Job summary
Hospital In-Reach - Bridging Care, Ensuring Recovery
Are you ready to make a real difference in the world of social work?
We are looking for an experienced and dedicated Social Worker to join our Hospital In-Reach Team. This role is an opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking approach to admission avoidance, discharge planning and recovery. Based daily at Salisbury District Hospital, you will work closely with healthcare partners adopting a collaborative approach to achieve the best outcomes for the people we work with.
The In- Reach social work post is a developing role, and we are looking for an innovative and passionate person to continue to develop and expand this role within the team. You'll find a supportive environment with flexible working options, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This role requires the successful candidate to work on a rota basis, 5 days over 7, working 1 weekend day in 3.
As an Experienced Social Worker, you'll provide advice, assessments and support for people moving from hospital to home or care settings. You'll work closely with healthcare colleagues, ensuring patients are on the right discharge pathway from the start. This is a fast paced role requiring creativity, reflexivity and gives you autonomy to make timely decisions.
To succeed, you'll need a Social Work qualification, Social Work England registration and knowledge of safeguarding and health and social care legislation.
Main duties of the job
The role involves delivering an in-reach social care function to support timely hospital discharges, including participation in a rota covering one weekend in three.
Working responsively and collaboratively with acute health partners, Health in-reach services, and the ASC Flow & Triage Advanced Practitioner, the postholder provides proactive social care support at the hospital front door to prevent unnecessary admissions and reduce length of stay.
Responsibilities include identifying and resolving barriers to discharge, undertaking proportionate assessments, sharing information with multidisciplinary teams, and signposting carers to appropriate support services.
The role also supports the Care Transfer Hub by gathering required information, representing Adult Social Care on weekend calls, and making joint decisions with MDT colleagues regarding discharge pathways.
Additional duties include providing on-call in-reach support at weekends, completing person-centred and mental capacity assessments, and planning support to help individuals achieve their outcomes and live as independently as possible. Accurate and timely recording of all activity on the social care database is essential, alongside maintaining up-to-date knowledge of local services and advocating for customers.
About us
Wiltshire Council is the unitary local authority for
the county of Wiltshire, England, established in 2009 to provide both
county-level and district-level services. The council's vision is to
foster strong communities where residents can achieve their potential through
empowerment and inclusion. The council focuses on long-term challenges,
community engagement, and delivering services that support independent living,
reduce inequalities, and promote overall well-being.
Key Responsibilities and Services
Community
Services
The council provides a range of essential services to
residents, including waste management, public planning, and support for
vulnerable populations, such as older adults and people with
disabilities.
Governance
The council consists of elected councillors who form a
cabinet to set the council's direction and priorities. A system of overview
and scrutiny ensures accountability for the cabinet's decisions.
Strategic
Planning
The council engages in long-term planning, such as its
household waste management strategy, focusing on new approaches and
opportunities to manage waste over the next decade and beyond.
Infrastructure
The council uses Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds
to support local infrastructure projects, including roads, schools, and
recreational facilities, to manage the impact of development.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Care job family overview
Support and assist the well-being of individuals and groups to assure their protection, security and
development.
Safeguarding, protection and care.
Community, residential, day or field settings.
Ongoing risk/needs assessment of and advice for individuals and groups.
Specification of any non-council provision.
Individual or small group emphasis.
May involve personal care activities.
Likely to involve immediate response to client.
Service and Function Context
The overall responsibilities of the service and function are -
Operational Adult Services are structured into specialist teams in order to improve the delivery of person centred
outcomes for our customers and to evidence this through performance and set standards.
These specialist teams are -
Adult social care locality teams.
Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities - CTPLD.
Hospital teams.
Intermediate care team.
Mental health team.
Hearing and vision team.
Emergency duty team.
The hospital teams are based in three acute hospitals and provide advice, assessment and discharge planning
for people. All of these teams work closely with health colleagues to promote an effective multi-disciplinary
approach. We are currently looking at innovative new methods such as discharge to assess which is following
people from discharge to their own home or care home. We are also exploring innovative front door of hospital
approaches to ensure the correct discharge pathway is instigated as soon as possible.
Job Purpose
To manage a complex and varied workload, undertaking social work and social care assessment with customers
to support the discharge planning process where required.
To plan for the provision of support and services with customers in order to assist them meet their
outcomes and to live as independently as possible fulfilling their individual potential. To support carers to
continue in their role.
To deliver this service in accordance with the statutory responsibilities as set out within NHS & Social Care
Legislation; and the eligibility criteria for the service as agreed by Wiltshire Council.
To ensure that the primary responsibility of safeguarding vulnerable adults is delivered in accordance with the
law and local policy and guidance.
To provide professional supervision and guidance on complex issues to Level 2 Social Workers and Social
Care Practitioners working within the same locality and environment if required.
To uphold standards of practice for Social Workers as registered with Social Work England and in accordance
with Codes of Conduct.
Specific duties and responsibilities include -
To provide an in-reach social care function to support timely hospital discharges including 1 in 3
Weekends i.e., 5 - 7 days per week, on a Rota basis.
To work in a responsive, integrated way with our acute health partners, including Health in-reach
services and the ASC Flow & Triage Advanced Practitioner.
To provide proactive social care support at Acute Hospital front door for admission avoidance.
To provide proactive social care support to achieve a reduction in length of stay
To proactively identify barriers to discharge and find solutions to these.
To undertake proportionate assessment, and sharing of information with MDT colleagues.
To identify carers, and signpost customers to appropriate support services.
To support Care Transfer Hub function including gathering of information required by Flow & Triage
Advanced Practitioner
To represent ASC on Care Transfer Hub calls on weekends and make joint decisions with the MDT
regarding discharge pathways.
To provide on-call in-reach support to acute hospital partners at weekends - 1 weekend in 3.
To undertake person-centred assessments - including Mental Capacity Assessments with customers
and to plan for the provision of support and services with customers in order to assist them meet
their outcomes and to live as independently as possible, fulfilling their individual potential.
To ensure accurate and timely recording of all information and assessment activity onto the Social Care
records database in accordance with work targets set by the Hospital Team Manager and Supervisor.
To gather sufficient information about customers in order to be able to accurately assess their needs.
To ensure that local knowledge about universally available services is up to date including what is
available within the voluntary and community sector, as well as the Departments commissioned and
contracted services and to signpost and advocate for customers accordingly.
To have a well-developed understanding of assessment and the management of risks for individuals
and to be able to apply Council policy and support customers to manage risk appropriately. To identify
where vulnerable adults may be at risk and to act in accordance with the Departments Safeguarding
policies and procedures. To be able to undertake the Investigating Officer role in accordance with
Departments Safeguarding policies and procedures.
To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, with health and social care colleagues to ensure effective
communication/information sharing and to support assessment and decision making process.
To ensure that Council corporate and departmental Policies and Procedures are followed at all times.
To contribute proactively to the effective working of the team with positive attitude, by sharing
knowledge, offering advice and support and by preparedness to be involved in the development of
services.
To fully engage and prepare for own supervision and appraisal through self-evaluation, ensuring that
continual professional development is evidenced.
To be an ambassador for the Council and the department at all times, always representing the Council
positively, professionally and appropriately at meetings with customers, external partners and
agencies.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Care job family overview
Support and assist the well-being of individuals and groups to assure their protection, security and
development.
Safeguarding, protection and care.
Community, residential, day or field settings.
Ongoing risk/needs assessment of and advice for individuals and groups.
Specification of any non-council provision.
Individual or small group emphasis.
May involve personal care activities.
Likely to involve immediate response to client.
Service and Function Context
The overall responsibilities of the service and function are -
Operational Adult Services are structured into specialist teams in order to improve the delivery of person centred
outcomes for our customers and to evidence this through performance and set standards.
These specialist teams are -
Adult social care locality teams.
Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities - CTPLD.
Hospital teams.
Intermediate care team.
Mental health team.
Hearing and vision team.
Emergency duty team.
The hospital teams are based in three acute hospitals and provide advice, assessment and discharge planning
for people. All of these teams work closely with health colleagues to promote an effective multi-disciplinary
approach. We are currently looking at innovative new methods such as discharge to assess which is following
people from discharge to their own home or care home. We are also exploring innovative front door of hospital
approaches to ensure the correct discharge pathway is instigated as soon as possible.
Job Purpose
To manage a complex and varied workload, undertaking social work and social care assessment with customers
to support the discharge planning process where required.
To plan for the provision of support and services with customers in order to assist them meet their
outcomes and to live as independently as possible fulfilling their individual potential. To support carers to
continue in their role.
To deliver this service in accordance with the statutory responsibilities as set out within NHS & Social Care
Legislation; and the eligibility criteria for the service as agreed by Wiltshire Council.
To ensure that the primary responsibility of safeguarding vulnerable adults is delivered in accordance with the
law and local policy and guidance.
To provide professional supervision and guidance on complex issues to Level 2 Social Workers and Social
Care Practitioners working within the same locality and environment if required.
To uphold standards of practice for Social Workers as registered with Social Work England and in accordance
with Codes of Conduct.
Specific duties and responsibilities include -
To provide an in-reach social care function to support timely hospital discharges including 1 in 3
Weekends i.e., 5 - 7 days per week, on a Rota basis.
To work in a responsive, integrated way with our acute health partners, including Health in-reach
services and the ASC Flow & Triage Advanced Practitioner.
To provide proactive social care support at Acute Hospital front door for admission avoidance.
To provide proactive social care support to achieve a reduction in length of stay
To proactively identify barriers to discharge and find solutions to these.
To undertake proportionate assessment, and sharing of information with MDT colleagues.
To identify carers, and signpost customers to appropriate support services.
To support Care Transfer Hub function including gathering of information required by Flow & Triage
Advanced Practitioner
To represent ASC on Care Transfer Hub calls on weekends and make joint decisions with the MDT
regarding discharge pathways.
To provide on-call in-reach support to acute hospital partners at weekends - 1 weekend in 3.
To undertake person-centred assessments - including Mental Capacity Assessments with customers
and to plan for the provision of support and services with customers in order to assist them meet
their outcomes and to live as independently as possible, fulfilling their individual potential.
To ensure accurate and timely recording of all information and assessment activity onto the Social Care
records database in accordance with work targets set by the Hospital Team Manager and Supervisor.
To gather sufficient information about customers in order to be able to accurately assess their needs.
To ensure that local knowledge about universally available services is up to date including what is
available within the voluntary and community sector, as well as the Departments commissioned and
contracted services and to signpost and advocate for customers accordingly.
To have a well-developed understanding of assessment and the management of risks for individuals
and to be able to apply Council policy and support customers to manage risk appropriately. To identify
where vulnerable adults may be at risk and to act in accordance with the Departments Safeguarding
policies and procedures. To be able to undertake the Investigating Officer role in accordance with
Departments Safeguarding policies and procedures.
To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, with health and social care colleagues to ensure effective
communication/information sharing and to support assessment and decision making process.
To ensure that Council corporate and departmental Policies and Procedures are followed at all times.
To contribute proactively to the effective working of the team with positive attitude, by sharing
knowledge, offering advice and support and by preparedness to be involved in the development of
services.
To fully engage and prepare for own supervision and appraisal through self-evaluation, ensuring that
continual professional development is evidenced.
To be an ambassador for the Council and the department at all times, always representing the Council
positively, professionally and appropriately at meetings with customers, external partners and
agencies.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified Social Worker with evidence of post qualifying learning and development.
- Up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance in relation to working with, and the safeguarding of, vulnerable adults.
- Knowledge and understanding of Health & Social Care legislation and wider policy context.
- Evidenced experience of professional and personal development following achievement of professional qualification.
- Evidence of giving informal supervision.
- Well-developed interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate with people in a variety of ways
- and levels.
- ITQ 2 or equivalent skill and ability demonstrating significant experience in IT systems, including ability to utilise Electronic Social Care record software.
- A self-starter, well organised person who is passionate about delivery of high-quality customer-centric services.
- Ability to work with others in a developmental way.
- Must be able to write clear, complex and accurate reports.
- Planning and workload management skills.
- Fluent in English.
Desirable
- Qualified Practice Teacher.
- ECDL - European Computer Driving Licence.
- Evidence of giving formal supervision and appraisal.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified Social Worker with evidence of post qualifying learning and development.
- Up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance in relation to working with, and the safeguarding of, vulnerable adults.
- Knowledge and understanding of Health & Social Care legislation and wider policy context.
- Evidenced experience of professional and personal development following achievement of professional qualification.
- Evidence of giving informal supervision.
- Well-developed interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate with people in a variety of ways
- and levels.
- ITQ 2 or equivalent skill and ability demonstrating significant experience in IT systems, including ability to utilise Electronic Social Care record software.
- A self-starter, well organised person who is passionate about delivery of high-quality customer-centric services.
- Ability to work with others in a developmental way.
- Must be able to write clear, complex and accurate reports.
- Planning and workload management skills.
- Fluent in English.
Desirable
- Qualified Practice Teacher.
- ECDL - European Computer Driving Licence.
- Evidence of giving formal supervision and appraisal.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
