At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Integrated Discharge Team to ensure smooth patient transitions and high-quality care.
- Company: Scottish Borders Council, dedicated to community-focused healthcare.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, permanent contract, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to improving community health outcomes.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in patient care while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Degree-level education in Social Work, Nursing, or related fields required.
The predicted salary is between 45153 - 48766 £ per year.
We are seeking a motivated, organised and forward-thinking Assistant Service Manager to play a pivotal role within our Integrated Discharge Team (IDT). This is an exciting opportunity to support safe, person-centred and timely discharge planning across Borders General Hospital, ensuring effective patient flow and high-quality multidisciplinary practice.
In this key leadership role, you will work closely with the Service Manager to ensure all acute inpatients are allocated promptly and appropriately to the IDT, maintaining full ward coverage and balanced workloads. You will monitor daily attendance at board rounds, MDTs, safety briefs and ward huddles, escalating concerns and co-leading daily huddles to confirm priorities, risks and responsibilities.
You will provide day-to-day guidance, informal supervision and visible leadership, supporting staff wellbeing while identifying early performance or practice issues. A core part of the role involves monitoring adherence to expected standards, including timely assessments, accurate Mosaic recording, proactive ward engagement and robust challenge of incorrect PDDs or inappropriate discharge decisions.
Operationally, you will track daily performance indicators such as delays, barriers to flow, outstanding assessments and PDD accuracy. You will monitor key KPIs—including pre-12 discharges, pathway distribution, 72-hour assessment compliance and delayed discharge reasons—flagging concerns and supporting improvement. You will identify recurring issues such as slow referrals or low Mosaic activity and work with staff to strengthen performance and clinical reasoning.
You will contribute professional social work input when delegated, supporting legally sound decision-making and reviewing the quality of mental capacity assessments, best-interest decisions and safeguarding interventions. You will champion evidence-based practice, Home First principles and person-centred discharge planning.
The role also includes supporting the smooth running of IDT operations in the Team Lead’s absence, ensuring proactive patient identification, daily case monitoring and effective coordination with wards, Home First, community hospitals and community teams. You will help unblock operational issues such as provider shortages or equipment delays, escalate concerns appropriately and support adherence to discharge pathway SOPs.
You will monitor care package and placement decisions for cost-effectiveness and compliance with delegated authority, ensuring accurate financial recording and early escalation of emerging financial pressures. You will also support commissioning discussions by identifying gaps in provision or recurring operational challenges.
As a key point of contact for wards, community services and external providers, you will help resolve day-to-day issues, address persistent delays or gatekeeping, and build strong working relationships with voluntary sector partners. You may represent the IDT at operational meetings and will work collaboratively with families, carers and advocacy services to support safe, person-centred transitions.
This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys problem-solving, and is committed to improving patient flow and multidisciplinary practice. If you are passionate about high-quality discharge planning and ready to take the next step in leadership, we would love to hear from you.
Essential
The Assistant Service Manager will have relevant experience / qualifications from one of the following backgrounds: Social Work, Adult Social Care, Occupational Therapy, Nursing. Educated to Degree Level.
Current Driving License.
Informal enquiries may be made to Niamh McGregor at Niamh.McGregor@scotborders.gov.uk
Scottish Borders Council is committed to improving the diversity of its workforce to better reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from all minority groups and individuals who identify with one or more of the protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act 2010. In particular from candidates who assess themselves as having a disability, under the Disability Confident Employer scheme this guarantees an interview to those individuals who meet the essential criteria of the post. All appointments will be made on merit.
Scottish Borders Council is committed to providing support for Armed Forces Veterans. Showing its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, the Council guarantees an interview to veterans who meet the essential criteria of the post. All appointments will be made on merit.
Assistant Service Manager Integrated Discharge Team - Borders General Hospital - SBO10109 employer: Scottish Borders Council
Scottish Borders Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth. As part of the Integrated Discharge Team at Borders General Hospital, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on patient care while benefiting from ongoing training and development in a collaborative environment. With a commitment to diversity and support for Armed Forces Veterans, we strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Service Manager Integrated Discharge Team - Borders General Hospital - SBO10109
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Scottish Borders Council.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Scottish Borders Council!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Scottish Borders Council, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Scottish Borders Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Service Manager Integrated Discharge Team - Borders General Hospital - SBO10109
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Scottish Borders Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Scottish Borders Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Scottish Borders Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
