Casual Social Worker

**Casual Social Worker Level 1-2**

***Flexible, experienced health care Social Workers**Casual blocks of work.**

**Part or full-time. Able to travel across NSLHD**

**Specialties of palliative care, rehab and mental health**

**About HammondCare**

HammondCare is an independent Christian charity with a passion to improve the quality of life for people in need. Through our network of services, HammondCare specialises in palliative care, rehabilitation, older persons’ mental health, aged and dementia care, and related services. HammondCare Health is a NSW Health Affiliated Organisation. Our sub-acute health services are located at Greenwich Hospital (Greenwich), Neringah Hospital (Wahroonga), Northern Beaches (Mona Vale)

With compassion and expertise, our multi-disciplinary teams of healthcare professionals tailor specialised care to clients’ individual needs, supported by the latest research and best practice. HammondCare works to provide its staff with support, career development opportunities, education, responsibility and recognition, work / life balance, and satisfying roles.

**About the role**

The Casual Social Worker will provide high quality, comprehensive social work services, during periods of planned or unplanned staff leave within the Social Work team, across Northern Sydney LHD. The role requires the ability to work flexibly with different teams and quickly learn new systems and procedures. Hospital experience is highly valued, as is familiarity with the EMR system. Travel to and across the region is essential, and home visits using work vehicles are necessary in the community roles. Availability is required for a minimum of 2 days weekly up to full-time, and school holiday availability is an advantage.

The role of the **Level 1/2 Casual Social Worker** is to work within the Mission in Action of HammondCare to ensure a high standard of Social Work service is provided to the clients of the Hospitals and community palliative care services, along with appropriate support to their carers, family, or support persons. The casual Social Worker will participate as a member of the multi-disciplinary team to ensure a client centred, evidence based, continuous quality improvement work environment, that is consistent with the values and ethics of HammondCare and the AASW.

**The essence of this role**:

- To provide a holistic psychosocial perspective, facilitating and empowering the client and their carer/s to adapt, manage and plan through the course of a diagnosis, medical event, hospital admission, or terminal illness.
- To provide comprehensive, effective, and efficient social work service to our clients, including psychosocial assessment, support and counselling, advocacy, information and referral, coordination and liaison, social work interventions, problem solving and complex discharge planning within timeframes etc.
- To participate as a member of the multi-disciplinary team in assessing the client’s level of functional, care and support needs, and to collaborate with the client to set achievable and meaningful goals, then facilitate actions and supports towards these goals.

**Essential Criteria**:

- Recognised tertiary Social Work qualification and eligibility for AASW membership.
- Current working rights for Australia ie citizenship, permanent residency or working visa
- Commitment to engage and align with HammondCare’s Mission in Action
- Clinical experience in providing Social Work Services in a hospital or community health setting.
- Knowledge and experience in providing comprehensive psychosocial assessment, complex discharge planning, and emotional support
- Knowledge of relevant community services and referral systems
- Demonstrated effective, concise communication and interpersonal skills (written and verbal)
- Demonstrated strong organisational, time management and computer skills
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Flexibility and adaptability in different working environments.
- Current unencumbered Drivers Licence and safe driving record, with the ability to travel across the Northern Sydney area and capacity to attend clients at home if required

**Desirable criteria**:

- Desirable experience in rehabilitation, palliative care and / or psychiatry settings.
- Desirable experience in using NSW Health EMR - electronic medical record program.
- Can commit to blocks of casual work with a minimum 2 days weekly, preferably with availability during school holidays.

**_As HammondCare is a NSW Health affiliated organisation, all NSW Health transferrable entitlements will be recognised by HammondCare, in accordance with Public Health System_**.

****

For further information please contact Lynn Shaw, Manager Social Work Services (Mon-Thur) on 02 9903 8325 or 0418 988 374.
- All short listed applicants for these positions will be asked to consent to a criminal record check. All applicants must comply with NSW Health requirement