The Role

Are you interested in joining a dynamic social work service at the forefront of integrated collaborative working across Health and Social Care?

We are looking for Social Workers to join our Hospital Social Work Teams. These are successful, high performing teams, committed to integrated working and delivering the right care, in the right place at the right time. Our service supports the safe and timely discharge of our residents from several hospital sites both in and outside of London, working closely with our community Health and Hospital Trust colleagues to deliver an integrated Discharge to Assess service.

This is a great opportunity for Social Workers to expand their knowledge and to advance into the future of Adult Health and Social Care. A keen interest in joint working with our Health colleagues is essential.

Our Social Workers deliver high quality, timely and person-centred service, that values and promotes the independence and well-being of our residents after leaving hospital.

Wandsworth Adult Social Services have implemented a Discharge to Assess model in response to the government direction regarding hospital discharges in response to the COVID19 pandemic. This integrates health (Maximising Independence community therapy) and three social care teams (two hospital discharge Social Work teams and the Enablement team) who work collaboratively to ensure that hospital discharges are safe and timely and works towards having care confirmed within two hours of receiving the referral. The work also includes assessment of care and support needs, support planning, case management, duty, and face to face assessments.

The current Discharge to Assess model is in operation seven days per week. You will work a 36 hour week over a five day period. This role will include some weekend working, which is completed on a rota system. The weekend rota is completed in advance and with flexibility. 

The Hospital team have bases in the following locations:

• St George’s Hospital
• Wandsworth Town Hall
• Queen Mary’s Hospital

The teams consist of enthusiastic Social Workers and Social Care Assessors with a focus to provide a holistic, personalised, strength-based service to residents over the age of 18 who are require support when being discharged from hospital.  

As a qualified, SWE registered, Social Worker the key aspects of the role include:

• Participate in the duty service across the Discharge to Assess service
• To independently manage a caseload, including safeguarding enquiries
• To arrange and undertake Care Act Assessments including home visits, as per the Discharge to Assess guidance
• To arrange and undertake Mental Capacity Assessments and Best Interest Meetings
• To implement packages of care as per Discharge to Assess guidelines
• Work in partnership with health and community colleagues
• To participate in Continued Professional Development 
• To maintain Social Work England professional standards

The person interested in this post will:

• Have experience with
  • Hospital discharge
  • Care Act Assessments
  • Mental capacity Assessments
  • Safeguarding
  • Using a strength based approach
  • Screening referrals
• A ‘can do’ attitude to work
• Continuously seek better value for money and improved outcomes
• Have the interests of residents and service users at heart and ensuring they receive the highest standards of service provision
• Take a team approach that values collaboration and partnership working
• Have knowledge of current developments in relevant legislation, national guidance and frameworks and how to access more detailed information when necessary
• Have knowledge and experience in safeguarding adults
• Have good communication, decision-making and time management skills

The Adult Social Care and Public Health Directorate is committed to providing Continuing Professional Development and ensuring that our practice is forward thinking, dynamic and works within the principles of Strengths Based Practice. We will offer the successful candidate supportive, regular supervision, training and the opportunity to develop their career within an organisation that works towards positive outcomes.

We are committed to the development of our staff, and our Adult Social Care Academy offers a range of professional development opportunities for staff in Adult Social Care and Public Health. Our practice and service was recognised at the Wandsworth & Richmond Adult Social Care & Public Health Awards 2021 where we won the SSA Stand Out Award.

For an informal discussion regarding the roles please contact

Alecia Ivers Assistant Service Manager via Alecia.Ivers@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

 or Sally Elliott, Assistant Service Manager via sally.elliott@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

At Richmond and Wandsworth Councils, we care more about how you work and what you achieve, rather than where you work on any given day. The difference you can make to our local communities is what really matters most to us, service delivery must always come first. We have carefully considered agile ways of working to provide the best experience for residents, stakeholders and our staff. Our agile working strategy actively supports and encourages a dynamic work environment and daily working experience. Agile working helps put the needs of our staff at the centre of everything we do, so if specific flexible working arrangements helps you with this, feel free to let us know.

Your wellbeing and the flexible way in which you can work is and will remain a key priority for Richmond and Wandsworth Councils. We want you to thrive and feel empowered in your work!

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if there is a flexible working option you’d like to explore. We also offer a generous holiday allowance of 39 paid days (pro rata) including bank holidays and a wide range of learning and development opportunities.

In addition, we offer a comprehensive range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government pension scheme, childcare vouchers, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts with many leisure activities, restaurants, shops and other establishments.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

Closing Date:  01 Feb 2023

Shortlisting Date: 02 Feb 2023

Interview Date: W/C 6th Feb 2023

Useful Information:

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Please note that the advertised dates for interviews may change due to the current Covid-19 situation. If they do, we will let you know as soon as possible.

Your health and wellbeing is our top priority. Should you become unwell due to Covid-19 during the recruitment process we would very much appreciate receiving an update from you as soon as possible.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

Important Information:

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. It replaces the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).

Important Information:

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils