Level 2 Social Worker
The closing date is 14 July 2026

Job summary
Post: Social Worker Pay Band: Band 6 Level 2Job Type: PermanentBase: Samuel Johnson Community Hospital

Location: East Community Hospitals (Samuel Johnson Community Hospital, Lichfield/Sir Robert Peel Community Hospital)

We are looking to recruit an experienced Level 2 Band 6 Social Worker for the South Community Hospital Discharge teams to facilitate timely discharges and prevent delayed transfers of care for all Staffordshire patients who have been placed in a Discharge to Assess bed (D2A).

Discharge to Assess (D2A) East also covers the Pathway 1 and Pathway 2 Discharge to Assess (D2A) service in East Staffs and surrounding areas and work closely with other Multi-Disciplinary Team members including Social Workers, Social Care Assessors, Nurses, Therapists (Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapist), and MPFT Home First Team. The successful candidate will have a flexible approach and be confident to forge partnership working relationships with the Multi-Disciplinary Teams across the various hospital and community sites.

Main duties of the job
You must be enthusiastic, highly motivated and be able to work under pressure with a strong commitment to promoting timely, safe discharges from hospital and preventing delayed transfers of care, also supporting individuals in the community to prevent readmissions, assess need for ongoing care and complete timely reviews, to support individuals remaining at home whilst promoting ongoing independence.

The successful candidate must be a confident practitioner who has a working knowledge of the Care Act (2014), Mental Capacity Act (2015), and experience of conducting s.42 enquiries.

The successful candidate must be a team player with excellent communication and IT skills, with experience of working autonomously, independently and at times under pressure, to complete Statutory Social Care Assessments and support plans, Mental Capacity Assessments and Best Interest Meetings, Deputyship Referrals; attend Continuing Healthcare Decision Support Tool Meetings. All processes should embrace the principles of Personalisation, Strength and Asset based practice.

You will be expected to work between the hours of 08:00 - 17:00.

For an informal discussion please contact:
Jane Foster (Social Work Practice Lead) on Work Mobile: 07971832846 or MS Teams 01785 301801 or
Carol Powell (Assistant Statutory Social Care Service Manager) on Work Mobile: 07855 131083/or MS Teams 01283 355082

About us
By joining Team MPFT, you will be helping your communities and in return for this, we will support you by;

• Supporting your career development and progression
• Excellent NHS Pension scheme
• Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Options for flexible working
• Up to 27 days annual leave (increasing with service up to 33 days)
• Extensive Health and Wellbeing support and resources
• If you work in our community teams, we pay for your time travelling between patients
• Lease car if you complete more than 500 business miles per annum, fully insured and maintained (including tyres), mileage paid at lease car rate
• Salary sacrifice car - fully insured and maintained (including tyres), your gross pay is reduced by the cost of the vehicle before tax, NI and pension deductions are calculated, mileage paid at business rates
• Salary sacrifice bikes up to £2k
• Free car parking at all trust sites
• Free flu vaccinations every year
• Citizens Advice support linked with a Hardship Fund for one off additional support up to £250 (if the criteria is met)

We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organisation and there is a choice of staff networks that help you meet like-minded people.

Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.

Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications

Details
Date posted 23 June 2026
Pay scheme Agenda for change
Band Band 6
Salary £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum
Contract Permanent
Working pattern Full-time
Reference number 301-AFC-26-8098033
Job locations Samuel Johnson Hospital, Trent Valley Road, Lichfield, WS13 6EF, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
You will have the skills, knowledge and experience to work autonomously across both sites and to assess Staffordshire residents who have been placed out of area. The successful candidate will have experience of conducting s.42 investigations and knowledge of the Continuing Healthcare funding process and an understanding of the hospital discharge pathways.

For further information of this role please see attached the job description and person specification

We offer informal support and advice as required, monitored workload, monthly formal supervisions and membership to the Social Work Learning Academy, which supports ongoing professional development opportunities, learning and career development. You will have direct support from the Practice Lead and colleagues as well providing peer support to your team.

Social Work Learning Academy (SWLA)
On appointment, the post holder will be auto-enrolled in the SWLA and aligned to the appropriate British Association of Social Work Professional Capabilities Framework. The relevant SWLA stage (i.e. stage 1 (ASYE), 2 (Social Worker) or 3 (Advanced Social Worker) will also be agreed taking all prior Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and relevant experience into consideration. The post holder will be required to take responsibility for their own Continuous Professional Development.

Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential

• Professional Social Work qualification, DipSW, CQSW, CSS, BA, MA or Foreign qualification where certified by the Professional Social Work regulatory body
• Ensuring current registration with the Professional Social Work regulatory body at all times.
• To hold/to undertake and achieve the status of Approved Mental Health Professional and/or Best Interest Assessor as per the SWLA Career Pathway
• To undertake and achieve the status of Work Based Supervisor and Practice Educator as per the SWLA Career Pathway
• Good keyboard / IT skills including word processing, spreadsheets, email and PowerPoint
• An ongoing commitment to personal and professional development.
• A clear understanding of and commitment to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice

Desirable

• Existing accreditation relating to Practice Educator/Work Based Supervisor

Experience
Essential

• Significant post-qualification experience of working with adults with needs associated to older age, physical health or mental health needs and their carers

Desirable

• Experience of social work in other user groups/settings i.e. Children and Families, Learning Disabilities, Older Adults Experience of a development role for service/ facilities

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Address Samuel Johnson Hospital, Trent Valley Road, Lichfield, WS13 6EF, United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.mpft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Social Worker Practice Lead
Jane Foster
Jane.foster@mpft.nhs.uk
01785301801