Senior Practitioner (Hospital Discharge Service)

Salary details: £ - £

We are seeking a qualified and experienced Social Worker to join our  County Wide Hospital Discharge Service as a Senior Practitioner within the Out of Area Hospital Discharge Team. 

The team primarily provides short term assessment and support to maximise independence and prevent unnecessary admission to enable people to continue living in their own home as long as possible. The team  work within tight discharge timescales and therefore will be of interest to applicants who enjoy working within a busy Integrated Multi-disciplinary setting. We are currently undergoing an exciting period of transformation with the establishment of our new Care Transfer Hub. This development will bring Hospital Adult Services into closer alignment with our community health and social care teams, creating a more integrated, responsive, and person‑centred approach to supporting people as they move through their care journey.

As a Senior Practitioner, you will:

• Manage a complex and diverse caseload, with a focus on cases requiring advanced skills and expertise.
• Provide professional guidance and leadership to our Social Workers and Social Care Practitioners.
• Offer direct support and 1:1 supervision to Social Workers, Social Care Practitioners and students, fostering their professional growth.
• Deputise for the Service Manager when required and work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams in the Health and Social Care sector.
• Lead on best practice and development of the service.
• Be involved in chairing meetings, report writing, data collection and audits.
• Lead on Multi Agency Risk Management and Safeguarding Adults, including developing and monitoring risk management plans and ensuring robust involvement and person centred practice throughout the safeguarding process.
• Work in accordance with the Mental Health Act, The Care Act and The Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards principles.
• Proven ability to work autonomously, manage complex cases and deliver person-centred, creative and strengths-based approaches.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with experience in multi-agency working, team supervision, and development.
• Commitment to promoting independence and wellbeing for individuals, recognising their unique strengths and resources.

You will be part of a supportive team dedicated to improving outcomes for adults with mental health needs.  Working alongside the Service Manager, you will play a key role in shaping services and ensuring high standards of practice.

Employees have access to a range of support, benefits and discounts including: 

• Generous Annual Leave Scheme 27 days annual leave per year (rising to 32 days after 5 years continuous service) plus 8 bank holidays (pro rata).
• Local Government Pension Scheme: Providing financial security
• Supportive management and team
• Training and Development: Opportunities for professional qualifications and ongoing training.
• Wellbeing Support Framework: Includes OH physician services, physiotherapy, CBT, and in-house counselling.
• Employee Wellbeing Support: Fast track physiotherapy, confidential psychological support services, Employee Assistance Programme, and “Wisdom” app.
• Paid travel expenses if required to travel to other sites (Terms and conditions apply)
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Promoting a healthy lifestyle.
• Electric/Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme: Encouraging environmentally friendly commuting options.  (Terms and conditions apply)
• Our Derbyshire Rewards: a package of benefits, cashback and discounts.

More details on the benefits of working for the council can be found on our reward and recognition page 

For more information about the role, or an informal discussion, please email Tom.Cotterill@derbyshire.gov.uk

Provisional Interview Date: TBC

Due to this post having access to children and/or vulnerable adults, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided. Click here to see our policy on criminal background checks.

The job may require unsocial hours working including weekends and Bank Holidays. Payment arrangements will be detailed in any contract offer made.

Saturday and Sunday hours will be paid at plain time where it is part of your normal working pattern unless it is between 7pm and 7am, where enhanced rates of pay apply. Enhanced pay rates are paid for Bank Holiday working.

Apply now and take the first step towards a fulfilling career with us! By joining Derbyshire County Council you will have access to a range of amazing rewards and employee benefits, including our generous annual leave scheme, excellent local government pension and fantastic employee discounts. To discover more detail about the rewards and benefits available to you, click here

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Important: Derbyshire County Council holds a sponsorship licence, but this role does not offer visa sponsorship. Please apply only if you already have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship, as applications that do not meet this requirement will be rejected.

We welcome applications from individuals who share our values — being Collaborative, Innovative, Empowered and Accountable. These values describe who we are and what we stand for as a council. They help shape our culture, encourage consistent behaviour and guide how we work together to make a positive difference for both our employees and the residents we serve.