An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Acute Social Care Team at West London NHS Trust.
We are looking to recruit Navigational Support Workers with strong interpersonal skills, solution-focused thinking, and a passion for supporting safe and timely patient discharges. This role is pivotal in providing discharge coordination and social care navigation for individuals in acute inpatient mental health settings.
You will be aligned with one of the three boroughs served by the Trust and will play a vital role in overcoming barriers to discharge, empowering individuals to transition safely from hospital to home, and ensuring their continued support in the community.
This is a unique opportunity to develop skills across social care, housing, and mental health discharge planning. You will gain experience in working collaboratively across borough-based teams and community services while directly impacting the quality and timeliness of patient discharges.
This is a 6-month fixed-term post due to current funding arrangements.
The post holder will work in a targeted way to achieve the best pathway out of hospital, maximising independence and choice for the individual and working in a solution focussed way to ensure that once clinically ready for discharge, there are no housing and or social care barriers in place that would delay discharge.
The post holder will work with individuals, families and carers, community services, housing departments, third sector organisations, and other relevant parties to ensure smooth transition to the community from hospital.
This will provide them with a complete picture of the acute care pathway and barriers to patient flow.
Provide navigational support and discharge coordination for patients on acute mental health wards, following initial screening by the Acute Social Care Team.
Work closely with community organisations, local authorities, families and carers, housing departments, benefits agencies, and third-sector services to facilitate smooth and timely discharges.
Adopt a targeted, solution-focused approach to remove obstacles and improve patient flow, ensuring maximum independence and personalised support for each individual.
Offer direct support to patients with financial matters, including advice on benefits, debt management, and accessing additional financial support services.
Conduct home visits to assess discharge readiness and living conditions, support patients with community tasks such as attending Job Centre appointments or managing banking and ID requirements.
Experience of working in housing, mental health, substance misuse team and having an understanding of outreach and community working.
Understanding and up to date knowledge of social care policies, including benefit and financial support systems.
Experience as a support worker
Working knowledge of social service agencies and community services
Core skills of housing and social care process
Clinical and environmental risk
Equality and diversity
Evidence of training in Mental Health
Relevant current legislation, NICE guidelines, CPA, risk assessment and risk management
Ability to build rapport with service users, carers and colleagues
Evidence of ability in Care Act Assessment, treatment planning, intervention and evaluation.
Ability to work independently and under supervision as part of a team
Group work skills Computer literacy
Ability to reflect and critically appraise others performance
Contribution to service development and the training of others
Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance
Ability to reflect, identify and take responsibility for continuing professional development needs
Understand the need for and actively participates in own supervision and constructive use of feedback
Experience of working in housing, mental health, substance misuse team and having an understanding of outreach and community working.
Understanding and up to date knowledge of social care policies, including benefit and financial support systems.
Experience as a support worker
Working knowledge of social service agencies and community services
Core skills of housing and social care process
Clinical and environmental risk
Equality and diversity
Evidence of training in Mental Health
Relevant current legislation, NICE guidelines, CPA, risk assessment and risk management
Ability to build rapport with service users, carers and colleagues
Evidence of ability in Care Act Assessment, treatment planning, intervention and evaluation.
Ability to work independently and under supervision as part of a team
Group work skills Computer literacy
Ability to reflect and critically appraise others performance
Contribution to service development and the training of others
Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance
Ability to reflect, identify and take responsibility for continuing professional development needs
Understand the need for and actively participates in own supervision and constructive use of feedback
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement..
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement..
West London NHS Trust
H and F Mental Health Unit, Discharge Coordinators
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