Services

Social workers focus on understanding patients within their social and community contexts and maximising the supports available to them to promote the best possible health outcomes. Social workers support patients & their families to deal with the psychosocial impacts and stress as well as environmental factors associated with illness, significant life events and changes to wellbeing. Social workers provide services to patients across all areas of Eastern Health, working with individuals, families, groups and communities. Working with people to improve their quality of life may often involve supporting and planning their smooth transition from hospital to home.

Adjusting to health issues can be a stressful time for patients as well as family. Social workers are an integral part of multidisciplinary care at Eastern Health. Support may be provided to individuals or groups and may include education and counselling for patients, families and carers. Services may also be provided on site or in client’s homes or in other residential settings. Social Workers provide assistance for a range of issues, which may include:

• Adjustment to hospitalisation or illness
• Carer stress
• Accessing community resources and services
• Complex discharge planning
• Social isolation
• Child / elder abuse
• Housing
• Financial/ legal concerns
• Family violence
• Drug and alcohol concerns
• Significant change in care needs and associated supports
• Decision to move to residential care

Social workers provide:

• Crisis assessment and intervention
• Discharge planning
• Short term counselling and emotional support
• Assessment, intervention, treatment and support including therapy to individuals their families/carers and groups with mental health needs, or to prevent the emergence of mental health concerns in vulnerable people
• Advocacy for clients and families
• Facilitation of family meetings
• Guidance and information when dealing with VCAT matters
• Information and education in relation to Centrelink, Veterans Affairs, NDIS, My Aged Care, TAC and Workcover
• Referrals to community support agencies
• Bereavement support
• Assistance with the transition to supported accommodation including nursing homes, hostels or supported residential services.