Social Worker - Grade 3

Epworth HealthCare is Victoria’s largest not-for-profit private health care group, renowned for excellence in diagnosis, treatment, care and rehabilitation. Epworth is an innovator in Australia’s health system, embracing the latest in evidence-based medicine to pioneer treatments and services for our patients. 

Our values and purpose define Epworth's approach and delivery. We pride ourselves on communicating and delivering them in a real and meaningful way. Every Patient Matters.

We are seeking an experienced and dedicated Grade 3 Social Worker to join our Acute Social Work Team at Epworth Richmond in a permanent full-time position. This role offers an excellent opportunity for a motivated professional who is committed to delivering high-quality care in an acute hospital setting, while also demonstrating strong leadership capabilities. You will be responsible for guiding clinical practice, providing supervision and mentorship to junior staff, and fostering a culture of professional development and continuous improvement. Based within the orthopaedic wards and reporting to the Allied Health Manager, you will play a key role in both patient care and team development.

You will make an impact by:

• Providing supervision, support and education to Grade 1 and 2 Social Workers and students
• Overseeing and coordinating the team’s clinical caseloads in collaboration with the other senior social worker to ensure efficient and effective service
• Delivering comprehensive psychosocial assessments and interventions to support patients’ adjustment, wellbeing, and independence
• Facilitating patient-centred care, including counselling, discharge planning and family support
• Driving collaborative care models with internal and external stakeholders to ensure continuity of care
• Contributing to the development and innovation of social work practices across the organisation
• Championing advocacy and ethical decision-making, balancing patient needs with organisational priorities

To be successful in this role…

You will be a tertiary qualified social worker with extensive experience in psychosocial assessments, supporting patients' adjustment to illness, providing counselling, managing discharge planning, and liaising with community services within an acute hospital setting.

You will bring previous leadership experience, demonstrating your ability to guide and mentor a team while fostering a collaborative and high-performing work environment.

You will have:

• A recognised tertiary qualification in Social Work and eligibility for AASW membership
• Strong experience in acute hospital social work, particularly psychosocial assessments, counselling, discharge planning, and inter-agency collaboration
• Expertise in areas such as end-of-life care, aged care placements, carer stress, capacity assessments, VCAT/Guardianship processes, and NDIS navigation
• Deep understanding of the psychosocial impact of illness or injury, and how these affect individuals, families, and systems
• Demonstrated leadership skills, with the ability to supervise, mentor, and support the professional development of others
• Strong knowledge of the National Standards and ACHS Accreditation Standards
• An enthusiastic, team-focused approach and a commitment to delivering exceptional care

Position Description       Inherent Requirements

About Epworth Richmond

Epworth Richmond is a rapidly growing, fast-paced and dynamic teaching hospital where you will work alongside highly skilled practitioners in all areas. You will challenge your skills, broaden your experience, and grow your expertise through exposure to a wide range of clinical specialties, treatment options and the latest in technology. Epworth will support you to provide the best possible care to our patients by continually investing in your education, better facilities, and technologies.

• Bachelor or Masters of Social Work
• Eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)

At Epworth, it’s a community. It’s the sense of belonging and being part of an organisation and a team that works to make sure that every patient matters. In addition to this, you will have access to:

• Epworth HealthCare offers our employees salary packaging benefits of $15,900 pre-tax annually, plus an optional $2,650 meals and entertainment allowance.
• The largest educational scholarship program of its kind in Australia
• Ability to purchase up to four additional weeks of leave
• Reduced cost of health services for you and your family at Epworth

Enquire / Apply

Sound interesting? To apply, click the I'm Interested button and attach your CV and cover letter.

For more information, refer to the attached position description or contact Epworth Talent on (03) 9426 0606.

It is a condition of employment with Epworth HealthCare, subject to reasonable exemptions, that you have had an annual Influenza vaccination, where this is required under Epworth policy.

As a child safe organisation, all successful applicants are required to satisfactorily clear a National Police Check (conducted by Epworth) and may be required to hold a valid employee Working with Children Check (provided by you).

At Epworth, we believe inclusion and diversity are essential to our culture and values. We focus on fairness and opportunity for all – across race, ability, ethnicity, gender, age, sexuality, cultures and beliefs – that reflect the communities we work in. At Epworth, we care.