Social Work (Grade 2) - Alfred Emergency

Alfred; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging

Onsite parking

Fitness facilities

Childcare services

Job summary

Bayside Health is seeking an experienced Social Worker Grade 2 for The Alfred site in Melbourne. You will join a multidisciplinary team delivering psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention, and coordinated care to ED/trauma patients, with embedded trauma service exposure.

Shift work covers 7am-7pm blocks and one day weekly in trauma units. Ideal candidates have 3+ years post qualifying experience, strong discharge planning skills, and capability to supervise students.

Qualifications

• Advanced social work skills with 3+ years post qualifying experience.
• Understanding of hospital admission and discharge processes.
• Experience in trauma/ED settings preferred.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced hospital environment.
• Experience supervising students or junior staff is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced social work services to trauma/ED patients and families.
• Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments for complex cases.
• Lead discharge planning and care coordination to avoid unnecessary admissions.
• Coordinate with trauma services and inpatient wards.
• Manage risk factors including family violence and crisis issues.
• Support shift coverage across ED and trauma units as required.

Skills

Advanced social work

ED experience

Discharge planning

Crisis response

Team collaboration

Job description

Bayside Health

Bayside Health is a public health service delivering high-quality care across every stage of life for close to 1.2 million people living in metropolitan Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, Koo Wee Rup, Bass Coast and Southern Gippsland. We have more than 15 main sites, including hospitals, centres and clinics that provide comprehensive care from welcoming newborns to supporting older people and a full range of services in between. More than 22,000 dedicated staff are focused on providing exceptional, equitable, and locally connected care through shared expertise, compassion, and a commitment to continuous growth. Education and training are central to staff development as we encourage all employees to strive and thrive. Bayside Health was formed following the merger of Alfred Health, Bass Coast Health, Gippsland Southern Health Service, Kooweerup Regional Health Service and Peninsula Health on 1 January 2026.

• Permanent position
• Full time (80 hours per fortnight + monthly ADO)
• Social Worker Grade 2, Year 1-4 (SC21-SC24)
• Located at The Alfred
• Great staff benefits!

The Department

The Alfred Hospital Emergency Department and Trauma Units

The Role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Grade 2 Social Worker to join a highly regarded multidisciplinary team working at the interface of emergency, trauma and community care. The role offers a unique blend of clinical complexity, rapid psychosocial assessment, crisis intervention and care coordination, with a strong focus on preventing avoidable admissions to hospital, supporting timely discharge and improving patient outcomes. In addition to working within a dynamic emergency care environment, the successful candidate will spend one day per week embedded within the Trauma Service at The Alfred, gaining exposure to one of Victoria's leading major trauma settings. Rotating shifts are offerred in ED, including coverage until 7.00pm, which aims to support service delivery during peak demand periods.

• Provide an advanced social work service to patients and their families in trauma services, in particular, the Emergency Department (ED), as determined by the Allied Health in ED Team Leader.
• Provide a full allied health assessment to complex patients being discharged from the ED.
• Triage elderly patients while awaiting discharge or admission to an inpatient bed.
• Full psychosocial assessment and initial case management (as required) of older patients and patients presenting to ED, with a medical condition, mental health or social issues not requiring inpatient admission.
• Evaluate and treat patients in line with professional and departmental standards of practice within a patient-centred environment.
• Current relevant experience in an ED is beneficial.
• A comprehensive understanding of complex discharge planning for older persons as well as the internal and external services as well as the Aged Care Assessment Service interface.
• Experience and knowledge of working with patient's affected by Family Violence, Community Violence and other risk issues that require a crisis response
• The role will include shift work – 7am-15:30, 8:30-17:00 and 10:30-19:00 and one day per week working in Trauma units on the wards.

Skills and Experience Required

• Advanced social work skills and experience as evidenced by preferably 3+ years post qualifying experience and a demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Demonstrated experience in the area of health and an understanding of this diverse patient population and the issues impacting their lives.
• Advanced knowledge of hospital admission and discharge planning process.
• The ability to work within a fast paced acute OR outpatient hospital environment and crisis responsive community context.
• An understanding of working in a fast paced hospital environment.
• A good understanding of adjustment to illness and counselling support is vital for this role.
• Demonstrated experience in social work student supervision and an interest and commitment in the professional supervision of staff.
• Ability to develop and lead a portfolio or clinic or program within the team.
• A good working knowledge of hospital and community settings and systems is crucial to this role as is a good understanding of working with an Electronic Medical Record.

Staff Benefits

• Salary packaging & novated leasing through Maxxia
• Onsite car & bike parking opportunities, deducted pre-tax!! *subject to availability
• Fantastic onsite fitness facilities at The Alfred through ProSport health and fitness
• Childcare services at The Alfred managed by KU Children’s Services

For enquiries regarding this position, please contact Carly Maxwell, Grade 4 Supervision and Operations Lead - [e-mail]

Applications close 11pm, Sunday 15th November 2026.

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, and people of all genders, sexualities, and cultural backgrounds.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application materials, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

In accordance with the Health Services Amendment (Mandatory Vaccination of Healthcare Workers) Act 2020, health care workers in Category A or B roles (as determined by the department’s risk ratings) are required to be vaccinated against influenza or hold an acceptable medical exemption.