Social Work Grade 3 Team Leader Cancer Services

Alfred Health

Alfred Health is a leader in health care delivery, improvement, research and education. We are the main provider of health services to people living in the inner southeast suburbs of Melbourne, from ambulatory, to inpatient and home and community based services.

• Permanent Team Leader Cancer
• Full Time at 80 hours per fortnight (w/ flexible monthly ADO's)
• Social Worker Grade 3
• Location: Alfred Hospital
• Great staff benefits!

The Department

The Social Work Department operates in accordance with the philosophy and goals of Alfred Health; A focus on the quality of life and participation in care is a primary goal of the Department.  Social Work aims to identify and assist in addressing the psychosocial impacts of illness and hospitalisation for patients and their families by providing a range of services, such as counselling support, grief and loss support, advocacy, service provision and complex and considered discharge planning.

The Social Work Service is aligned to the Alfred Health strategic goals and operational performance targets. The Social Work Service is committed to the teaching and ongoing professional education of staff and students, research and quality improvement activities.  All Social Work staff must meet the profession’s competency-based minimum standards of practice at all times.   All Social Work staff must be eligible for AASW registration. The Alfred Health Social Work Service provides the workforce to each clinical program and therefore supports each clinical program meeting performance targets including patient experience, access, elective surgery and waitlist management measures. 

Position Summary 

The Team Leader is responsible for the provision of advanced social work services to patients and their families/significant others. This will include clinical development within the Cancer Services Program.  The Team Leader is responsible for identifying and meeting the needs of the specialist patient group in collaboration with the clinical units, particularly the management of complex clinical cases, undergraduate teaching and education and implementation of research activities for the clinical specialty.  The Team Leader is to contribute to the ongoing professional development of Social Work staff and demonstrate commitment to evidence based practice and provide supervision to staff as required.  The Team Leader is to work co-operatively with other staff, both Social Work and those from other disciplines. Excellent interpersonal skills are essential for this position, including negotiation and communication skills, both written and verbal.  An ability to display flexibility within work practice and to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team are also essential.  This role will require the successful candidate to have relevant health leadership experience and be able to demonstrate team leadership capabilities.  A high level understanding of hospital Social work will be crucial for this role. 

Experience and Qualifications Required

• Demonstrated Team leadership experience preferably in a hospital setting 
• Skills and knowledge in the provision of complex social work services within an acute health care environment.
• Demonstrated clinical competence for a clinical caseload in the area of Cancer Services, or related clinical specialtiy, and to provide a range of direct clinical services including services to clients with more complex needs.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, develop and implement service delivery initiatives to specialist areas which promotes quality patient care and optimum organisational outcomes.
• Ability to exercise professional judgement and/or to seek advice and consultation, when appropriate.
• Understand priority needs and, understanding that these change on a frequent basis, adapt workload priorities in accordance with these changing needs.
• Highly developed written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Academic: Eligibility for membership of Australian Association of Social Workers.  Bachelor of Social Work, or recognised equivalent. 
• Experience:  Minimum 7 years full-time clinical experience and post graduate qualifications desirable, or working towards completion, including demonstrated interest in continual learning.

Staff Benefits

• Generous salary packaging and novated leasing are available through Maxxia
• Onsite child care services, payroll deductible expense
• Onsite staff gym, a payroll deductible expense
• Modern onsite library faculties, exclusive to Alfred Health staff
• Access to health and wellbeing incentives
• Discounted health insurance 

Applications close at 11pm December 28, 2024.   Please address your ability to demonstrate the key duties and responsibilities in your application & please contact Carly Maxwell- Grade 4 Social work Clinical Operations and Supervision Lead- 9076 3026 if you require further information

Alfred Health is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve.  Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are encouraged.

Website: www.alfredhealth.org.au