Our client based in Shropshire is seeking an experienced Social Worker to join their Hospital Discharge Team. This is an excellent opportunity for a dedicated practitioner to support adults with complex care and support needs, ensuring safe, effective, and timely discharges from acute hospital settings. The successful candidate will manage a varied caseload of adults requiring assessment, intervention, and discharge planning. You will undertake Care Act Assessments, Mental Capacity Assessments, Best Interests decisions, and coordinate Pathway 3 placements where long-term care and support arrangements are required. Working collaboratively with individuals, families, health professionals, and partner agencies, you will facilitate person-centred discharge planning that promotes independence, wellbeing, and positive outcomes. This role requires strong assessment, risk management, and multi-agency working skills, alongside the ability to work effectively within a fast-paced hospital environment. What will your responsibilities be? As a Social Worker within the Hospital Discharge Team, you will: <ul> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Manage a caseload of adults requiring assessment, care planning, and support to facilitate safe and timely hospital discharges.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Respond to referrals and undertake strengths-based Care Act Assessments to identify eligible care and support needs.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Complete Mental Capacity Assessments in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and support decision-making processes.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Undertake Best Interests decisions where individuals are assessed as lacking capacity to make specific decisions regarding their care and support.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Coordinate and arrange Pathway 3 placements where long-term residential or nursing care is required following discharge from hospital.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Develop person-centred care and support plans that promote independence, recovery, safety, and wellbeing.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Work closely with individuals, families, carers, advocates, health professionals, and partner agencies to ensure appropriate support is in place upon discharge.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Participate in multidisciplinary meetings and discharge planning discussions to ensure coordinated and effective service delivery.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Assess and manage risk, ensuring that appropriate interventions and support arrangements are implemented to maintain safety and wellbeing.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Undertake safeguarding enquiries and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns in accordance with the Care Act 2014 and local safeguarding procedures.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Support individuals with complex needs, ensuring timely decision-making and reducing avoidable delays in discharge arrangements.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Arrange, commission, and review care and support services to meet assessed needs and achieve positive outcomes.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prepare clear, accurate, and comprehensive assessments, reports, support plans, and case recordings in line with statutory and organisational requirements.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Maintain accurate and up-to-date records to support high-quality social work practice and effective discharge planning.</li> </ul> Qualifications and Experience To be successful in this role, you will have: <ul> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">A recognised Social Work qualification (MA, BA, BSc in Social Work, Diploma in Social Work, or CQSW).</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Current registration with Social Work England.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Significant post-qualified experience within Adult Social Care, preferably in Hospital Discharge, Acute Hospital, or Community Social Work settings.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Experience facilitating complex hospital discharges and coordinating long-term care arrangements.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Strong knowledge of the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Adult Safeguarding legislation, Human Rights Act, and associated statutory guidance.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Proven ability to undertake Care Act Assessments, Mental Capacity Assessments, Best Interests decisions, risk assessments, and support planning.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Experience coordinating Pathway 3 discharges and arranging long-term residential or nursing placements.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Experience identifying, managing, and responding to safeguarding concerns involving vulnerable adults.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Excellent multi-agency working skills with NHS colleagues, discharge coordinators, care providers, families, carers, and partner agencies.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Strong communication, report-writing, organisational, analytical, and decision-making abilities.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The ability to prioritise competing demands and work effectively within a busy hospital discharge environment.</li> <li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span

Social Worker – Hospital Discharge