Job requirements
Essential
26 listedRequirements the employer expects applicants to meet.
- Other
Compassionate, professional and values-led approach.
- Other
Flexible and proactive working style.
- Other
Calm and approachable manner under pressure.
- Other
Commitment to personal and professional development.
- Other
Understanding of and demonstrable commitment to the Hospices values as a framework for decisions, actions and behaviours.
- Knowledge
Knowledge of relevant legislation, statutory guidance and professional standards relating to social care, safeguarding, mental capacity and human rights.
- Knowledge
Knowledge of end-of-life care priorities and bereavement theory and practice.
- Knowledge
Knowledge of counselling governance and ethical practice.
- Knowledge
Knowledge of clinical governance, quality improvement and relevant regulatory standards.
- Experience
Significant post-registration social work experience.
- Experience
Experience of working with people affected by life-limiting illness.
- Experience
Experience of supervising staff and coordinating day-to-day workloads.
- Experience
Experience of safeguarding adults.
- Experience
Experience of managing complex caseloads.
- Experience
Experience of multidisciplinary team working.
- Experience
Experience of providing supervision and day-to-day team support.
- Experience
Experience of maintaining safe and effective working practices.
- Qualifications
Degree level qualification recognised by Social Work England.
- Qualifications
Current Social Work England registration.
- Qualifications
Evidence of postgraduate professional development.
- Qualifications
Supervisory or team management training, or equivalent experience.
- Key Skills and Abilities
Communicates sensitive information clearly and compassionately.
- Key Skills and Abilities
Organises workloads, priorities and day-to-day team activity effectively.
- Key Skills and Abilities
Provides approachable and consistent support to staff and volunteers.
- Key Skills and Abilities
Maintains accurate records and responds calmly to changing needs.
- Key Skills and Abilities
Ability to produce clear, accurate reports and presentations for varied audiences.
Desirable
6 listedAdditional qualities the employer would prefer.
- Experience
Hospice or specialist palliative care experience.
- Experience
Experience of managing counselling or bereavement services.
- Experience
Experience of volunteer management.
- Qualifications
Practice Educator qualification.
- Qualifications
Counselling, bereavement or safeguarding qualification.
- Qualifications
Leadership or postgraduate qualification.
Job summary
At St Catherines Hospice, we help people to have quality of life to the end of life, alongside supporting their families before, during and after bereavement. Our Social Work, Counselling, Bereavement and Remembrance Services provide compassionate, timely and effective support throughout each persons hospice journey.
Were looking for an experienced and values-led Lead Social Worker to provide professional, clinical and operational leadership across these vital services.
This is a varied senior role combining professional leadership, safeguarding oversight, team management, service development and direct clinical practice.
No two days are likely to look exactly the same. You could be: leading Social Work, Counselling, Bereavement and Remembrance Services; managing a specialist caseload and supporting people with complex psychosocial needs; providing expert safeguarding, mental capacity and risk-management advice; facilitating family meetings and coordinating care with the multidisciplinary team; supervising and developing staff, students and volunteers; overseeing referral, triage, allocation and review processes; monitoring demand, waiting times, outcomes and experience; leading service improvement, audit and quality assurance; delivering education and reflective learning; and building strong partnerships across health, social care and the voluntary sector.
Main duties of the job
Duties include:
1. Social Work Practice
2. Safeguarding Lead
3. Day-to-Day Team Management
4. Counselling, Bereavement and Remembrance Services
5. Service Coordination
6. Working Relationships
About us
Enjoy 36 days holiday (including bank holidays), an extra wellbeing day for your birthday, up to 8% employer pension contributions, Blue Light Card discounts, discounted on-site meals, career development opportunities, life insurance, cycle to work scheme, employee assistance programme and great free parking within our fabulous grounds.
If youre ready to combine specialist social work practice with compassionate leadership and service development, wed love to hear from you. Come and help us ensure people and families receive outstanding psychosocial support when it matters most.
Details
- Date posted: 20 October 2026
- Pay scheme: Other
- Salary: £42,791 a year
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full-time
- Reference number: B0150-26-0013
- Job locations: Lostock Lane, Lostock Hall, Preston, PR5 5XU, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities
St Catherine's Hospice is committed to achieving its vision of supporting people to have quality of life to the end of life and supporting families before, during and after bereavement. The Lead Social Worker will provide professional, clinical and operational management across Social Work, Counselling, Bereavement and Remembrance Services.
The post holder will lead the delivery of high-quality, person-centred psychosocial care, ensuring patients, families and carers receive compassionate, timely and effective support throughout their hospice journey. They will maintain professional oversight of safeguarding, counselling, bereavement support and remembrance services whilst fostering a culture of innovation, continuous improvement and excellence.
The role combines operational leadership, professional supervision, support of service development and direct clinical practice, maintaining a specialist caseload of patients and families with complex psychosocial needs.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Lead Social Worker with St Catherine's Hospice in Preston, England. It is listed as a Social worker role. The advertised salary is £42791.00. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 06 Nov 2026.
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