Location
London Borough of Croydon

Hours
36 hours per week

Salary
Grade 12 £50,676 - £52,827 per annum plus fantastic benefits

About the Role
This post is within Croydon Council’s hospital discharge/LIFE team, focusing on hospital discharge. The work is short term but fast paced, with some weekend working required on a rota basis. You will collaborate with other professionals in an integrated service providing strengths-based assessments for reablement in people’s own homes.

The Hospital Team facilitates discharges from Croydon University Hospital and all out-of-borough hospitals. Working within the Transfer of Care Hub Team (TOCH), which consists of multiple professionals, you will help facilitate swift and suitable discharge destinations.

The post holder will be responsible for case managing and facilitating safe and effective discharges of patients from hospital to community settings through a multidisciplinary approach. This includes coordinating and overseeing Discharge Navigators within their sub-team, completing assessments of individual needs, and supporting discharge plans. You will proactively identify concerns or issues that may delay effective discharges and work with the TOCH team to overcome and limit these.

You will work closely with all ward teams to ensure appropriate referrals are made to local authorities, preventing unnecessary and avoidable delays in patient discharge. The role also extends to supporting individuals post-discharge to ensure they feel supported and have received the requested assistance.

Key responsibilities include liaising with hospitals and professionals to facilitate timely discharges, undertaking Strength/Asset Based Assessments and reviews, completing Care Act Assessments to determine ongoing care needs, providing information and advice, and working in partnership with health professionals in the Integrated Discharge Team.

Additional duties involve triaging safeguarding concerns, participating in safeguarding discussions, working with service users, carers and families, maintaining high standards of case recording, completing risk assessments and protection plans, undertaking Mental Capacity Assessments, completing referrals to Advocacy services, and deputising in the manager’s absence.

Croydon Council offers an inclusive, supportive working environment with excellent transport links and a commitment to professional development, realistic caseloads, and career progression opportunities including a strong ASYE program and post-qualification training.

Experience
Applicants must demonstrate exceptionally strong social work practice skills and sound knowledge of key legislation. Experience in hospital discharge or integrated health and social care settings is highly desirable. Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment is essential.

About you
You will be committed to team working and enthusiastic about contributing ideas to support service development. Professionalism, creativity, and drive in person-centred practice and problem solving are required. You must be flexible and able to respond to a rapidly changing public service environment. Strong communication and partnership working skills with service users, carers, families, and professionals are essential.

You will share in supporting your manager’s leadership of the team to deliver progressive services and maintain high standards of practice.

Qualifications
Qualified Social Worker status is required. You must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). A commitment to ongoing professional development and post-qualification training is expected.