Assistant Team Manager - Hospital Discharge

Join us as we strengthen the heart of our hospital's social work service. We're seeking a supportive, skilled leader who can guide a dedicated team through complex situations with empathy, clarity, and confidence. You'll lead a passionate, forward-thinking hospital social work team that's committed to delivering safe, compassionate, person-centred support for patients and their families. We're looking for a confident, values-driven leader who can inspire others, strengthen practice, and help shape high-quality services in a fast-paced acute setting. WHAT IS INVOLVED? The hospital social work service delivers statutory social care across fast-paced acute and community settings, and you'll also support the management of Intermediate Care beds while promoting a strong Home First approach, preventing unnecessary hospital admissions. You'll be working as part of the Transfer of Care Hub, managing complex discharge planning, safeguarding enquiries, Mental Capacity Act responsibilities, and strengths-based assessments. The service plays a key role in preventing delays, reducing readmissions, and ensuring that people leave hospital with safe, sustainable plans that promote independence and wellbeing. You'll provide day-to-day leadership, professional oversight, and operational support to a team of social workers and social care practitioners. You'll guide practice, offer reflective supervision, and help staff navigate complex decision-making. You'll support the Team Manager with service planning, performance monitoring, and partnership working across the hospital and community. Your role will include:

• Leading and supporting staff through regular supervision, coaching, and professional development.
• Overseeing complex casework, including safeguarding, mental capacity assessments, and high-risk situations.
• Ensuring safe, timely hospital discharge, working closely with MDT colleagues to remove barriers and improve patient flow.
• Monitoring performance and quality, using data and feedback to strengthen practice and meet statutory responsibilities.
• Building strong relationships with internal and external partners to support integrated, person-centred care.
• Promoting a positive team culture where staff feel valued, supported, and confident in their professional judgement.
  
  Relevant experience in a Social Care or Health setting.
• Experience of working with the client group serviced by the team.
• Can record accurately identified needs of users of our services
• Encourage involvement of users of their services in all processes, Degree in SW, Dip SW, CSS or CQSW or equivalent. Plus Social Work England registration or be applying for registration.
• Have attained progression status and willingness to achieve NVQ Level 4 in Management or equivalent within 3 years of appointment
Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria. If successful , you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.

We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years' continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website.