Bhsct Senior Social Work Practitioner Band 7

Belfast Health And Social Care Trust; Belfast; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust is seeking a Senior Social Work Practitioner (Band 7) based at Royal Victoria Hospital. The post focuses on delivering senior social work in hospital, identifying complex cases, and coordinating discharge planning with community supports.

You will support the Senior Social Worker, uphold human rights in discharge planning, and work with multidisciplinary teams to improve patient flow and governance. Flexible working and seven-day coverage may be required.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in Social Work and NISCC registration.
• 3+ years post-registration experience with older adults.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a car.
• Ability to work flexibly over 7 days.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills; capable of delegation.
• Experience supervising staff and leading service developments.
• Competent with data collection, reporting and computer systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide Senior Practitioner leadership across hospital social work, including ED coverage and discharge planning.
• Identify complex cases with the Senior Social Worker and secure appropriate post-discharge supports.
• Contribute to governance, quality improvement, audit, and staff development.
• Mentor and supervise social work practitioners; ensure quality case files and learning.

Skills

Planning & organising

Teamwork

Supervision

Discharge planning

Mental Capacity Act

DAPO responsibilities

Computers / data reporting

Education

Professional Social Work qualification

NISCC registration

Tools

Encompass

NICER

Job description

Advertised role location: ROYAL VICTORIA HOSPITAL
Official document: Job Description Senior Practitioner - Sept 2026 (pdf)
Belfast Health and Social Care
Senior Social Work Practitioner
BAND 7
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE Senior Social Work Practitioner
BAND Band 7
Home Liaison/ Point of Contact for Care Homes
DIRECTORATE Adult Community Older Peoples Services
LOCATION Acute teams, base to be determined on appointment
REPORTS TO Assistant Service Manger Hospital Social Work
RESPONSIBILITY TO Service Manger Hospital Social Work
DATE Sept 2026
JOB SUMMARY
The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of the professional social work role
at Senior Practitioner level within the hospital social work service.
The Senior Practitioner will work alongside the Senior Social Worker to identify complex
and challenging cases and provide focused work alongside the social worker to identify
assessed needs and secure the necessary and appropriate supports for discharge from
hospital.
They will provide cover for the Senior Social Worker when necessary including review
and update of daily complex delays, allocation of cases and supervision of staff.
The Senior Practitioner will play a key role in the discharge of statutory functions
including: Adult Safeguarding, Child Protection, Mental Capacity Act work, Care
Assessments and assessment of needs.
The post holder will work closely with the Community Discharge Service Hub
Coordinator and the social work team within the acute and community sector ensuring
high quality person-centred service for safe, effective and timely discharges.
The post holder will ensure that patients’ Human Rights are upheld throughout the
discharge planning process and will have a key understanding of the “Home First”
principle. The post holder will also support the social work practitioners in exploring
alternative discharge pathways such as care home placements or exploring community
and voluntary sector services.
The post holder will work in partnership with the senior social worker and social work
practitioners to ensure that governance frameworks and protocols are in place to
ensure safe discharge and high quality care.
The post holder will be responsible for providing service performance data that will
illustrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the service, highlight areas for
improvements, and take responsibility for implementation.
The post holder will where required undertake flexible working that will include extended
and seven day working and will carry a restricted caseload.
The post holder will undertake Designated Adult Protection Officer duties when required
and support development of Investigative Officers in the role.
The post holder will undertake a mentor role for social work practitioners within the
teams supporting the senior social worker by undertaking a supervisory role where
required.
The post holder will be expected to support the senior social workers in quality assuring
case files, coupled with supporting them to close case files.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES.
The post holder will provide support as the Senior Practitioner across the
hospital site including the Emergency Department and will ensure effective social
work assessment, care and discharge planning and reporting of challenges in
the delivery of social work services in hospital;
Contribute to the development of multi-disciplinary partnership working between
Hospital Social Work and other teams including the Community Discharge
Service and community-based services providing follow-up care and support to
discharged patients;
Identify specific cases alongside the Senior Social Worker that require focused
work to identify assessed needs and then to secure the necessary and
appropriate supports for discharge from hospital. The Senior Practitioner may
hold case responsibility or co-work these cases with social work staff;
The post holder will provide a supportive/mentoring role to staff in their Assessed
Year of Employment and to those who are joining the service including induction,
orientation, observation and support of practice, identifying learning and
development opportunities. This role may also extend to support other more
established staff when necessary;
The post holder will support in the service’s audit process to identify learning
needs on an individual and service wide basis;
• The Senior Practitioner will promote the social work role within the service area
in the assessment of need as part of discharge planning and play a lead role in
the professional response to statutory functions;
• To highlight and identify Quality Improvement projects within the service area
and take these forward;
• To assist in the implementation, management and review of effective
management and communication systems within and between teams to ensure
that targets for patient discharges are being met;
• Delegation of appropriate tasks/duties to relevant staff including social work
practitioners and social care assessors;
• Contribute to the ongoing systematic review of admission and discharge policies
in relation to care pathways to ensure the optimum use of clinical and
community-based resources;
• To undertake evidence-based audit and research projects to establish the team’s
efficiency and effectiveness and where necessary implement any changes to
practice or service protocols and thereafter measure effectiveness;
• Contribute to the development and implementation of comprehensive systems
for Clinical and Social Care Governance, including training, standard setting,
monitoring, quality assurance and quality improvement;
• Ensure safe practice under the Health & Safety at Work Order. Implement
policies that may be required to improve the safety of your work area, including
the prompt recording and reporting and acting upon of accidents/incidents;
• Undertake the role of Designated Adult Protection Officer (DAPO). If not yet
qualified, the successful candidate will give an undertaking to complete this
training as soon as possible;
• Provide guidance on cases requiring worked under the Mental Capacity Act and
as a Suitably Qualified person under eh Act will complete Form 1 Statements of
Incapacity. If not Suitably Qualified, compete this training at the earliest
opportunity upon appointment;
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with Social Workers and
Senior Social Workers within the Hospital Social Work Department and with
Community Discharge Services across the Region.
• Develop and strengthen links with both hospital and community services which
includes Nursing, Primary Care and Community Groups and other agencies as
appropriate.
• Engage with other care providers for out of HSC Trust referrals.
• Attend local and regional meetings when required to represent the HSC Trust.
• Build effective partnerships with individuals and carers to ensure that their views are
evident in influencing the delivery of services. Report on issues raised by care
providers, individuals and families about the quality of discharge, working closely
with relevant partners, such as ward teams and discharge teams, to improve future
discharges.
• Keep accurate and contemporaneous records to comply with HSC Trust standards
and contribute to and submit reports as requested.
• To work with relevant I.T systems such as Encompass and NICER (this is not an
exhaustive list).
The post holder will support the Senior Social Worker when quality-assuring
case files via the audit process and I the closure of case files with the service.
• Be prepared to work flexibly over 7 days;
Professional Specific Responsibilities
To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of their work,
including the management of patients in your care;
Ensure that their practice is in keeping with the professional registration body
and meets the required, national and local professional standards for their
specific profession;
To liaise with the multi-disciplinary team to identify hospital inpatients fit for
discharge and link with a range of statutory/non-statutory community services to
determine capacity to respond through provision of on-going care and
rehabilitation needs;
To support social work practitioners to undertake assessments in line with the
Mental Capacity Act (2016)
Support social work practitioners and the patient to ensure smooth transition
from the acute hospital to community-based services including discharge to their
own home, an Interim Bed/Additional Bed/Extraordinary Funded Bed for onward
care at home
Post holder to support social work practitioners to liaise with relatives and carers
to ensure that they are aware of discharge plans including arrangements for care
provision and equipment required and arrangements for ongoing management at
home.
Identify presence of any carer/family stress associated with hospital discharge –
provide advice and liaise with other professionals/services as required, for
example, social work re: day sits/respite/Macmillan/Helpline/Social Issues –
liaise with Community Psychiatric Nursing/ICT if required
Assess patient understanding of discharge proposals, gain valid informed
consent and work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to
consent.
Give relevant advice to patients/relatives/carers on home management, liaising
with other staff groups as appropriate.
Be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive records in line with
your professional body.
Be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through activities /
attendance of training, and maintaining a portfolio, which reflects personal and
professional development as well as updating their PIP
Participate in the Trust’s KSF Review Process. Also be responsible for
complying with the agreed Staff Development Review to meet set objectives and
competencies.
Undertake evidence-based audit and research projects to develop improvements
to service delivery and clinical practice. Make recommendations for change to
the operational and professional managers.
Actively contribute to in-service training programmes by attendance at and
participation in, in-service training programmes, tutorials, individual training
sessions, external courses and peer review.
General Responsibilities
Employees of the Trust are required to promote and support the mission and vision of
the service for which they are responsible and:
At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into
contact in a courteous and respectful manner.
Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient
completion of all tasks allocated to them.
Comply with the Trust’s Smoke Free Policy.
Carry out their duties and responsibilities in compliance with the Health and
Safety Policies and Statutory Regulations.
Adhere to Equality and Good Relations duties throughout the course of their
employment.
Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in-service provision.
Maintain high standards of personal accountability.
Comply with the HPSS Code of Conduct.
FINANCIAL AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
• The post holder will ensure service needs are met and that care provided is cost
efficient. They will work within HSC Trust processes when approval is required to
facilitate above regional tariff rate care provision, in order to meet enhanced care
needs.
• Identify any problems with financial resource use/availability and make
recommendations which are consistent with directorate / divisional objectives and
organisational policies.
• Support senior management in the development and delivery of capital investment
strategies ensuring these reflect and contribute to meeting targets set by the HSC
Trust Corporate Plan in proportion with the role.
LEARNING AND MANAGEMENT
• The post holder will contribute to the development, delivery and evaluation of
education and learning activities including learning from incidents.
• The post holder will be expected to work within their experience and capabilities,
ensuring timely escalation to Senior Managers when guidance and support is
required.
• Be responsible for their own continuing professional development and the
maintenance of professional competence, registration and standards.
• Identify gaps in service provision and participate in service improvement projects,
training and education programmes and facilitate and develop a research and
quality improvement culture.
• Ensure that the voice of individuals and their families/carers are listened to,
developing a mechanism for recording and sharing learning from feedback, whilst
taking an opportunity to facilitate individual/carer involvement in relation to the
development of care and services in line with the HSC Trust’s corporate
commitment to Personal and Public Involvement (PPI).
• Demonstrate appropriate care values including: compassion, respect, empathy,
treating people with dignity, integrity, courage, responsibility and adaptability.
• Promote a collective leadership model through acting as a role model and change
agent in leading and managing services.
• Delegate, supervise and support others within the scope of each individual’s role
through the provision of supervision, mentorship and reflective practice
opportunities and facilitation of annual performance appraisals and ensuring staff
access to both operational and professional supervision.
• Facilitate the supervision /Staff development Review meetings and assessment of
pre and post registration students.
• Participate in the recruitment and selection of staff processes.
• Ensure processes are in place to manage sickness absence and take appropriate
action in line with HSC Trust policies and procedures.
• Participate in Grievance, Capability and Disciplinary procedures in line with HSC
Trust policies and procedures.
• Establish and promote a supportive, fair and open culture that encourages and
enables all parts of the team to have clearly aligned goals and objectives, to meet
the required performance standards and to achieve continuous improvement in the
services they deliver.
• Promote a culture of openness and honesty to enable shared learning.
• Provide clear leadership and support the implementation of all relevant regional and
HSC Trust policies, to ensure policy translates into practice.
GOVERNANCE
• Contribute to the development of clinical guidelines, agreed policies protocols and
procedures ensuring these are embedded within the service and communicated to
relevant personnel.
• Report complaints, near miss incidents and accidents, and undertake investigations
and reporting relating to these incidents as required. Take responsibility for
implementation of action plans, monitoring and reviewing of outcomes within the
remit of this role.
• Support the Division in investigating complaints and ensuring feedback is sent to the
relevant areas.
• Work in a way which aims to prevent complaints and promote information and
understanding of enhanced care among individuals, relatives and staff.
• Contribute to the HSC Trusts Clinical Governance and Health and Safety
committees as appropriate.
• Contribute to the HSC Trust’s overall corporate governance processes to ensure its
compliance with public sector values and codes of conduct, operations and
accountability.
Records Management
All employees of Belfast Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all
records held, created or used as part of their business within the Belfast Health and
Social Care Trust, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records whether
paper based or electronic and also including e-mails. All such records are public
records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the
Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environment Regulations 2004 and Data
Protection Act 1998. Employees are required to be conversant with the Belfast Health
and Social Care Trust policy and procedure on records management and to seek
advice if in doubt.
RAISING CONCERNS – RESPONSIBILITIES
• The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture
of openness and transparency.
• The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously
and act in accordance with the HSC Trust’s ‘Your Right to Raise a Concern
(Whistleblowing)’ policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.
Sept 2026
PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION
JOB TITLE Senior Social Work Practitioner
BAND Band 7
DIRECTORATE Adult Community Older Peoples Services
LOCATION: To be confirmed on appointment
DATE: Sept 2026
Notes to applicants:
1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you
meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.
You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.
2. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1
below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note
the HSC Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at
shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the
desirable criteria.
3. Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of
employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at
shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection
stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you
meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in
the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.
Factor Criteria Method of
Assessment
Qualifications
/ Registration
A professional qualification in Social Work,
And
Registered or willing to register with NISCC, under
Part 1 of the register as a professional social worker.
Shortlisting by
Application
Form
Experience 3 years’ post-registration experience with older
people/adults, 2 years of which must be completed
working at Band 6 (equivalent) or above.
Shortlisting by
Application
Form
Other Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use
in the UK and have access to a car is essential. This
criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose
disability prohibits driving but who have access to a
form of transport approved by the HSC Trust which
will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.
Ability to work flexibly over 7days (on rota basis as
required)
Shortlisting by
Application
Form
Shortlisting by
Application
Form
SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the
interview/ selection stage:
Skills /
Abilities
• Excellent planning and organisational skills
including self-management and ability to prioritise
workload and delegate tasks as appropriate.
• Ability to work under pressure and on own
initiative.
• Work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to work collaboratively and constructively
with other professionals and other disciplines,
internal and external to the organisation.
• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, verbal and
written communication skills.
• Experience and confidence in supervision of staff
and oversight of complex casework.
• Experience and evidence of leading service
developments / new initiatives to achieve service
improvements.
• Competent computer skills for communication,
data collection and report writing.
Interview
Knowledge Knowledge and understanding of;
• HSC Trust Policies and procedures including
hospital discharge protocols and have
awareness of Care Management standards,
including statutory regulations governing
domicilary care agencies, Nursing and
Residential Care Homes, and role of the
Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority
(RQIA).
Interview
• Budget and resource management.
• Knowledge of current legislation and health and
social care direction; strategic and local
developments in Health & Social care within the
community, hospital and the role of other
agencies.
• Be Suitably Qualified to complete a Statement of
Incapacity (Form 1) under the Mental Capacity
Act, with practice experience of working with
persons who lack capacity. (If not Suitably
Qualified, compete this training at the earliest
opportunity upon appointment).
• Be Designated Adult Protection Officer trained
(DAPO) or give an undertaking to complete this
training upon appointment.
• Ability to manage and advise on complex cases.
• Provide evidence of continuous personal and
professional development which impacts on
clinical practice.
Competency based interview or
Value based interview to
be determined
by individual
HSC Trusts.
Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will
need to demonstrate at interview that they have the
required competencies to be effective in this
demanding leadership role. The competencies
concerned are set out in the NHS Healthcare
Leadership Model, details of which can be found at
http://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/resources/he
althcare-leadership-model.
Particular attention will be given to the following:
• Inspiring shared purpose
• Leading with care
• Evaluating information
• Connecting our service
• Sharing the vision
• Engaging the team
• Holding to account
• Developing capability
• Influencing for results
Interview
If this post is being sought on secondment then the individual MUST have the
permission of their line manager IN ADVANCE of making application.
As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the HSC Trust
to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment
to this post can be confirmed.
Successful applicants may be required to attend for a Health Assessment
THE HSC TRUST IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER
All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times