End of Life Care | Social care | Hospital social work

Session overview
Description
This session will enable understanding about the history and diversity within the role of the hospital social worker and how it contributes to good end-of-life care.

This session was reviewed by Tes Smith and last updated in November 2024.

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• define the role of social work developed in hospital from (Lady) Almoner to Medical Social Worker then onto the current hospital social worker and more specialised social work roles
• recognise the role of social worker and specialist social worker in hospitals
• identify the differences between the medical and social models of health/disability
• describe the legislative framework encompassing hospital social work
• detail how social workers work within the multidisciplinary team, and engage with the continuing health care and Mental Capacity Act processes

Before commencing this session you should complete:

• Introduction to e-learning for end-of-life care (215-0001)
• Supporting people to live and die well (215-0601)

In this session we will examine the role of hospital social work specifically in relation to end-of-life care. We will also focus on how in specialist palliative care, social workers (SWs) contribute both to patient and family care and wider service and training issues within hospitals. The  session will cover  relevant legislation and explore 'social' and 'medica'l model approaches to working with people.

Before starting this session, we should have a look at some important abbreviations used in the social work setting.