Wiltshire Council

Experienced Social Worker

The closing date is 11 November 2025

Job summary

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. Youll 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, youll provide advice, assessments and support for people moving from hospital to home or care settings. Youll 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, youll need a Social Work qualification, Social Work England registration and knowledge of safeguarding and health and social care legislation. Strong communication and IT skills are essential, along with a commitment to delivering the best outcomes for patients.

Main duties of the job

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/ environment if required.

To uphold standards of practice for Social Workers as registered with Social Work England and in accordance with Codes of Conduct.

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.

Details

Date posted

31 October 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£42,852 to £44,904 a year Inclusive of 7.5% market supplement

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

F0041-5980

Job locations

Salisbury District Hospital

Odstock Road

Salisbury

SP2 8BJ


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 or 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.

Duties and responsibilities

To provide an in-reach social care function to support timely hospital discharges including 1 in 3 Weekends i.e., 5 out of 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 or 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 or 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.

Duties and responsibilities

To provide an in-reach social care function to support timely hospital discharges including 1 in 3 Weekends i.e., 5 out of 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 or 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.
  • ITQ 2 or equivalent skill and ability demonstrating significant experience in IT systems, including ability to utilise Electronic Social Care record software.
  • Ability to work with others in a developmental way.
  • Must be able to write clear, complex and accurate reports.

Desirable

  • Qualified Practice Teacher.
  • ECDL - European Computer Driving Licence.
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.
  • ITQ 2 or equivalent skill and ability demonstrating significant experience in IT systems, including ability to utilise Electronic Social Care record software.
  • Ability to work with others in a developmental way.
  • Must be able to write clear, complex and accurate reports.

Desirable

  • Qualified Practice Teacher.
  • ECDL - European Computer Driving Licence.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Wiltshire Council

Address

Salisbury District Hospital

Odstock Road

Salisbury

SP2 8BJ


Employer's website

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Wiltshire Council

Address

Salisbury District Hospital

Odstock Road

Salisbury

SP2 8BJ


Employer's website

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

South Locality Team Manager

Rebecca Mullins

Rebecca.Mullins@wiltshire.gov.uk

01722432434

Details

Date posted

31 October 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£42,852 to £44,904 a year Inclusive of 7.5% market supplement

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

F0041-5980

Job locations

Salisbury District Hospital

Odstock Road

Salisbury

SP2 8BJ


Supporting documents

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