Senior Social Worker

Local Government South East; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Portsmouth City Council is seeking an experienced Senior Social Worker to join the Discharge and Liaison Service within Acute Mental Health Services for Older Adults in Portsmouth. You will lead safe, timely discharges and coordinate liaison between NHS Trusts, inpatient services and community teams to support smooth transitions of care.

With registration in Social Work England, substantial adult safeguarding experience and strong risk assessment skills, you will supervise staff as required and

Qualifications

• Social Worker registered with Social Work England
• Substantial experience with adults, ideally safeguarding
• Ability to supervise registered staff if needed
• Strong risk assessment and communication skills

Responsibilities

• Coordinate hospital discharges by assessing clinical and risk information
• Liaise between Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Trust, inpatient services and community teams
• Influence step-down/step-up placements in the community
• Support transformation of discharge planning and practice
• Supervise staff as required

Job description

Your new role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Senior Social Worker to be part of a forward-thinking Discharge and Liaison Service within Acute Mental Health Services for Older adults in Portsmouth. You will be part of a Discharge and Liaison Service that is committed to leading and developing innovative ways of ensuring safe, prompt and effective discharges from Acute Mental Health Wards, using Strength Based practice and completing timely community reviews.

• Full Time
• Permanent
• Portsmouth
• 44000 - 48000 £ / Year
• Closes: 30 September 2026

Website Portsmouth City Council

Local Government

Your new role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Senior Social Worker to be part of a forward-thinking Discharge and Liaison Service within Acute Mental Health Services for Older adults in Portsmouth. You will be part of a Discharge and Liaison Service that is committed to leading and developing innovative ways of ensuring safe, prompt and effective discharges from Acute Mental Health Wards, using Strength Based practice and completing timely community reviews. Primarily you will provide effective liaison and discharge between Hampshire and Isle of Wight Foundation NHS Trust, Inpatient Services and Older Persons Mental Health community Team and Hospital at home team, to ensure safe and effective transitions of care at the point of discharge from in-patient services as well as influencing step down / step up support placements in the community. You will coordinate hospital discharges by assessing clinical and risk information of all patient admissions, working in partnership with service users and their families, staff teams and Adult Social Care. You will seek creative solutions to system problems of patient capacity and flow that will avoid the need for acute Extra Contractual Referrals (ECR) and create early discharge plans reducing delayed transfers of care. In this role, you will support the drive towards the transformation of discharge planning and practice, supporting a needs-led, financially sustainable and recovery-focused health and social care system. You will ensure timely community reviews and support appropriate treatment and placement options across mental health services. You will be fully conversant with statutory legislation and guidance and have experience of supervision as you may be required to supervise registered staff. The role focuses on delivering outcome-based interventions using a strengths-based approach, working collaboratively with individuals and partners to help people achieve their goals and live the lives they choose.

Who Is The Person Summary

You will be a Social Worker registered with Social Work England and have substantial social work experience with previous experience of working with adults, ideally in a fieldwork setting within the sphere of Safeguarding. You will have a thorough understanding of the legislation that governs the adult social care role and a comprehensive awareness of practice to safeguard adults. With a thorough understanding and working knowledge of legislation that governs the Older Persons Mental Health role, you will be able to manage your own caseload, have robust and comprehensive skills in risk management with a professional curiosity and the ability to negotiate and work flexibly. You will be a good communicator with the ability to converse with a diverse range of people, sometimes under challenging circumstances and have good assessment skills.