These pages provide access to resources and literature relevant to the practice of palliative care for Social Workers.
Role in Palliative Care
This information will help you to find out more about working in Palliative Care. It may include narratives from those working in the area, descriptions of the role, or why the position is important.
A Social Worker (SW) provides counselling and support to both patients and their family. They focus on supporting people and their families with honesty, respect and without judgement, as their priorities and needs for living change. They provide particular support for families with children or patients who have no family living nearby and assist managing feelings of anxiety, depression and loneliness. They offer expertise to help with difficult to solve practical problems, financial advice and support, advocate where necessary and make referrals to other agencies. Social workers have a clinical understanding of the disease process and its treatment and can act as a bridge between the patient, the family and the health care team. They provide information and education about the health care system. They can work as part of a specialist palliative care team or may work alongside other health professionals in providing care in the community setting. They are specialists in helping with grief and offer bereavement services.
Several peak bodies have recognised the role of social work in palliative care provision.
Some health services in Australia have described the contribution of social work
- The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne is a leading specialist facility in Australia and provides details of its Social Work Department which is seen as an integral element of service provision
- St Vincents Melbourne Hospital has defined the role of social workers within their health service
Palliative care education and training
There are different ways to develop your knowledge and skills in palliative care. Web based learning modules, short courses and specialist palliative care courses and training are offered in many organisations and universities. Further information can be found on the Education pages of CareSearch.
The Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA) is an initiative under the National Palliative Care Program. It is a supported multidisciplinary course with work placements, offered across the country funded until 2010.
Research
Many health professions may be interested in looking at palliative care research questions in their area of specialty. This may be work that is planned for the future. Any palliative care professional regardless of discipline is able to access the CareSearch Research Data Management System (RDMS).
Resources
Social Care Institute for Excellence's Social Care Online is the UK's most extensive free database of social care information. It includes research briefings, reports, government documents, journal articles, and websites
The Centre to Advance Palliative Care provides tools, training and technical assistance for health professionals in palliative care.
The Association of Oncology Social Workers (AOSW) is a world-wide association with a membership of over 1,000 and provides ongoing professional development including end of life care.
The Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care, established in 2005.
Zabora J. ‘A problem solving model: An innovative method to C.O.P.E. with challenges inpatient and family care’, Working with Challenging Situations: Oncology Social Work in the 21st Century, Canberra, November 2004.
National Health and Medical Research Council. "Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Psychosocial Care of Adults with Cancer" 2000. AGPS. Canberra
Stearns NM, Lauria, MM, Hermann, J.Fet al. Oncology Social Work: A Clinician’s Guide, The American Cancer Society. 1993
Palliative Care Links and Information
Palliative Care Australia is the peak national organisation representing the interests and aspirations of all who share the ideal of quality care at the end of life for all. It has produced the following policy documents:
The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing website has a palliative care section.
Related CareSearch pages
What is palliative care?
Clinical practice
Professional considerations
Further Reading (for Social Workers)
This page was created on 15 May 2008 and is due for review in May 2010