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Social Workers
Social workers speak of working with palliative care clients.
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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 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 solve difficult 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
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) provides an opportunity for health, aged and community care professionals (including social workers and other allied health professionals) working in primary care or non-specialist palliative care settings to improve confidence and develop skills in working with people with palliative care needs. PEPA offers workforce placements of up to five days in specialist palliative care services and tailored workshops in the palliative approach. There is no fee for placements. Participation meets continuing professional development requirements for AHPRA. The program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
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.
- Palliative Care NSW has information on a Social Workers Special Interest Group
- 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: 2004.
- National Breast Cancer Centre and National Cancer Control Initiative. Clinical practice guidelines for the psychosocial care of adults with cancer. Camperdown, NSW: National Breast Cancer Centre. 2003.
- Stearns NM, Lauria MM, Hermann JF, Fogelberg PR. Oncology social work: a clinician’s guide. Atlanta: The American Cancer Society; 1993.
Books
- Monroe B. Social work in palliative care. In: Doyle D, Hanks G, MacDonald N, editors. Oxford textbook of palliative medicine. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press; 1999.
- Beresford P, Adshead L, Croft S. Palliative care, social work and service users: making life possible. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers; 2007.
- Goldman A, Hain R, Liben S. Oxford textbook of palliative care for children. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2006.
- Parker J. Aspects of social work and palliative care. London: Quay Books; 2005.
- Small N, Rhodes PJ. Too ill to talk?: user involvement in palliative care. London: Routledge; 2001.
Palliative care links and information
Palliative Care Australia (PCA) 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.
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Related CareSearch pages
What is palliative care?
Clinical practice
Professional and Service Issues
Some of the following PubMed Topic Searches and Systematic Review Collections may be of interest
Finding Evidence
Last updated 16 March 2012