Discharge and Community Liaison Social Worker
At a glance
- Band
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Pattern
- Full-time
- Posted
- 17/09/2026
- Closes
- 01/10/2026
Sponsorship verdict
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Role summary
This role provides specialist social work support to older adults with functional mental health needs in inpatient wards. The post holder leads on social care assessment, care planning, and discharge coordination, ensuring safe and timely transitions from hospital to community settings. It involves promoting independence, wellbeing, and safeguarding vulnerable adults, while collaborating with service users, carers, and partner agencies. The role also includes care coordination, risk management, advocacy, and maintaining accurate records.
Essential criteria
- An appropriate professional social work qualification
- Education to degree level
- Registration with Social Work England
- Training in principles and application of outcomes focused assessments, personalisation and strengths-based practice
- Training and experience in Safeguarding
- Knowledge of Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and relevant mental health legislation
- Knowledge of discharge planning and social care pathways
Desirable criteria
- Relevant post-qualifying training for social workers
- Approved Mental Health Professional/Best Interests Assessor training
- Practice Educator qualification
- Post qualification experience
- Knowledge of legislation, theory and policy in relation to older adults with functional mental health needs
- Experience of undertaking Care Act assessments, focused on personalisation, choice and control, and care planning
- Experience of undertaking Carer Assessments
- Experience of discharge planning and coordinating care arrangements
- Experience in older adult mental health services
- Experience in mental health inpatient settings
- Experience of Section 117 aftercare, Continuing Healthcare or ordinary residence issues
- An appropriate professional social work qualification
- Education to degree level
- Registration with Social Work England
- Training in principles and application of outcomes focused assessments, personalisation and strengths-based practice
- Training and experience in Safeguarding
- Knowledge of Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and relevant mental health legislation
- Knowledge of discharge planning and social care pathways
- Relevant post-qualifying training for social workers
- Approved Mental Health Professional/Best Interests Assessor training
- Practice Educator qualification
- Post qualification experience
- Knowledge of legislation, theory and policy in relation to older adults with functional mental health needs
- Experience of undertaking Care Act assessments, focused on personalisation, choice and control, and care planning
- Experience of undertaking Carer Assessments
- Experience of discharge planning and coordinating care arrangements
- Experience in older adult mental health services
- Experience in mental health inpatient settings
- Experience of Section 117 aftercare, Continuing Healthcare or ordinary residence issues
Useful to know
Agenda for Change 2024/25 pays Band 6 at £37,338 – £44,962 a year, across England.
This advert: £41,957 – £50,387 — outside the standard scale; check for HCAS/London weighting.
Posted 0d ago · Closes in 15d
Plenty of time to prepare a strong application.
Full advert · preview
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Discharge and Community Liaison Social Worker
The closing date is 01 October 2026
Job summary
The post holderprovides specialist social work support to older adults with functional mental health needs admitted to MHSOP inpatient wards. As a key member of the MDT, the post holder leads on social care assessment, care planning and discharge coordination, ensuring safe, timely and person-centred transitions from hospital to community settings.
Using a strengths-based and recovery-focused approach, the post holder promotes independence, wellbeing, choice, dignity and least restrictive practice while safeguarding vulnerable adults. Acting as a key link between inpatient and community services, they work collaboratively with service users, carers and partner agencies to coordinate discharge arrangements, overcome barriers to discharge and secure sustainable outcomes.
The role includes care coordination, risk management, advocacy, safeguarding, professional consultation and maintaining accurate records. Through effective partnership working and social work leadership, the post holder contributes to reducing delayed discharges and improving recovery-focused outcomes for older adults.
Main duties of the job
Provide advice and advocacy to service users, carers and families. Lead discharge planning from admissi
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