Social Worker - Grade 2 Better at Home Program

Bayside Health

Bayside Health is a public health service delivering high-quality care across every stage of life for close to 1.2 million people living in metropolitan Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, Koo Wee Rup, Bass Coast and Southern Gippsland. We have more than 15 main sites, including hospitals, centres and clinics that provide comprehensive care from welcoming newborns to supporting older people and a full range of services in between. More than 22,000 dedicated staff are focused on providing exceptional, equitable, and locally connected care through shared expertise, compassion, and a commitment to continuous growth. Education and training are central to staff development as we encourage all employees to strive and thrive. Bayside Health was formed following the merger of Alfred Health, Bass Coast Health, Gippsland Southern Health Service, Kooweerup Regional Health Service and Peninsula Health on 1 January 2026.

• Permanent position 
• Full time (80 hours per fortnight + monthly ADO)
• Social Worker Grade 2, Year 1-4 (SC21-SC24)
• Located at Caulfield Hospital
• Great staff benefits!

The Department

The Social Work Department operates in accordance with the philosophy and goals of The Alfred; a focus on the quality of life and participation in care is a primary goal of the Department.  Social Work aims to identify and assist in addressing the psychosocial impacts of illness and hospitalisation for patients and their families by providing a range of services, such as counselling support, grief and loss support, advocacy, service provision and complex and considered discharge planning.

The Role

The successful applicant will bring substantial social work experience and a strong commitment to supporting patients and families within the Better at Home Program at Caulfield Hospital. The Better at Home Program is a home-based rehabilitation and subacute care service that enables patients to recover in their own homes, or alternative accommodation, rather than remaining in hospital.

The primary purpose of this role is to provide comprehensive discharge planning while supporting the ongoing development of the Social Work team in partnership with the Team Leader and broader Social Work Service. The successful candidate will demonstrate extensive knowledge of hospital social work practice, services and supports, along with a strong understanding of the needs of older persons and rehabilitation patient cohorts.

A sound understanding of carer support, community care agencies and external service providers is essential to effectively support patients throughout their care journey. Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills, both written and verbal, are critical to success in this role.

The successful applicant will demonstrate flexibility in their work practice, the ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, and a capacity to manage a significant clinical caseload. Experience providing supervision, support and professional guidance to staff is also essential.

Qualifications and Experience Required

• Eligibility for membership of Australian Association of Social Workers
• Bachelor of Social Work, or recognized equivalent
• Experience in an acute hospital setting is preferable
• Experience in counselling, with a particular emphasis on adjustment to illness and hospitalisation
• An understanding of the psychosocial issues associated for patients and their families and the support services available post-hospitalisation will also be advantageous for this role  
• The Grade 2 Social worker will need to know about VCAT/TCP and NDIS processes and be able to support discharge planning
• This position may be required to work at any or all campuses of Bayside Health - Alfred Care Group as and when required. Such a requirement may be ongoing, a temporary arrangement, on an ad hoc basis or a permanent change of location

Staff Benefits

• Salary packaging & novated leasing through Maxxia
• Onsite car & bike parking opportunities, deducted pre-tax!! *subject to availability
• Access for you and your family to an extensive network of health and fitness facilities through Fitness Passport membership
• Close to shops and public transport 

If applicable, please specify specific requirements that you require in your cover letter or CV.

For enquiries regarding this role, please contact Helen Vlahos, Social Work Team Leader on (03) 9076 3026.

Applications close 11pm AEST, Sunday August 16th 2026.

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, and people of all genders, sexualities, and cultural backgrounds.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application materials, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

In accordance with the Health Services Amendment (Mandatory Vaccination of Healthcare Workers) Act 2020, health care workers in Category A or B roles (as determined by the department’s risk ratings) are required to be vaccinated against influenza or hold an acceptable medical exemption.