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Palliative Care Social Worker
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust View all jobs
Posted 15 day(s) ago
Reference: 343-8265224-B7-PT
Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Social Worker to join our hospital-based palliative care team. You will provide specialist psychosocial support to patients and their families living with serious or life-limiting illness, helping them navigate the emotional, social and practical challenges of their diagnosis.
You will undertake holistic assessments, provide counselling and emotional support, respond to complex family and safeguarding needs, and support patients with advance care planning, goals of care, discharge planning and end-of-life decisions.
Working closely with the multidisciplinary team, you will help patients and families access appropriate hospice, community and other support services, and provide support through bereavement where required.
This is a rewarding role for a compassionate, skilled Social Worker who is committed to delivering person-centred care and improving the experience and quality of life of patients and their families.
Main duties of the job
The Palliative Care Social Worker will be an integral member of the Specialist Palliative Care MDT, providing expert psychosocial support to patients and families living with serious or life-limiting illness.
The post holder will undertake holistic psychosocial assessments, provide emotional and practical support, and help patients and families navigate complex issues including adjustment, grief, loss, end-of-life care and bereavement. They will advocate for patient and family wishes, support complex discharge and care planning, and facilitate access to appropriate health, social care, financial, community and bereavement services.
The role will involve close multidisciplinary working across hospital and community services, contributing to family meetings, care planning and complex decision-making. The post holder will also provide advice and education to colleagues, contribute to safeguarding and clinical governance, and support service development and quality improvement.
About us
St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey.Our sites include St George's Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).
After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.
At gesh we are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements. Applicants are encouraged to discuss any flexibility they may need during the recruitment process.
Details
Date posted
18 September 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
£55,524 to £62,652 a year pro rata per annum incl HCAS
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
343-8265224-B7-PT
Job locations
Epsom Hospital
Dorking Road
Epsom
KT18 7EG
United Kingdom
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached supporting document which contains more information about the Palliative Care Social Worker role at Epsom and St Helier.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached supporting document which contains more information about the Palliative Care Social Worker role at Epsom and St Helier.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oRecognised professional qualification in Social Work.
- oCurrent registration with the relevant professional regulatory body.
- oEvidence of continuing professional development relevant to social work practice.
Desirable
- oPostgraduate qualification in social work or palliative care
- additional training in palliative care, end-of-life care, bereavement, counselling, oncology, or a related field
Experience
Essential
- oExperience working as a qualified social worker within a health, hospital, community, hospice, or similarly complex setting
- oExperience undertaking comprehensive psychosocial assessments
- oExperience contributing to multidisciplinary assessment and care planning
Desirable
- oExperience facilitating or contributing to complex family meetings and discussions regarding goals of care
- oExperience providing education, consultation, or supervision to colleagues
- oExperience supporting discharge planning and transitions between hospital, hospice, community, and social care services
Knowledge
Essential
- oGood understanding of the psychosocial impact of serious and life-limiting illness on patients, families, and carers
- oUnderstanding of the principles of palliative and end-of-life care
- oKnowledge of relevant health, social care, community, hospice, and voluntary-sector resources
Desirable
- oKnowledge of advance care planning and goals-of-care processes
- oKnowledge of approaches to supporting people experiencing complex grief or psychological distress
Clinical and Professional Skills
Essential
- oAbility to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
- oAbility to prioritise and manage a complex caseload
- oExcellent verbal and written communication skills
Desirable
- oExperience delivering teaching or presentations to healthcare professionals
- oExperience facilitating family meetings
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oRecognised professional qualification in Social Work.
- oCurrent registration with the relevant professional regulatory body.
- oEvidence of continuing professional development relevant to social work practice.
Desirable
- oPostgraduate qualification in social work or palliative care
- additional training in palliative care, end-of-life care, bereavement, counselling, oncology, or a related field
Experience
Essential
- oExperience working as a qualified social worker within a health, hospital, community, hospice, or similarly complex setting
- oExperience undertaking comprehensive psychosocial assessments
- oExperience contributing to multidisciplinary assessment and care planning
Desirable
- oExperience facilitating or contributing to complex family meetings and discussions regarding goals of care
- oExperience providing education, consultation, or supervision to colleagues
- oExperience supporting discharge planning and transitions between hospital, hospice, community, and social care services
Knowledge
Essential
- oGood understanding of the psychosocial impact of serious and life-limiting illness on patients, families, and carers
- oUnderstanding of the principles of palliative and end-of-life care
- oKnowledge of relevant health, social care, community, hospice, and voluntary-sector resources
Desirable
- oKnowledge of advance care planning and goals-of-care processes
- oKnowledge of approaches to supporting people experiencing complex grief or psychological distress
Clinical and Professional Skills
Essential
- oAbility to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
- oAbility to prioritise and manage a complex caseload
- oExcellent verbal and written communication skills
Desirable
- oExperience delivering teaching or presentations to healthcare professionals
- oExperience facilitating family meetings
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
Address
Epsom Hospital
Dorking Road
Epsom
KT18 7EG
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust
Address
Epsom Hospital
Dorking Road
Epsom
KT18 7EG
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/work-for-us (Opens in a new tab)