Assistant Practitioner

We have an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Practitioner to join the Western Discharge Social Work Team within our Home First Hub. The Integrated Discharge Team is an integrated multi-disciplinary team of social care professionals, health professionals, and discharge planners who triage patients and provide them with information on accessing services aiming to support their discharge from hospital. This will be primarily older people and adults with a physical disability.

In this role you would be undertaking Care Act assessments / D2A Planning Form to aid discharge that promotes independence with a strengths-based approach. You will consider Carers Assessments and look at supporting people to manage their needs supported by Personal Budgets. You will work to achieve a safe discharge plan that is considered the “best outcome” for the service user, taking into consideration their views and wishes, balancing complex family dynamics often at a point of crisis, upholding our roles and values in advocating the best interests and wishes of the service user. The discharge to assess model is in the process of being developed and the role may change as it develops.

You will work in a multidisciplinary setting assessing people/patients in acute hospital settings and supporting their discharge. You will participate in the team’s duty rota. You will support Social Workers in their duties. You will be joining a supportive and committed team. You will work in the office base in King’s Lynn, in the community and in reach into the acute hospitals.

• Undertake Care Act assessments / D2A Planning Form to aid discharge and promote independence with a strengths-based approach.
• Assess and consider Carers Assessments and supporting people to manage their needs with Personal Budgets.
• Develop safe discharge plans that reflect the best outcome for the service user, taking into account their views and wishes and balancing complex family dynamics, often at crisis points.
• Work in a multidisciplinary setting in acute hospital environments and community settings to support discharge.
• Participate in the team’s duty rota and support Social Workers in their duties.
• Contribute to a developing discharge-to-assess model and adapt as the role evolves.
• Demonstrate good communication and recording skills and work both independently and as part of the team.

• Experience of undertaking assessments is highly desirable.
• Excellent keyboard and recording skills.
• Ability to work in fast-paced environments and complete assessments in a timely manner.
• Ability to work collaboratively as a team player and also make appropriate independent decisions.
• Clear and effective communication skills for working with service users, families, and colleagues.
• Capability to work across office, community, and hospital settings.

• Competitive salary
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Health and wellbeing services including fast-track physiotherapy and a free counselling service
• Flexible working opportunities including flexi-time, part-time, remote and hybrid working – dependent on role and business needs
• Financial benefits such as employee discounts programme
• Relocation expenses (where applicable)
• An advance of expenses for travel related to work
• Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, life assurance, death in service payments and dependants' pensions
• Tax-efficient options for additional pension and access to car lease schemes for greener travel (subject to eligibility)
• A referral incentive for hard-to-fill roles

We have miles of beautiful coastline and our unique Broads, thriving market towns and a city with a proud cultural heritage. Our economy is growing and driven by innovation in a number of sectors, including energy and food. We also have ambitious plans for new housing and a building programme for schools across Norfolk. Our county is a great place to live, work and visit, and is an excellent environment for businesses to start, grow and innovate. We are the main local authority for Norfolk providing services countywide to more than 850,000 residents. We take the lead in critical policy areas, working with elected Members responsible for the strategic local government services in the county. We provide a high quality service through involving people who use our services to shape and comment on them and by promoting efficiency and innovation. We work in partnership with local businesses, voluntary organisations and other local authorities to provide Norfolk with excellent services.