quality, evidence based social work service and skilled social work practitioners across the region, who convey the organisation’s Mission and Values, and operate consistently within the ethics and values of the AASW.

The Senior role will support team members from all areas of our specialties, and along with the Manager, provide formal and informal professional clinical supervision to our social work staff. A successful candidate for Level 3 Senior must be able to work Mondays and Fridays (other days negotiable) to meet our service needs.

The essence of this role

• To provide a holistic psychosocial perspective of the individual, supporting and facilitating the client and their carers, to identify issues, adapt, plan, problem solve and manage through the course of a life limiting illness.
• To provide skilled, effective and timely social work interventions, information and services to our clients and their carers, with a focus on quality of life and client self-determination.
• To participate as an effective member of the multi-disciplinary team in assessing the clients and carers goals and needs, and collaborating / planning to address these needs, including complex discharge and end of life decision making.
• To maintain strong links with the Community Palliative Care teams, and other relevant staff from health and community services, to facilitate the seamless transfer of clients between services, the interchange of relevant information, and working relationships that best support the clients needs and goals.
• To actively engage with the Social Work team in communication, peer support, team and professional development and quality improvement activities.
• (L3 Senior SW) To work with the Manager Social Work Services (North) to provide support, development, professional clinical supervision and leadership to the social work team across all areas of specialty, ensuring compliance with Policies, Guidelines and relevant legislation, and the continuous quality improvement of our services.

About you

Please briefly address the individual criteria under headings, in your application.

Essential Criteria

• Recognised tertiary qualification in Social Work and eligibility for membership to the AASW. Qualifications obtained overseas must provide AASW Overseas Assessment number.
• Current working rights in Australia i.e. citizenship, permanent residency or appropriate working visa.
• Commitment to engage and align with HammondCare’s Mission in Action.
• Minimum 4 years social work experience (5 years for Level 3 Senior) with demonstrated knowledge and clinical skills providing a wide range of complex Social Work interventions within a health related service - preferably including palliative care or life limiting chronic conditions
• Skills and experience in supportive counselling across a range of issues and client groups
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (written, verbal and digital), including the ability to interact constructively and collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team and external service providers
• Self-motivated and skilled in effective time management, organisation, and managing competing workload demands
• Knowledge and experience providing professional clinical Social Work supervision (L3 requirement only)
• Experience in developing and implementing Quality Improvement projects (L3 requirement – desirable for Level 2)
• Demonstrated commitment to ongoing personal professional development, learning opportunities, professional clinical supervision and quality improvement activities
• Current unencumbered Drivers Licence and safe driving record. Willingness to travel across the region and work between HammondCare’s sites and services as required.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in the use of NSW Health Electronic Medical Record (EMR) or similar.
• Experience working with multi-cultural communities.
• Knowledge of NSW Health Policies and Guidelines.

HammondCare is a NSW Health affiliated organisation, all NSW Health transferrable entitlements will be recognised.

Ready to make a change? Apply Now!    Please CLICK HERE to apply

All applications must address the selection criteria (under headings) in addition to the CV.

Closing Date: 4th May 2025

For any specific queries please contact Lynn Shaw at lshaw@hammond.com.au

Free independent, confidential counselling services, wellbeing resources and webinars available through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family. HammondCare is committed to creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity and inclusion. We thrive on creating an equal employment environment where everyone from any background can be themselves.

All short-listed applicants for these positions will be asked to consent to a criminal record check, immunisation staff screening & vaccination compliance checks.