Discharge Team Lead

Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Acute Social Work Team for a skilled and experienced Band 7 Social Worker to take a leading role in Patient Flow across our inpatient mental health services. This is a pivotal position focused on ensuring safe, timely, and coordinated discharges for individuals with complex needs, while contributing to the delivery of a new mental health business model agreed in partnership with the Trust, Integrated Care Board (ICB), and Local Authorities.

The post holder will play a key leadership role in supporting the design, delivery and evaluation of a newly developed service model, working in collaboration with stakeholders across the three London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, and Hounslow, and beyond.

Main duties of the job

• Lead on the coordination of complex discharges, ensuring robust planning and collaboration with tri-borough Local Authorities and out-of-area services.
• Work in partnership with the Acute Social Work Team Lead to provide senior clinical oversight and direction for the multidisciplinary team, including the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care.
• Map current service provision, identify improvement opportunities, and lead on service development initiatives to enhance patient flow.
• Collaborate extensively with NHS, ICB, and external agencies to drive forward the Trust's shared vision for improved mental health outcomes and integrated care pathways.
• Support the design and implementation of project plans and change management strategies in line with the Trust's mental health transformation agenda.
• Provide high-level supervision, mentoring, and clinical support to staff, promoting a culture of reflection, learning, and continuous improvement.
• Attend and contribute to borough-wide and strategic planning meetings, acting as a voice for social care within wider inpatient service developments.
• Promote recovery-focused, least-restrictive practices and advocate for patients' rights, wishes, and social circumstances during discharge planning.

About us
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Details
Date posted: 02 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £58,133 to £65,261 a year per annum including 20% HCAS
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 222-LS-Man-211

Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential

• Educated to bachelor's level in Mental Health or other relevant health / care profession, namely Social Work and Nursing
• Membership of professional body.
• Evidence of continued professional development.

Desirable

• Educated to masters level or equivalent experience.
• Leadership or management qualification

Experience
Essential

• Experience of managing projects or leading defined pieces of work
• Extensive clinical/ professional experience in mental health
• Experience of working collaboratively with other organisations
• Experience of audit / research and clinical governance procedures and their application in practice
• Leadership experience
• Experience of liaising with a variety of stakeholders
• Experience of supervising junior staff and students
• Experience of working with people with mental health condition

Desirable

• Experience of developing business cases.
• Research and audit experience.

Knowledge
Essential

• Ability to work autonomously and use own initiative
• Able to deal with uncertainty and grasp new opportunities for own role development
• An advanced understanding of mental health problems and treatment options/models that can be used to assist recovery
• Ability to confidently articulate clinical opinions in formal and informal meetings or exchanges
• Ability to work co-operatively with others
• An advanced knowledge and expertise in the application of professionally relevant theoretical models, assessment methods, interventions and approaches
• Keeps clinical records up to date in a timely fashion
• Able to identify, assess and manage clinical risk
• Manage conflict through mediation, negotiation and influencing skills
• Can empower others to recognise opportunities for positive risk taking
• Knowledge and experience of working with a person centred, recovery orientated approach so as to assist service users to feel empowered and able to develop and implement their own solutions
• An advanced understanding of the impact of mental health problems on function and community living skills
• Ability to respond efficiently to complex information within tight deadlines and prioritise accordingly
• Ability to maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times, especially in complex/challenging situations
• Advanced supervisory and appraisal skills
• Ability to analyse and resolve professional and ethical issues
• Understanding of the relevant Professional codes of Ethics and Conduct, Professional Standards and core skills and how these are applied to clinical practice
• Advanced communication skills using a variety of mediums; being able to adapt methods/style/approach as appropriate
• Ability to apply principles of clinical governance and contribute to this agenda
• Training, presentation and facilitation skills
• Planning and decision-making skills
• Can demonstrate leadership skills, motivate staff and inspire confidence
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, joint working practice and Government initiatives, policies relating to mental health

Desirable

• Knowledge of Quality Improvement Programme
• Ability to monitor and control Resources.
• Knowledge of performance management procedures.

Skills
Essential

• Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to patients, carers/ families and all members of the multidisciplinary team
• Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and undertake lead professional responsibilities
• Provide effective clinical supervision, teaching, training and assessing in clinical practice
• Write reports, chair meetings and record minutes
• Use multimedia materials for presentations in professional settings
• Use approved breakaway techniques
• MS Office skill

Other requirements
Essential

• Ability to work without supervision, providing specialist advice to the organisation, working to tight and often changing timescales
• Interpreting national policy for implementation.
• Understand the need for and actively participates in own supervision and constructive use of feedback.
• Ability to work in challenging timescales.
• High levels of initiative, innovation and self-motivation.
• Commitment to client-centred, non-discriminatory practice.

Desirable

• Able to demonstrate a strong professional identity.
• Ability to work flexibly and in a changing environment and resilient in dealing with conflict
• Creative problem solver with a learning mind-set i.e. able to join the dots, see the big picture and contribute to the development of strategy

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.

Employer details
Employer name: West London NHS Trust
Address: H and F Mental Health Unit, Claybrook Road, London, W6 8NF, United Kingdom
Employer's website:

For questions about the job, contact:
Senior Discharge Practitioner, Marcella Munro, View email address on meeveem.com, View phone number on meeveem.com

West London NHS Trust's privacy notice is available on the employer's website.