Hospital Discharge and Home First Service – Independence Advisor (12-Month Secondment / Fixed-Term Opportunity)
We have an exciting opportunity to join the Hospital Discharge and Home First Service as an Independence Advisor on a 12-month secondment (considered for internal only) or fixed-term contract. This full-time role is for 37 hours per week, worked Monday to Friday, and offers the chance to make a real difference by supporting safe, timely and person-centred discharges from hospital.
About the team
The Hospital Discharge Team is responsible for completing Care Act assessments and support plans for people in hospital, helping to facilitate safe, effective and timely discharge arrangements in line with the duties of the Care Act 2014. Our work is grounded in a strong Home First ethos, a strengths-based approach, and close partnership working across a multi-disciplinary team. We also work within Discharge to Assess pathways that are a key feature of the Southampton Hospital Discharge Service. They also complete post discharge assessments and reviews and hold cases for up to 4 weeks post discharge to ensure safe discharge planning and re admission avoidance.
The Home first Team completed Care Act assessments, reviews and support plan post reablement service assessment where long term care needs are identified and ongoing support is required. They work closely with the reablement service to build strengths-based support plans promoting independence and community living.
Alongside this, the teams undertake a range of statutory duties, including safeguarding enquiries under Section 42 of the Care Act and work within the Mental Capacity Act, supporting capacity assessments and best-interest decision-making for the people we work with.
Our strong emphasis on Home First enables people to return home wherever possible and continue living as independently as they can. This role involves working closely within a multi-disciplinary environment to support holistic, person-centred assessments. We also recognise the vital role of carers and work to ensure they feel informed, supported and empowered in the care they provide.
The service is continuously involved in service development and improvement across the hospital discharge pathway. This post offers an excellent opportunity to contribute to these developments, share ideas, and help shape positive change, including supporting the introduction of new systems and ways of working.
The teams are currently based at University Hospital Southampton and Sembal Resource Centre and work flexibly between the hospital base and home, with opportunities to work from the Civic Centre where appropriate. The role will require you to access the community across the Southampton conurbation and beyond to complete community assessments and reviews.
More information
If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Shelley Baker on 02380 832503, David Bradley on 02380 832560, Snehal Machado on 02380 832484, or Wendy Butt on 02380 832743.
About Southampton City Council
At Southampton City Council, we are responding to the challenges faced by local authorities with ambition, focus and a clear improvement journey. Through our ‘Ambitious Futures’ programme, we are committed to delivering better outcomes for residents and strengthening the way we work. This is an exciting time to join us and contribute to meaningful change.
We share the #SocialCareFuture vision: enabling people to live in a place they call home, with the people and things they love, in communities where they look out for one another, doing the things that matter to them. We have strengthened our approach to ensure we work closely with partners to help residents remain healthy, independent, connected and contributing to their communities.
This is a genuine opportunity to bring your ideas, commitment and creativity to a service that is making a positive difference every day. Whether you are looking to broaden your experience through a secondment or take on a new fixed-term challenge, you will be joining a service that values learning, innovation and person-centred practice.
What we offer
Southampton City Council promotes flexible and agile working, but as we embark on our shared journey of change and implementation of new ways of working, you are expected to commit to office-based working at least 3 days a week.
Here at SCC we have a range of different benefits, a few examples can be found below.
- Excellent local government pension with 15.2% employer contribution
- Death in service benefit of x3 salary, and optional salary sacrifice shared cost AVC (additional voluntary contribution)
- Generous holiday 25–31 days, based on role and service
- Family-friendly policies - Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared/Unpaid Parental Leave, Time off for Dependents
- Training and development, including coaching and mentoring
- Health and wellbeing support - Employee Assistance Programme, Menopause Pledge, Mental Health First Aiders and access to a variety of staff networks
- Veteran-friendly employer with the Armed Forces Covenant
- Retail discounts and savings through the Southampton City Council benefits platform
- Discounted memberships at local sports and fitness centres
- Sustainable travel benefits - low emission car scheme, cycle to work, season ticket loans
- Employee volunteering scheme with 2 paid days leave to volunteer
For further information on our benefits package please visit: Employee benefits (southampton.gov.uk)
Recruitment contact details:
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 023 8083 4033
For more information about SCC please visit Southampton City Council
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