Job Title: Hospital Discharge Social Worker
Location: Darlington Borough Council
Pay Rate: £26.26 per hour
Contract Type: Temporary / Full Time
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Service Area: Adult Social Care - Hospital Discharge TeamRole Summary
As a Hospital Discharge Social Worker, your main job is to help people leave the hospital safely and quickly once they are medically fit. You work with health staff, patients, and families to arrange care and support at home or in a care setting. The goal is to avoid delays in discharge and prevent patients from being readmitted.
Key Responsibilities
1. Planning Discharges
Work with hospital teams to help patients go home safely.
Attend meetings on the hospital wards.
Use the Care Act 2014 to assess what support people need.
Arrange care at home, in a care home, or through reablement services.
2. Assessing Needs
Talk to patients and families to understand their needs.
Create a care plan that supports the person's recovery.
Make sure the support is person-centred and safe.
3. Working with Others
Work closely with doctors, nurses, therapists, and other social care professionals.
Coordinate support through the Discharge to Assess (D2A) process.
Help reduce delayed discharges from hospital (DTOCs).
4. Safeguarding Adults
Act if you suspect neglect, abuse, or unsafe situations.
Follow the Mental Capacity Act 2005 if a person cannot make decisions for themselves.
Make best-interest decisions when needed and involve advocates.
Requirements
Essential
Social Work qualification (BA, MA, DipSW, etc.)
Registration with Social Work England
Experience in adult social care or hospital discharge
Knowledge of:
Care Act 2014
Mental Capacity Act 2005
Safeguarding procedures
Desirable
Experience working in hospitals or fast-paced settings
Knowledge of Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
Good IT and report writing skills
Randstad Care acts as an employment business when supplying temporary staff and as an employment agency when introducing candidates for permanent employment with a client. Randstad Care is an equal opportunities employer and decisions are made on merits alone.
Did you know that Randstad Care have been awarded a place on the National Clinical Staffing Framework for the NHS? This means we will be able to bring you more opportunities within nursing & midwifery and clinical staffing.