Job Description
Job Title: Hospital Discharge Social Worker
Location: Darlington Borough CouncilPay Rate: £26.26 per hourContract Type: Temporary / Full TimeService Area: Adult Social Care - Hospital Discharge Team
Role Summary
As a Hospital Discharge Social Worker, your main job is to help people leave the hospital safely and quickly once they are medically fit. You work with health staff, patients, and families to arrange care and support at home or in a care setting. The goal is to avoid delays in discharge and prevent patients from being readmitted.
Key Responsibilities1. Planning Discharges
* Work with hospital teams to help patients go home safely.
* Attend meetings on the hospital wards.
* Use the Care Act 2014 to assess what support people need.
* Arrange care at home, in a care home, or through reablement services.
2. Assessing Needs
* Talk to patients and families to understand their needs.
* Create a care plan that supports the person's recovery.
* Make sure the support is person-centred and safe.
3. Working with Others
* Work closely with doctors, nurses, therapists, and other social care professionals.
* Coordinate support through the Discharge to Assess (D2A) process.
* Help reduce delayed discharges from hospital (DTOCs).
4. Safeguarding Adults
* Act if you suspect neglect, abuse, or unsafe situations.
* Follow the Mental Capacity Act 2005 if a person cannot make decisions for themselves.
* Make best-interest decisions when needed and involve advocates.
RequirementsEssential
* Social Work qualification (BA, MA, DipSW, etc.)
* Registration with Social Work England
* Experience in adult social care or hospital discharge
* Knowledge of:
o Care Act 2014
o Mental Capacity Act 2005
o Safeguarding procedures
Desirable
* Experience working in hospitals or fast-paced settings
* Knowledge of Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
* Good IT and report writing skills
Randstad Care acts as an employment business when supplying temporary staff and as an employment agency when introducing candidates for permanent employment with a client. Randstad Care is an equal opportunities employer and decisions are made on merits alone.
Did you know that Randstad Care have been awarded a place on the National Clinical Staffing Framework for the NHS? This means we will be able to bring you more opportunities within nursing & midwifery and clinical staffing.