Family Support Worker

This Family Support Worker post sits within the Wellbeing Services and In-Patient Unit at Willen Hospice. The work is practical, emotional and bereavement support for patients with life-limiting illness, their families and carers, including children, plus help with NHS Continuing Healthcare processes. Expect a varied caseload, holistic needs assessments, occasional community visits and some evening or weekend work. Applicants need relevant health, social care or hospice experience and a Level 3 qualification or equivalent experience.

• Provide practical, emotional, psychosocial and bereavement support to patients, families and carers, including children and young people, across the In-Patient Unit and Wellbeing Services
• Manage a varied caseload, complete holistic needs assessments and develop tailored support plans
• Build trusted relationships and recognise when counselling, spiritual care, safeguarding or other specialist support is needed
• Contribute to daily triage, handovers and multidisciplinary meetings, sharing family and psychosocial updates
• Support safe, well-coordinated discharge planning with clinical colleagues, anticipating changing needs
• Offer guidance and practical advocacy on welfare benefits, housing, grants and community support, referring complex or regulated matters to specialist organisations
• Support NHS Continuing Healthcare processes: identify potential eligibility with the clinical team, complete Checklists once competent, guide families and liaise with NHS and Local Authority partners
• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential records
• Contribute to audits and service development
• Support volunteers
• Undertake occasional community visits
• Work within professional, safeguarding and clinical boundaries

• Level 3 qualification (NVQ/QCF) or equivalent experience

• Relevant experience in health, social care or hospice settings
• Experience supporting people affected by life-limiting illness, bereavement or complex family circumstances

• Communicates with empathy and clarity, including in sensitive conversations with distressed or anxious families
• Highly organised and detail-focused, able to prioritise a busy caseload and meet external timescales
• Confident use of digital systems for reporting and case management
• Understanding of safeguarding, professional boundaries and mental capacity principles
• Knows when to seek supervision or elevate statutory, clinical or complex concerns
• Works independently and within a multidisciplinary team, calm and flexible under pressure

• Full UK driving licence
• Access to a vehicle
• Willing to complete required training and checks

• Able to undertake community visits and occasional evening or weekend work