Mental Health Hospital Discharge Team manager

Cornwall Council; Dunmere; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in the United Kingdom is seeking a Mental Health Hospital Discharge Team Manager to lead a dedicated team in ensuring safe and timely discharges from hospitals. The ideal candidate will be a qualified Social Worker with significant experience in adult mental health and strong leadership skills. This full-time position offers flexible working options and a robust benefits package including a competitive salary, pension scheme, and well-being programs.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Defined benefit pension scheme

Generous annual leave

Employee health and wellbeing program

Access to discounts

Qualifications

• Current registration with Social Work England is mandatory.
• Significant experience in adult mental health care.
• Ability to inspire and manage teams effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead the hospital discharge team ensuring compliance with regulations.
• Coordinate discharges balancing system demands with individual needs.
• Collaborate with health and social care partners.

Skills

Leadership

Team development

Complex case management

Understanding of legislation

Risk management

Education

Qualified Social Worker

Job description

Overview

Are you an experienced leader with a passion for improving outcomes for people with mental health needs? Cornwall Council is seeking a Mental Health Hospital Discharge Team Manager to lead a dedicated team supporting timely, safe, and person-centred discharges from hospital. This position offers a valuable opportunity to play a key role in ensuring individuals receive timely and appropriate support, thereby minimising delays and advancing recovery in the least restrictive setting. The role is essential to the provision of high-quality, person-centred mental health interventions and demands robust operational oversight, comprehensive clinical expertise, and strategic vision. The primary objective is to deliver a strength-based, outcome-focused assessment service for all adults in Cornwall who are eligible for services and currently in mental health hospital wards. Leading a multi-disciplinary team delivering person-centred support to facilitate timely and supported discharges and assist individuals in achieving their desired outcomes. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with the NHS, ICB as well as other professionals and agencies, to fulfil statutory social care responsibilities, work within statutory frameworks, address complex needs, promote independence, choice and control ensuring decisions safeguard adults and promote well being.

Responsibilities

• Leading and overseeing the hospital discharge team to ensure high standards and statutory compliance, including best practices under the Care Act 2014, Mental Health Act 1983, and Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• Coordinating safe, timely discharges that balance system demands with individual and family needs, while demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of legal obligations for S117 Aftercare, MHAct 1983.
• Collaborating with NHS, Adult Social Care, community, and voluntary sector partners, building strong relationships to encourage timely and safe discharges.
• Supporting staff wellbeing through strong leadership, supervision, coaching, and professional development, while driving service improvement, workforce development, and performance management.
• Ensure effective management and statutory delivery of the Mental Health Hospital Discharge Team, attending partnership meetings, patient flow and other related meetings and guiding complex cases.
• Allocate workloads, prioritise urgent assessments, and provide clear direction.
• Support cost-effective, legally sound service delivery and contribute to identifying pressures and opportunities for innovation.

Qualifications

• Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration (AMHP qualification desirable).
• Significant experience in adult mental health, hospital discharge, or complex case management.
• Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to inspire, support, and develop teams.
• Experience and skills in managing complex situations and managing risk.
• Supporting integration with health and partners building effective relationships to achieve shared outcomes.
• Excellent understanding of legislation, safeguarding, and the principles of least restrictive practice.
• Passion for improving outcomes and driving positive change.

Working Pattern

• The team operates Monday to Friday 9 - 5pm.
• This is a full-time position. In line with Cornwall Council Policy flexible working options are available for this role, such as compressed hours and hybrid work arrangements.

Benefits

Apply now to be part of a team that values compassion, collaboration, and innovation. Cornwall Council's ambition is to be an employer of choice, a high performing Council and a learning organisation. We commit to providing a reward and benefits package to attract, motivate and reward our employees. We offer a range of flexible working options to our staff. This helps provide our employees with a greater work/life balance, whilst still ensuring that service needs are met. Our core employee rewards and benefits include: a competitive salary; a defined benefit pension scheme, based on your career average earnings. This includes the option for extra voluntary contributions; a generous annual leave entitlement with the potential to purchase additional leave; a national award-winning employee health and wellbeing programme; employee benefits scheme giving employees access to a wide range of discounts to local and national goods and services. A relocation package is available to the candidate that is successful.