Social Worker (Discharge to Assess)

Working Hours: 35 Hours Per Week

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Style: Hybrid

Additional Payments: 6.7% Flexibility Payment, Essential Car User Allowance

Closing Date: 11.59pm, 24 November 2026

Interview Style: In Person

As a Social Worker (Discharge to Assess), you'll support adults and their families through the hospital discharge process, undertaking complex assessments and coordinating person-centred plans that promote independence and positive outcomes.

You'll help the Hospital Discharge to Assess Team deliver safe, timely and effective transfers of care for adults leaving hospital, ensuring people receive the right support at the right time to maximise their independence and wellbeing. Your work will contribute to reducing unnecessary admissions and readmissions, improving outcomes for Manchester residents, and supporting effective patient flow across the health and social care system.

In This Role You Will

• Undertake complex assessments, care planning and decision-making in line with the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005 and associated legislation.
• Coordinate and facilitate safe and effective hospital discharges within required timescales.
• Assess risk, safeguard vulnerable adults and make defensible decisions in complex situations.
• Work with multidisciplinary teams, health colleagues, partner agencies and providers across the hospital and community system.
• Support discharge planning, reablement, intermediate care and longer-term care arrangements to promote independence and positive outcomes.

For queries about the role, please contact the hiring manager, Alex Bollard, at alex.bollard@manchester.gov.uk to arrange a convenient time to discuss the role. This route is for vacancy-related enquiries only and should not be used to submit applications.

Pre Employment Checks

If you are successful, your appointment will be subject to completing the relevant pre-employment checks. These checks will be carried out as part of our recruitment process and includes:

• Qualification: Social Work Qualification

• • Registration with Professional Body: Social Work England

• DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Clearance: The post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (amended in 2013). Appointable candidates will be required to apply for an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Information provided by you or the DBS will be dealt with in a confidential manner and in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice . We have a policy on the secure handling, storage and use of DBS information, as well as a policy on the recruitment and employment of ex-offenders. Both policies are available on request.
• If you have lived or worked abroad for 3 months or more in the last 5 years or 12 months or more (whether continuously or in total) in the last 10 years whilst aged 18 or over, please refer to GOV UK for details for how to obtain your Police check or Certificates of Good Character.
• Essential Car - This post is a designated Essential Car User. Therefore, you must always hold a full valid driving licence and provide your own car for use at work.
• Medical Clearance - Pre-placement health assessment (PPHA)
• Satisfactory references and other pre-employment checks where applicable.

For more information on these checks, please visit checks page.

We are looking for a qualified and motivated Social Worker with experience of working in complex adult social care environments. You will be confident in managing competing priorities, making sound professional judgements and working collaboratively with health and social care partners to deliver person-centred outcomes. You will share Manchester's commitment to strengths-based practice, safeguarding, and supporting people to live as independently as possible.

We'll Use The Following Essential Criteria To Decide Which Candidates To Invite To Assessment. Please Ensure Candidates Are Directed To Use Their Personal Statement To Provide Evidence Against Each Criterion, Supported By Relevant Examples

• Social Work qualification, registration with Social Work England (or eligible for registration), and commitment to professional standards and continuous development.
• Demonstrable experience of undertaking complex assessments, applying relevant legislation including the Care Act and Mental Capacity Act, and making defensible decisions in complex situations.
• Experience of working effectively in multidisciplinary settings, coordinating services and achieving positive outcomes through collaborative partnership working.

For guidance on how to write your personal statement, please visit How to Apply - Manchester City Council.

If you’re invited to assessment, we’ll look at a wider range of the role requirements. For more detail, please see the role profile.

Use of AI

You may use AI to support your application, but all examples must be your own and based on real experience. Applications may be withdrawn if content is misleading or presents someone else's experience as your own. Internal candidates may also face disciplinary action.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

Applicants who meet the essential shortlisting criteria and are eligible under the Guaranteed Assessment Scheme will be progressed to the assessment stage.

Support and Adjustments

If you're successful in securing a role, we'll make every effort to provide the support, equipment and reasonable adjustments you need to carry out your duties. Where needed, we'll consider adapting aspects of the role. Find out more about our inclusion and wellbeing.

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.

Working for Manchester isn’t just a job - it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester Is Our Vision For a Fairer, Greener, And Healthier City - a Vision Shaped By The People Of Manchester. It Guides Everything We Do At The Council And Is Brought To Life Through The Our Manchester Behaviours

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits We Offer

• Generous holiday allowance - Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. Want more leave? You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
• A buzzing pension - You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave - Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks - Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow - We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
• A Good Employment Charter member - We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave - Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

Creating An Inclusive Team At Manchester City Council

At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Support During The Process

• Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces members or veterans
• Current or former care leavers
• Have a disability or long-term condition

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

For more infomation about the role or any adjustments, email jobs@manchester.gov.uk.

What We Will Need From You If You're Successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment.

Pre-Employment Checks

If you are successful in securing a position with us, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for. As a guide, these checks may include:

• Proof of Right to Work: You’ll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK. Please note that sponsorship is not guaranteed for the role.
• References: We’ll require references from your current and previous employer(s).
• Proof of Qualifications: Evidence of qualifications relevant to the role will be required.
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check: A criminal record check may be necessary, depending on the role.

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve.

Other Relevant Information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.