Social Worker at The Nairobi Hospital

REF: TNH/HRD/SW/02/2024

Reporting to the Charge Nurse, the successful candidate will address the social, psychological and emotional needs of patients and their families in order to promote optimal state of health in line with the Hospital’s patient care objectives

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

•  Provide counselling services to special needs patients and their families as requested by doctors, nurses and administration;
•  Act as the link between the special needs patients, family, clinicians, nurses and management;
•  Assess all charity patients through interviews, carrying out reference checks to clarify if they really need the charity and advice the Almonas Fund Committee and League of Friends;
•  Provide counselling services to patients and staff as requested by doctors and management.
•  Maintain confidentiality on all matters related to the patient’s family, hospital and Charity Fund.
•  Assess patients’ adherence as per the existing SOPs;
•  Prepare and submit timely and accurate reports;
•  Document patients’ information in the registers, patients’ files and the system;
•  Mentor peer mentors and support group leaders;
•  Address emerging issues of patients, families and staff;
•  Report child abuse cases to relevant child welfare authorities;
•  Handle patient’s cases including interviewing patients with difficulties in meeting their bills and prepare related reports with appropriate recommendations;
•  Participate in hospital charity programs including needy patients and cleft-lip charity program and carry out assessment of needy cases to establish their economic status, capability to pay and which patient deserves financial support
•  Provide counselling to mothers who want to put their children for adoption and liaise with relevant agencies to initiate the adoption process;
•  Make visitation rounds to long-stay patients;
•  Prepare the patients whose conditions have changed such as patients who need to use wheelchairs;
•  Act as the Secretary to the Almonas Fund committee, provide recommendations on deserving cases and monitor budget implementation;
•  Debrief for staff, those in quarantine and isolation wards;
•  Be a facilitator of cancer support group; and
•  Any other responsibilities that may be assigned to the job holder by the supervisor from time to time.

Knowledge, experience and qualifications required

•  Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Counselling or any other related field from a recognized institution.
•  Diploma in counselling and Psychology
•  Must be a registered member with the Kenya Counsellors and Psychologists Association and hold a valid practicing license.
•  Minimum of 5 years counselling experience.

Competencies Technical & Behavioural competencies

•  Counselling skills
•  Listening skills
•  Empathy
•  Networking skills
•  Ability to work for long hours under pressure
•  Drive and openness to learning
•  Time management skills
•  Interpersonal skills
•  Effective decision making and judgement skills
•  Analytical skills
•  Attention to detail
•  Planning and organising skills
•  Communication skills including presentation and facilitation skills
•  Team working skills
•  Accountability
•  Integrity