About Us

Our Transfer of Care Hub is an award-winning, nationally recognised integrated service, bringing together health, social care and voluntary sector partners to deliver outstanding hospital discharge and community support. Recognised by both Warrington Borough Council and North Cheshire & Mersey NHS Foundation Trust, our innovative model has welcomed visits from NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care, Integrated Care Systems and local authorities from across the UK to learn from our approach to integrated discharge planning.

We are passionate about delivering person-centred care and continually striving to improve outcomes for the people we support. If you are committed to making a genuine difference, thrive in a collaborative environment, and want to be part of a service at the forefront of innovation, you will join an inclusive, supportive and ambitious team where your ideas and expertise will help shape the future of integrated health and social care.

The Role

As a Social Worker within the Transfer of Care Hub, you will play a pivotal role in supporting people to leave hospital safely, promptly and with the right support in place. Working alongside multidisciplinary colleagues, you will undertake strengths-based assessments, promote independence, and coordinate timely discharge planning in partnership with individuals, their families, carers and a wide range of statutory, community and voluntary organisations.

Working within the Hospital Discharge and Community Support Operational Guidance, you will contribute to proactive, responsive and person-centred discharge planning from the point of admission through to discharge. You will work closely with ward teams, therapists, nurses, primary care, community health services, housing, voluntary organisations and social care colleagues to ensure people experience seamless transitions from hospital to home or the most appropriate community setting.

Our service is solution-focused, embracing the principles of “Home First” and ensuring the voice, strengths and aspirations of the individual remain at the centre of every decision. You will be empowered to make professional decisions that maximise independence, reduce unnecessary delays and achieve the best possible outcomes for the people we serve.

Building and maintaining effective professional relationships across organisational boundaries is fundamental to this role, and you will become part of a highly respected multidisciplinary team that values collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.

This role is primarily based within the hospital, working alongside our integrated partners, with opportunities for hybrid working where service needs allow.

Career Development and Progression

We are committed to investing in our people and creating opportunities for career progression. This post offers a clear development pathway, with the opportunity to progress from Grade 7 to Grade 8 through the achievement of agreed competencies, demonstration of professional capability and sustained high-quality practice.

Professional development is at the heart of our service. We actively support our employees to achieve their career aspirations through structured supervision, mentoring, coaching, access to training and leadership development opportunities. We are proud of our track record in developing talent, with many of our colleagues having joined us as Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) Social Workers and progressed through a variety of roles to become Senior Practitioners, Team Managers and even Service Managers within our organisation.

Whether you are looking to consolidate your practice or take the next step in your career, you will be joining a service that values ambition, nurtures potential and is committed to helping every member of staff achieve their full professional potential.

What’s Needed?

We are looking for a qualified Social Worker who is passionate about delivering high-quality, person-centred practice and committed to helping people achieve the best possible outcomes following a hospital admission.

Being at home, or in the most appropriate community setting, provides the best environment for recovery once acute medical treatment has been completed. Remaining in hospital longer than necessary can lead to loss of independence, reduced confidence and poorer long-term outcomes. Our role is to ensure people receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place.

Following a hospital stay, many people are able to return home independently. Others may require additional support, including:

• Short-term rehabilitation, reablement or recuperation to maximise recovery and regain independence.
• Care and support at home, including domiciliary care, equipment, assistive technology or home adaptations.
• Ongoing residential or nursing care where long-term support is required to meet complex needs.

A safe, effective and timely transfer from hospital is fundamental to achieving positive outcomes for individuals while ensuring the health and care system functions effectively.

At Warrington Borough Council, working in partnership with North Cheshire & Mersey NHS Foundation Trust, our Transfer of Care Hub continues to transform the way health and social care services work together. We have moved beyond simple co-location to develop a truly integrated model that brings together professionals across organisations to provide seamless, coordinated care.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a nationally recognised service that is leading the way in integrated discharge planning, innovation and collaborative working—delivering tomorrow’s services today while making a meaningful difference to the lives of local people.

Benefits

As well as a competitive salary, working for us means you get:

• 26 days annual holiday – raising to 31 after 5 years of service (pro-rata)
• Access to our attractive and competitive benefits package
• Access to our Health & Wellbeing Programme

Key Dates & Further Information

For further information please contact:

Sarah Seddon; Team Manager, by email or by telephone on 01925 662774

Danielle Whittaker; Service Manager, by email or by telephone on 01925 662774

The ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

DBS clearance is required.

If you are applying for the job internally, please ensure that you apply via the Careers Page on SAP, however if you are applying for an additional job you would need to apply externally.

If you are a permanent WBC employee you will need to apply for this fixed term position as an internal secondment opportunity and will need to discuss this with your current line manager prior to applying.

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. Sponsorship is not available for this role; therefore, you must have the right to work in the UK to be eligible for appointment.

Warrington Borough Council is a Disability Confident employer.