About Us

Social workers offer a confidential, unique and valuable service to patients and families whilst hospitalised. A stay in hospital can be a difficult time. Social workers are able to provide practical and emotional support to minimise the stress, and address the impact of illness, injury and disability on patients, families and carers.

The Social Work Department is committed to providing a patient and family centred care service. Social workers are concerned with the rights of the individual within the hospital system with respect to informed decision making, client self-determination and dignity. Social Workers aim to ensure equality of access to quality health care and resources.

Social workers work as part of the multidisciplinary team to provide patient care from admission to discharge, including follow-up. Social workers work closely with allied health professionals, medical and nursing staff in all wards and clinics of the hospital. Most social workers work within a specific clinical area however the social workers in the Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are ward based and provide a social work service to patients admitted to these units irrespective of the clinical team they are admitted under. The MAU also has a designated Social Worker available on weekends.

Social workers can be contacted during business hours via the main hospital switchboard 9767 5000 or via the Social Work Department on 9767 6680.

An ALO (Aboriginal Liaison Officer) is available Monday and Wednesday at CRGH and Tuesday and Thursday at Canterbury Hospital. The ALO provides emotional, social and culturally specific support to Aboriginal patients, their families and carers.

Escalation pathway in the absence of the Aboriginal Liaison Officer (ALO) at CRGH:

Nursing staff on ward identify a need for the ALO:

Escalate to NUM:

NUM can contact Social Work HOD 9767 6680 or 0476 415 967 to discuss need and urgency:

Social Work HOD will review, and escalate via two pathways:

• Social Work HOD RPAH requesting assistance with the ALO Team
  • Who could assist via phone or in person depending on need.
• Aboriginal Workforce at CRGH for urgent same day request if RPAH ALO request cannot be met

 

Referrals to Social Work can be made by patients, carers, family members, nursing, allied health and medical staff. If you believe services may be necessary for discharge, early contact with the social worker is recommended.

Education

Concord Repatriation General Hospital is a principal referral and teaching hospital with a strong emphasis on education and research. The social work department is committed to supervising and educating social work students. The Social Work Department offers placements to students from a number of accredited universities throughout NSW. All requests for placements must be made by universities via the online ClinConnect system.