War Memorial Hospital GFS Senior Social Worker

War Memorial Hospital (WMH) is a 3rd Schedule Aged Rehabilitation hospital, situated in Waverley, owned and operated by Uniting and part of the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD). Services are comprised of 24-hour inpatient care, Monday to Friday outpatient departments, iREAP Day Rehabilitation program, several specialist community teams inclusive of Transitional Aged Care, Aged Care Assessment Team, Geriatric Flying Squad, Young Onset Dementia, and day centre program, 24-hour accommodation service for regional guests and the full range of hospital support services. It is set within beautiful tranquil grounds and is a well-supported team environment.

Learn more about War Memorial Hospital at the following link:

War Memorial Hospital video

The role of the Geriatric Flying Squad (GFS) is a multi-disciplinary rapid response team that reviews older patients in the community setting and within residential aged care facilities (RACF) who are experiencing a sub-acute decline from a range of geriatric syndromes. The goal of intervention is to provide a comprehensive geriatric assessment aimed at preventing avoidable hospital admissions and reinvigorating quality of life in the older person’s primary place of residence. The service is currently expanding the team due to receipt of funding from the Urgent Care Clinic services which will allow GFS to service the community 7 days a week.

This senior role will join the Geriatric Flying Squad department to plan, coordinate and deliver high quality Social Work intervention to community clients of War Memorial Hospital (WMH) consistent with Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), Uniting, NSW Health and South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) policies, procedures and standards, to achieve patient/client health outcomes within specified timeframes. The incumbent will provide in-depth clinical expertise and extensive specialised knowledge within Social Work for older people in the community.  

This senior position sits within the WMH Geriatric Flying Squad Department. The role requires significant engagement with patients, carers, other service providers and the local community to enable provision of a GFS service that is comprehensive, accessible, responsive, high quality and person-centred. A demonstrated commitment to quality improvement, evidence-based practice, ongoing clinical and professional learning is required. The Senior Social Worker will be required to work within the multidisciplinary team of Nurse Practitioners, Geriatricians, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapist and other relevant health professionals.

Uniting is a not-for-profit organisation with competitive salary packaging.

This position is a part time temporary role. The candidate must be able to work Saturdays and any other 2 weekdays

Selection Criteria: 

1. Relevant Social Work university qualification and a minimum of 4 years social work experience with older people and understanding of the individual and societal issues associated with ageing

2. Excellent negotiation, decision-making and advocacy skills including the ability to interact constructively and collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders, throughout all organisational levels

3. Demonstrated high level written and verbal communication, and interpersonal skills, and the ability to proactively engage with patients to enhance service delivery

4. Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and to apply advanced reasoning skills and independent professional judgement when dealing with situations of a novel, complex or critical nature

5. Ability to provide in-depth advice and education to enhance service delivery and to guide and support others in providing service excellence, with the capacity to provide clinical supervision to others

6. Demonstrated ability and commitment to initiate and lead quality and service improvement initiatives with other staff and a commitment to ongoing clinical and professional learning.

7. Ability to gather and evaluate data to ensure efficient service delivery

8. Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and to apply independent professional judgement when dealing with situations of a complex nature

9. Current NSW drivers license class C

All Category A NSW Health workers are required to have received an annual seasonal Influenza vaccination or have an approved medical contraindication certificate. COVID-19 vaccinations are strongly recommended for all NSW Health workers.

Enquiries to: Ainsley Chapman, Geriatric Flying Squad Head of Department, Ph: 9369 0127, email Ainsley.chapman@health.nsw.gov.au

Position Description:  PD GFS SW Nov 2024 (1).pdf

Application Guide:  WMH Application Guide with forms_October 2024.doc (1).pdf

Applications Close: 11.30pm, Thursday 28^th November

WMH is proudly committed to the provision of environmentally sustainable health services. WMH operates under Uniting’s values and Code of Conduct which employees are committed to uphold. It is important that the people who work at Uniting have a sense of commitment to our purpose. We are an equal opportunity employer and we select staff based on merit and experience. As an organisation we celebrate our diversity and welcome all people regardless of ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from a diverse cultural background are encouraged to apply.