Are you passionate about helping people feel confident, supported and ready to return home from hospital? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, people centred environment where every day brings new conversations, challenges and successes?
We’re looking for a compassionate and proactive Hospital Link Worker to join our team at Southern Brooks Community Partnerships. This is a rewarding frontline role supporting patients as they prepare to leave hospital, ensuring they have the right information, connections and practical support to continue their recovery safely at home.
What you’ll bring
Were looking for someone who:
- Is a natural people person, empathetic, patient and a good listener.
- Enjoys team working, with interpersonal skills and who can build strong relationships with hospital teams and community groups
- Is organised, confident and familiar with managing a busy caseload.
- Can keep clear, accurate records and communicate well in writing and in person.
- Familiar with community-based services within South Glos or knows how to find the services
- Understands (or is keen to learn about) the social factors that affect health and independence.
- Is flexible, positive, and able to adapt when plans change.
You don’t need clinical experience, just the right values and a commitment to helping people live well at home.
Main duties of the job
As a Hospital Link Worker, you will:
- Provide person-centred, short-term support to patients, typically one to three meetings.
- Work directly on the hospital wards, giving people time to talk about what matters most to them.
- Identify barriers to recovery (such as mobility, finances, loneliness, housing or confidence) and help patients access the right support.
- Make referrals to community-based services, including teams within Southern Brooks, such as Welcome Home (who works alongside Age UK South Glos), Social Prescribing (based at specific GP practices), Health & Happiness Hubs, Physical Activity Link Workers.
- Collaborate every day with nursing staff, discharge teams, social workers and community partners.
A day in the life of a Hospital Link Worker
You’ll start the day reviewing new referrals you have been allocated, then head onto the hospital wards to meet patients and discuss their discharge needs. You’ll listen to what’s important to them, identify barriers they may face at home, and agree practical next steps together.
This could include arranging a key safe, linking them to community meals, coordinating with family members, or referring them to one of the teams within Southern Brooks for community-based support.
Throughout the day, you’ll update records, attend multidisciplinary meetings, speak with ward staff and liaise with external agencies.
By the end of the day, you’ll have helped several people feel more confident, reassured and connected as they prepare to return home.
About us
Southern Brooks are a community anchor charity building connections and providing support to strengthen individuals and communities in South Gloucestershire. We deliver high-quality community development and health and wellbeing services that support individuals and communities, helping people achieve what matters to them.
Why work with us?
- Make a direct and visible impact on peoples lives.
- Join a friendly and supportive team who care about each other and the community.
- Receive ongoing training, development and regular supervision.
- Work in a respected organisation delivering high-quality social prescribing and community support services.
- Be part of a service recognised across the hospital for its compassion and effectiveness.
There will also be opportunities for you to get together with the rest of the Southern Brooks wider team, by helping out at our fun events in the South Gloucestershire communities we serve, or attending our regular whole staff meetings and events. We have annual Summer and Winter get togethers where the focus is on fun and connection and – importantly – switching off from our every-day work!We will provide you with:
- A salary of £28,088 per year
- Excellent Annual Leave entitlement – starting at 5 weeks plus bank holidays per year (pro rata)
- A passionate, inclusive, committed and welcoming workplace
- A flexible, hybrid, casual-dress work environment
- And we will even give you a paid day off for your birthday!
Job responsibilities
Hospital Link Workers collaborate closely with hospital staff to ensure patients are discharged safely and are connected to appropriate ongoing support.
Hospital Link Workers take a person-centred, holistic approach, giving patients time and space to discuss what matters most to them. Through this, Hospital Link Workers help individuals identify and address the factors that affect their overall health and wellbeing. The role focuses on empowering individuals to:
- connect with services
- support them back at home
- maintain independence and wellbeing
- strengthen connections within their community
This service operates within the Going Home from Hospital service located in the Transfer of Care Hub at Southmead Hospital.
Role overview
- Support safe and effective hospital discharge for patients
- Provide short-term, person-centred support (typically 13 contacts)
- Connect patients to community services and practical support
- Work collaboratively with hospital, social care, and community teams
- Promote independence and wellbeing for patients returning home.
Key duties and Responsibilities
Case Management
- Manage a caseload of approximately 20 – 30 patients per month
- Maintain accurate and timely records in line with procedures
- Produce monthly case studies to evidence service impact
- Use internal systems to track and report on patient progress
- Meet agreed performance targets and project deliverables
- Provide tailored information and guidance based on patient needs
- Identify and address barriers to services and support
- Empower patients to make informed decisions about their support
- Make onward referrals including practical and community support
- Build strong relationships with hospital teams and partner agencies
- Promote the service and highlight gaps in provision
- Engage in Multidisciplinary meetings to support discharge planning
- Collaborate with other Southern Brooks teams, in particular Welcome Home
- Attend meetings, trainings, and contribute to a positive team environment.
Compliance & Professional Standards
- Adhere to safeguarding, health & safety, confidentiality, and equality policies
- Maintain professionalism adhering to legal and organisational standards
- Represent Southern Brooks values in all interactions
- Uphold a high standard of ethical and accountable practice.
Person Specification
Job-related skills
- Ability to build effective partnerships and work in collaboration with colleagues, stakeholders, and partner organisations
- Ability to organise and manage your own workload, able to work independently and identify priorities.
- Good IT skills, including MS Office, databases or case management systems, and an understanding of general data protection regulations (GDPR)
- Excellent communication, and problem-solving skills
- Creative, flexible, and solution-focused approach
Personal Skills & Values
- Passionate and empathetic approach to supporting clients to promote independence and wellbeing.
- Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Qualifications
- Educated to GCSE Grade C or above (or equivalent) in English and Maths.
Experience
- At least 2 years experience supporting people with health and social needs, or in community-based roles that use a person-centred approach.
- Experience of client-focused techniques, including brief interventions, motivational interviewing and active listening
- Experience of managing varying demands and multiple needs, and coordinating access to appropriate support
- Experience of working in a hospital or similar setting
Knowledge and understanding
- Ability to work using a strengths-based, trauma-informed, and person-centred approach.
- Good understanding of risk assessment
- Ability to work within a target-driven and time-limited environment, dealing with issues pragmatically
- Understanding and using Safeguarding for adults and children, including recording and reporting in line with organisational policy and procedures.
- Understanding of wider determinants of health and wellbeing, and barriers to services Social Prescribing
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.
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