Purpose of the Post · To provide a quality Social Work service to the National Gender Clinic
· To work as part of the National Gender Service multi-disciplinary team and with the existing Senior Social Worker and Principal Social Worker to develop the role of social work with this client group and meet the objectives of the Service as a whole.
· To contribute to research and development in the field of social work with transgender clients in collaboration with the MDT and the Principal Social Worker.
· To undertake direct work with this client group and their families, providing emotional support and expert social work interventions.
· To provide family support and interventions as needed.
· To act as an advocate with community and state services.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities Professional / Clinical · Deliver a quality social work service to service users ensuring professional standards are maintained in accordance with the requirements as set out by CORU · 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, guidelines and protocols.
· Incorporate Social Work values and ethical principles in planning, developing, implementing and reviewing interventions
· Ensure the promotion of the social model of care and recognition of the social determinants of health and well-being.
· Ensure the implementation of models of best practice / evidence based practice.
· Be responsible for the management of the day-to-day provision of the social work service in conjunction with other Senior Medical Social Workers and the Principal Social Worker
Provide a comprehensive social work service to service users and families, to include psycho-social assessment, intervention, and follow up or referral on, as required, to statutory and / or voluntary services. Work as part of the national specialised team to develop and manage the delivery of social work services for transgender and gender diverse people. Provide psychosocial assessment as part of the MDT assessment prior to hormone and surgical treatment in line with the operational Model of Care at the NGS. Complete comprehensive assessment reports as required. Deliver a high quality service in an effective and resource efficient manner. Attend and participate in meetings, case discussions and case conferences as requested. Facilitate groups and projects in accordance with service need. Ensure clinical records are properly and accurately maintained and that appropriate statistical information is available as required. Participate in research and cooperate with internal and external audit and evaluation of the service as required. Provide professional supervision to other social work staff as appropriate. Ensure principals of service user involvement are adhered to in all aspects of practice. Develop good working relationships with other members of the multi-disciplinary team, specialist services, and community and voluntary organisations, to provide integrated quality care to service users. Promote integrated models of service delivery between relevant stakeholders. Ensure anti-discriminatory practice and cultural competence. Contribute to the overall development of the social work service so as to meet current and emerging trends and unmet needs. Provide professional leadership at meetings, committees and/or other fora as required. Chair and participate in case conferences with the appropriate staff as needed. Seek advice and assistance from the Prinicpal Social Worker and/or Clinical Lead with any clinical issues that are beyond the scope of their professional competence Be professionally responsible for all aspects of the post holders own work. Perform any other duties that may be assigned by the Principal Social Worker Deputise for the Principal Social Worker as appropriate. Education & Training · Maintain standards of practice and levels of professional knowledge by participating in continuous professional development as appropriate.
· Participate in mandatory and recommended training programmes.
Engage in career and professional development planning. · Act as a resource by participating in the education and training of social work colleagues and other health professionals as required.
· Manage and participate in the practice education of student social workers.
· Avail of supervision with the Principal Social Worker
· Engage in performance reviews as needed with the Principal Social Worker
Health & Safety · Participate and cooperate with legislative, regulatory and policy requirements with regard to quality, risk and safety.
· Contribute to the development of policies, procedures, guidelines and safe professional practice as required.
· Initiate, support and implement quality improvement initiatives as required.
· 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.
· Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.
Management Take responsibility for student social work training within the service. Provide line management supervision to assigned staff Be responsible for the co-ordination and delivery of the Social Work service within the National Gender Service in conjunction with the Principal Social Worker Act as a representative of the social work profession as required. Take responsibility for the supervision and line management of professionally qualified social workers if required. Assist the Principal Social Worker in team support and supervision as required. The above Job Specification 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. Eligibility Criteria Qualifications and/ or experience Candidates must at the latest date of application: 1. Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc. (i) Must be registered in the Social Workers Register maintained by the Social
Workers Registration Board at CORU
And (ii) Maintain live annual registration on the Social Workers Register maintained by the Social Workers Registration Board at CORU
And (iii) Have 3 years relevant post-qualification experience.
And (iv) Must have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard
of suitability, professional and managerial ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.
2. Age Age restriction shall only apply to a candidate where s/he is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004).
A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office occurs.
3. Health Candidates for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
4. Character Candidates for and any person holding the office must be of good character.
Post Specific Requirements · Theraputic experience or knowledge of working with adults and/or their families who experience complex psychosocial and co-occuring needs.
· Understanding of mental health including the ability to identify and assess risk.
· Familiarity of conditions associated with this client group such as drug and alcohol abuse, self-injury, and neurodiversity.
· Knowledge and experience in counselling and advocacy as related to the role.
Other requirements specific to the post Access to appropriate transport to fulfil the requirements of the role.
Skills, competencies and/or knowledge Candidates must: · Demonstrate sufficient clinical and professional knowledge to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role.
· Demonstrate an ability to apply knowledge to best practice
· Demonstrate the capacity to manage, plan and deliver interventions in an effective and resourceful manner within a model of person-centred care.
· Demonstrate a willingness to develop suitable special interests.
· Demonstrate initiative and innovation in identifying areas for service improvement
· Demonstrate the ability to manage and develop self and others in a busy working environment.
· Demonstrate the ability to engage in supervision and reflective practice.
· Demonstrate strong leadership and team skills
· Demonstrate a commitment to delivering a quality service user-centred service
· Display awareness and appreciation of the service user as expert through experience, including promoting the role of service user in care planning and service development.
· Demonstrate the ability to empathise and treat others with dignity and respect
· Display effective interpersonal and communication (verbal and written) skills including skills in multi-disciplinary working, ability to collaborate with service-users, families, and colleagues.
· Demonstrate the ability to evaluate information, make effective decisions and solve problems.
· Demonstrate a standard of IT skills relevant to the role
· Demonstrate commitment to continuing professional development.
Campaign Specific Selection Process Ranking/Shortlisting / Interview A ranking and or shortlisting exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form.
The criteria for ranking and or shortlisting are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification.
Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.
Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process. Those successful at the ranking stage of this process (where applied) will be placed on an order of merit and will be called to interview in 'bands' depending on the service needs of the organisation.
Code of Practice The Health Service Executive will run this campaign in compliance with the Code of Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA).
The Code of Practice sets out how the core principles of probity, merit, equity and fairness might be applied on a principle basis.
The Code also specifies the responsibilities placed on candidates, facilities for feedback to applicants on matters relating to their application when requested, and outlines procedures in relation to requests for a review of the recruitment and selection process and review in relation to allegations of a breach of the Code of Practice.
Additional information on the HSE's review process is available in the document posted with each vacancy entitled "Code of Practice, Information for Candidates".
Codes of practice are published by the CPSA and are available on in the document posted with each vacancy entitled "Code of Practice, Information for Candidates" or on
The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as structures change the job specification may be reviewed.
This job specification is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder.
It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.
Please upload the application form attached to the job advert as CVs will not be accepted