Social Work

Brightside Recruitment; Geelong; On-site; AUD 40,000 - 52,000; Part time

Job summary

Brightside Recruitment is seeking an experienced Social Worker to join a residential aged care Transition Care Program in Geelong. You will provide psychosocial assessment, counselling and discharge planning for a part-time caseload, collaborating with nursing, allied health and medical staff.

The role focuses on planning safe next steps, guardianship matters, and supporting families through transitions, with immunisation and police checks as standard requirements.

Qualifications

• Experience in psychosocial assessment, counselling and complex discharge or transition planning.
• Knowledge of aged care system including My Aged Care and CHSP/entry to permanent residential aged care.
• Experience with guardianship, power of attorney and VCAT applications.

Responsibilities

• Provide person-centred psychosocial assessment, counselling and discharge planning.
• Independently manage a part-time caseload with complex needs.
• Work with multidisciplinary team to support transitions to other care settings.
• Advise and educate the broader team on social work matters and elder care issues.
• Identify and respond to elder abuse and family violence risk.

Skills

Psychosocial assessment

Counselling

Discharge planning

Family meetings

Guardian/POA knowledge

Education

Bachelor or Master of Social Work (Qualifying)

Job description

About the organisation

This growing, privately owned allied health group delivers high quality health care services, with a particular focus on older Australians. Their values are grounded in excellence, respect, innovation, open-mindedness and a genuine commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. With plans to expand the areas they cover and the services they offer, their teams are passionate about helping older people regain independence and plan confidently for what comes next, while working closely with families, hospitals and the broader aged care community.

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced Social Worker to join a residential aged care based Transition Care Program in Geelong. The program provides short-term, goal-oriented and restorative care for older people after a hospital stay, giving clients and families time to plan for their longer-term care. You’ll provide person-centred psychosocial assessment, counselling, advocacy and discharge planning, so that every client leaves with a safe and sustainable plan for their next step. You’ll independently manage a part-time caseload of clients with complex psychosocial, cognitive, legal, financial and accommodation needs, while working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team of nursing, allied health, care coordination and medical staff. You’ll report to the Managing Director and receive clinical advice and support from the State Clinical Team Leader. Day to day, you’ll support clients and families through significant life transitions, including the decision to move into permanent residential aged care. This includes guardianship and power of attorney matters, VCAT applications, residential aged care applications, financial management, secure and supported housing, and planning and facilitating family meetings. You’ll also identify and respond to elder abuse, family violence and self-neglect, link clients to ongoing services such as Support at Home and the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, and provide social work advice and education to the wider team.

About you

• Bachelor of Social Work or Master of Social Work (Qualifying), with eligibility for membership of the AASW.
• Demonstrated experience in psychosocial assessment, counselling and complex discharge or transition planning in a health, subacute, aged care or community setting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the aged care system, including My Aged Care, Support at Home, the Commonwealth Home Support Programme and entry to permanent residential aged care.
• Knowledge of Victorian guardianship, administration, power of attorney and medical treatment decision-making legislation, with experience preparing VCAT applications.
• Ability to assist clients with financial matters (Centrelink, aged care means assessment, fee arrangements) and knowledge of secure and supported housing options in Victoria.
• Strong skills in planning and facilitating family meetings and negotiating sensitive outcomes.
• Knowledge of elder abuse and family violence risk identification and response. MARAM training is desirable.

Extra Info

This is a part-time role (0.6 FTE, 45.6 hours per fortnight) based in Geelong, with a 3 month probationary period. Employment is subject to a satisfactory police check, no current aged care banning order, and evidence of immunisation as required by the residential aged care site, including annual influenza vaccination.

Additional information

• Available immediately
• Aged Care Social Work
• Small supportive team