Locum Safeguarding Qualified Social Worker

Qualified Social Worker – Hospital Discharge

Brief Job Overview

 
We are seeking an experienced and proactive Qualified Social Worker to join the Hospital Discharge Team at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP). This in-person role focuses on providing assessment and review capacity within a high-demand, fast-paced environment, ensuring safe and effective discharges from both acute and community hospitals.  

The role involves close, hands-on work with patients and professionals on wards, with flexibility to attend some meetings in a hybrid format where agreed.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake Care Act 2014 assessments to identify needs, strengths, and desired outcomes for adults preparing for discharge from hospital.
• Develop and implement person-centred support plans that ensure safe, effective, and timely hospital discharges.
• Work collaboratively with health and social care colleagues, including NHS partners, therapists, and discharge coordinators, to promote a home-first approach.
• Carry out reviews of care and support plans to ensure services remain appropriate and meet individual needs following discharge.
• Apply the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 in all decision-making and ensure that individuals’ rights are upheld.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary ward rounds, discharge planning meetings, and case conferences as required.
• Ensure that individuals and their families are fully involved in planning for discharge and supported to make informed decisions about their care.
• Maintain accurate, timely case records and ensure compliance with statutory duties, council policies, and professional standards.
• Contribute to the efficient flow of hospital discharges, ensuring no unnecessary delays in care transitions.

About You

 
You are a dedicated and skilled social worker who thrives in a hospital environment and can work effectively under pressure. You bring strong assessment, communication, and problem-solving skills, and you are committed to promoting independence, safety, and wellbeing for adults transitioning from hospital care. You have a collaborative approach and the confidence to make sound professional judgments in complex situations.

Requirements

• Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
• Significant post-qualified experience in Adult Social Care, ideally within hospital discharge or reablement services.
• Strong knowledge of the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, and Safeguarding Adults procedures.
• Experience working in multi-disciplinary health and social care teams.
• Excellent assessment, planning, and review skills with a focus on achieving positive outcomes for individuals.
• Ability to manage a busy caseload and work efficiently within a high-pressure environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including report writing and record keeping.
• Willingness to work on-site in hospitals across the Bournemouth and Poole area, with occasional hybrid meetings where agreed.

Contract & Salary

• Job Type: Locum
• Location: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
• Service Area: Adult Social Care – Hospital Discharge Team
• Contract Length: 3 months (with potential extension)
• Salary: Negotiable, dependent on experience
• Working Hours: Full-time
• Working Pattern: In-person (on ward) with limited hybrid flexibility for meetings

How to Apply

 
If you are a motivated and experienced Social Worker with a passion for delivering high-quality, person-centred hospital discharge planning, we’d love to hear from you.  
Please apply using the form on the page.