Locum Safeguarding Qualified Social Worker

Adults Social Care – Social Worker

Brief Job Overview

 
We are recruiting an experienced Adults Social Worker to join Darlington Borough Council’s RIACT Team on a 3-month locum contract. This role is central to supporting the council’s winter initiative, ensuring a home-first approach to hospital discharges and timely follow-up reviews to promote safe and sustainable transitions back into the community.  

You will work collaboratively with health and social care professionals to facilitate effective hospital discharges, coordinate care, and ensure individuals are supported to return home as soon as it is safe to do so.

Key Responsibilities

• Facilitate and coordinate hospital discharges for adults with care and support needs, in line with the Care Act 2014 and the council’s winter initiative process.
• Apply a home-first approach to ensure individuals are discharged safely and supported to return home whenever possible.
• Conduct timely Care Act assessments and follow-up reviews within two weeks of discharge to ensure ongoing safety and suitability of care arrangements.
• Work in partnership with health colleagues, including discharge teams, therapists, and community services, to coordinate person-centred care planning.
• Promote independence and wellbeing through strengths-based and outcome-focused interventions.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary meetings to support effective discharge planning and case management.
• Maintain accurate and timely case records in line with council procedures and professional standards.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of discharge pathways and collaborative working arrangements across health and social care.

About You

 
You are an experienced and proactive social worker with a strong background in hospital discharge and adult social care. You thrive in a fast-paced environment, working collaboratively to achieve positive outcomes for adults. You are confident in your assessment and decision-making skills and bring a compassionate, professional approach to supporting people at key transition points in their lives.

Requirements

• Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Substantial experience within Adult Social Care, ideally in hospital discharge, reablement, or community settings.
• Strong understanding of the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, and related legislation.
• Experience working in fast-paced, multi-disciplinary environments.
• Excellent assessment, care planning, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to deliver timely and effective outcomes.
• Flexibility to work full-time, ideally 5 days per week (negotiable for the right candidate).
• Ability to work from the office at least 3 days per week – therefore, local candidates are preferred.
• Full compliance and immediate availability for start preferred.

Contract & Salary

• Job Type: Locum
• Location: Darlington Borough Council
• Service Area: Adult Social Care – RIACT (Reablement and Intermediate Care Team)
• Contract Length: 3 months
• Salary: Negotiable, dependent on experience
• Working Hours: Full-time preferred (negotiable)
• Working Pattern: Hybrid – minimum three days per week in the office

How to Apply

 
If you are an experienced Adults Social Worker with a passion for supporting people to return home safely and independently, we’d love to hear from you.  
Please apply using the form on the page.