Job Description
4 months contract with a Local Authority
Job Summary:
• The Hospital Social Worker will work within the West Sussex Hospital Social Work Team, based primarily at St Richard’s Hospital, supporting adults during admission and following discharge.
• The role involves completing strengths-based assessments, arranging care and support, working within multidisciplinary hospital teams (including A&E and emergency floors), and supporting people to maximise independence.
• The post holder will be required to work both on-site and remotely, undertaking ward visits, duty responsibilities, and family meetings.
• The work is fast paced, varied and requires strong partnership working, safeguarding knowledge, and the ability to respond within required timescales.
Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample):
• Undertake timely, strengths-based assessments for people in hospital and recently discharged.
• Arrange and coordinate appropriate care and support packages that promote independence.
• Provide a statutory social work service, ensuring practice complies with legislation and safeguarding responsibilities.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team, including A&E and emergency floor staff.
• Attend hospital wards, duty rota, family meetings and professional discussions.
• Apply a risk enablement approach and use evidence-based practice to inform decision-making.
• Contribute to or undertake safeguarding enquiries, ensuring appropriate actions and protection measures.
• Analyse and interpret information to prioritise needs and develop intervention plans.
• Provide informal supervision, mentoring and development support to less experienced practitioners, students or apprentices.
• Maintain accurate and compliant case records, adhering to data protection and confidentiality requirements.
• Work collaboratively with carers, internal colleagues and external agencies to achieve positive outcomes.
• Recognise the limits of own accountability and seek appropriate supervision and support.
Skills/Experience:
• Strong experience in hospital or adult social care settings.
• Ability to complete strengths-based assessments and produce effective, person-centred care plans.
• Experience of multidisciplinary working within health and social care environments.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation (Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, safeguarding duties).
• Proven ability to undertake safeguarding enquiries.
• Strong analytical skills, including interpreting complex information to inform intervention planning.
• Ability to manage risk appropriately and use evidence-based practice.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with service users, families, and professionals.
• Ability to mentor or coach less experienced practitioners.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to meet performance expectations.
• Competent IT skills for accurate case recording and data management.
Additional Information:
• The closing date: 26/11/2025.
• Social Work England registration (essential).
• Temporary role (16 weeks), 37 hours per week.
• Location: St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester, with 2–3 days per week on-site.
• Mix of home working and hospital/office attendance.
• Required to visit wards, attend duty, and participate in family meetings and MDT discussions.
• Enhanced DBS, 5 years’ references, Social Work England registration and eligibility to work in the UK required.
Requirements
• Strong experience in hospital or adult social care settings. • Ability to complete strengths-based assessments and produce effective, person-centred care plans. • Experience of multidisciplinary working within health and social care environments. • Knowledge of relevant legislation (Care Act, Mental Capacity Act, safeguarding duties). • Proven ability to undertake safeguarding enquiries. • Strong analytical skills, including interpreting complex information to inform intervention planning. • Ability to manage risk appropriately and use evidence-based practice. • Strong communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with service users, families, and professionals. • Ability to mentor or coach less experienced practitioners. • Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to meet performance expectations. • Competent IT skills for accurate case recording and data management.