Principal Social Worker: Aged Care Liaison

Join the SALHN RAP Social Work Department, where you will have the opportunity to contribute to effective problem solving, collaboration and play a pivotal role in supporting the wellbeing of staff and patients navigating complexities that arise within aged care systems.  

About the role: 

Reporting to the Director of Social Work, the Principal Social Worker: Aged Care Liaison is responsible for oversight of Social Work Clinical Services and ensuring that long stay complex patients within the Division of Rehabilitation, Aged Care and Palliative Care (RAP) are managed in a timely and effective manner.

The role involves addressing issues at a systems level both internal and external to the hospital to ensure barriers to discharge are addressed and processes for smooth transitions to other community agencies are developed to facilitate early, support safe discharge and prevent avoidable admissions.

The Principal Social Worker will work within the Social Work Department but will have responsibility to work collaboratively with key personnel across the Division, the LHN and other agencies to find solutions to complex patient transition problems.

Duties for the role will include:

• Developing strategies and contributing to the education of consumers regarding these processes.
• Identifying barriers to discharge from hospital and working to resolve these barriers in partnership with staff both internal and external to the hospital.
• Developing and maintaining systems for early identification of complex and potentially long stay patients in the Division of RAP (particular focus on >65 year olds).
• Advising Director of Social Work and facilitating meetings as required with Social Workers and Placement Officers to review and improve processes.

About you:

• Extensive experience working as a Social Worker in a health care and/or hospital setting
• Demonstrated ability to provide supervision and training to other social work staff
• A degree (or equivalent) in Social Work that entitles the individual to membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers
• Proven experience in delivering high quality and safe care consistent with the National Safety and Quality Health Care Service Standards

Please see the attached Role Description for additional information.

Want To Know More? Contact: Emma Phillips, Acting Director of Social Work, 0478 282 786, Emma.Phillips@sa.gov.au  

Application Closing Date: 11.55 pm Monday 18th August 2025

Attachments:

• AHP3 Principal Social Worker Aged Care Liaison - Role Description
• Australian applicant guidelines
• International applicant guidelines

Applicant Information:

• We also offer salary sacrifice benefits which provide the opportunity to save money by paying for some of your everyday expenses from your salary before it is taxed. Click here to find out more about salary packaging.
• The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.
• Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory Criminal History Check and Immunisation compliance as indicated on the Role description.
• SA Health Services are required to implement the Addressing vaccine preventable disease: Occupational assessment, screening and vaccination policy in the workplace.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are encouraged to apply.  Job ref: 912220