Mental Health Hospital Discharge Team manager

Are you an experienced leader with a passion for improving outcomes for people with mental health needs Cornwall Council is seeking a Mental Health Hospital Discharge Team Manager to lead a dedicated team supporting timely safe and person-centred discharges from hospital.

This position offers a valuable opportunity to play a key role in ensuring individuals receive timely and appropriate support thereby minimising delays and advancing recovery in the least restrictive setting. The role is essential to the provision of high-quality person-centred mental health interventions and demands robust operational oversight comprehensive clinical expertise and strategic vision.

The primary objective is to deliver a strength-based outcome-focused assessment service for all adults in Cornwall who are eligible for services and currently in mental health hospital wards. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with the NHS as well as other professionals and agencies to fulfil statutory social care responsibilities identify safeguarding concerns address complex needs promote independence and choice and assist individuals in achieving their desired outcomes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading and overseeing the hospital discharge team to ensure high standards and statutory compliance including best practices under the Care Act 2014 Mental Health Act 1983 and Mental Capacity Act 2005.
• Coordinating safe timely discharges that balance system demands with individual and family needs while demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of legal obligations for S117 Aftercare MHAct 1983.
• Collaborating with NHS Adult Social Care community and voluntary sector partners while driving service improvement workforce development and performance management.
• Supporting staff wellbeing through supervision coaching and professional development and overseeing assessments care planning discharge coordination and team performance.

Operational Leadership

• Ensure effective management and statutory delivery of the Mental Health Hospital Discharge Team attending partnership meetings and guiding complex cases.
• Allocate workloads prioritise urgent assessments and provide clear direction.

Team and Staff Management

• Lead supervise and support Social Workers fostering wellbeing and professional growth.
• Oversee recruitment induction and retention to maintain a resilient service.

Communication and Partnership Working

• Build strong relationships with hospitals health colleagues and the voluntary sector for timely and safe discharges.
• Maintain open communication between staff and leadership addressing risks and good practice.

Quality Assurance and Service Development

• Develop review and implement systems and policies for safe discharges.
• Use data and audits to drive practice improvements and support inspection processes.

Strategic and Financial Awareness

• Support cost-effective legally sound service delivery and contribute to identifying pressures and opportunities for innovation.

Working Pattern:

• The team operates Monday to Friday 9 5pm.

• This is a full-time line with Cornwall Council Policy flexible working options are available for this role such as compressed hours and hybrid work arrangements.

Essential Requirements:

• Approved Mental Health Professional / Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration (AMHP qualification desirable).
• Significant experience in adult mental health hospital discharge or complex case management.
• Strong leadership and management skills with the ability to inspire support and hold teams accountable.
• Skilled at building effective relationships across agencies to achieve shared outcomes.

• Excellent understanding of legislation safeguarding and the principles of least restrictive practice.

What youll get in return:

Cornwall Councils ambition is to be an employer of choice a high performing Council and a learning organisation. We commit to providing a reward and benefits package to attract motivate and reward our employees. We offer a range of flexible working options to our staff. This helps provide our employees with a greater work/life balance. Whilst still ensuring that service needs are met.

Our core employee rewards and benefits include:

• a competitive salary.
• a defined benefit pension scheme based on your career average earnings. This includes the option for extra voluntary contributions
• a generous annual leave entitlement with the potential to purchase additional leave.
• A national award-winning employee health and wellbeing programme
• Employee benefits scheme giving employees access to a wide range of discounts to local and national goods and services.

Apply now to be part of a team that values compassion collaboration and innovation.

Additional Information:

Please note we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role

The full role profile is attached here

We recommend saving a copy of this to refer to if you are invited to an interview.

For more information or an informal chat about the role please contact: Lynn Iveson-Mills on

Application Process

Please attach a supporting statement to your application you can add your Education & Qualifications details manually using the application form timeline or you can upload your CV. Remember to demonstratewhy you are suitable against each of the points marked as Application on the Role Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. Guidance on how to complete your application can be found here The application process.

Please note that applications cannot be edited after they have been submitted please contact if you have any queries or require assistance with your application.

Existing employees must apply using their Cornwall Council email address through the Opportunity Marketplace on Oracle.