Locum Band 6 Social Worker / Discharge Nurse to join their Community Mental Health Team.
Hours: Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm
Job Summary
This role requires excellent interpersonal and leadership skills to support both the Acute Mental Health Service Line and the broader community. The primary focus is to reduce readmissions by ensuring a smooth discharge from admission to discharge and providing ongoing support to high-risk patients in the community.
The purpose of a Discharge Social Worker in Adult Social Care is to complete assessments, including those mandated by the Care Act 2014, and to enhance the well-being of eligible individuals. In addition to adhering to the practice standards set by Social Work England (SWE), Discharge Social Workers must apply a wide range of knowledge and skills to build relationships and work directly with individuals, their families, and carers in a strengths-based way, empowering them to achieve the best outcomes.
The role involves working proactively to identify patients at high risk of readmission and developing tailored discharge plans to address their specific needs. The Discharge Social Worker will collaborate closely with both Acute Mental Health Units and community teams to overcome barriers to discharge, ensuring patients receive the necessary support to thrive outside the hospital.
The post holder will work closely with inpatient colleagues, community teams, voluntary sectors, housing, and substance misuse services. They will provide follow-up support in the community, ensuring that actions identified during admission are implemented and sustained. This includes coordinating with community mental health services, facilitating access to necessary resources, and monitoring the patient's progress to prevent readmission.
Discharge Social Workers play a key role in safeguarding adults at risk of harm or who have been harmed, working closely with patients' friends, families, and carers to facilitate discharge. They will ensure that the estimated discharge date identified during reviews is progressed whenever possible and feasible.
The post holder is expected to provide accurate information for discharge and bed management meetings directly or ensure this information is communicated through ward staff and junior team members.
In the community, Discharge Social Workers will perform follow-up visits, assist in integrating patients into community services, and provide ongoing support to help them achieve stability and independence. This involves continuous assessment and adjustment of care plans to meet evolving needs and promote overall well-being.
This is a unique role that offers exposure to skill development across services, business functions, and discharge coordination through the provision of comprehensive social care support. By focusing on reducing readmissions, the Discharge Social Worker plays a crucial role in ensuring continuity of care and preventing unnecessary hospital stays. By minimizing the risk of readmission, they help improve the overall quality of life for patients and the efficiency of mental health services.
This will be a team work across two sites in West London.
If you are interested in this exciting opportunity and would like to find out more, please call 01322 282470. Alternatively, you can reach the recruitment team via e-mail at recruitment@westmeriarecruitment.co.uk
Know someone who might be interested??
Refer a friend or colleague to claim a referral fee once they have worked over 150 hours for Westmeria