Social Work

Clinical service overview

We care for:

• Inpatients at all three hospital sites
• Outpatients who have been referred from a clinical service within Alfred Health
• People in the community whilst under specialised programs (such as HARP)
• People in the community who are referred to the Caulfield Community Health Service or the Community Rehabilitation Program

We have staff at all three hospital sites. Each department offers a variety of specialised services which can respond to the needs of the hospital's patient population.

As members of multi-disciplinary teams, social workers provides a range of services including:

• Counselling on:
  • Adjustment to illness or disability
  • Changes in lifestyle
  • Maintaining relationships with family
  • Reaction to loss and grief
  • Managing feelings of anxiety, depression and loneliness
• Discharge planning
• Crisis interventions
• Bereavement counselling
• Family support
• Care coordination
• Referrals to care providers
• Community liaison

For patients unable to return to their former residence assistance is provided to patients and their families/carers to make alternative discharge plans. Transfer to residential care is an option requiring a major lifestyle change and social workers assist patients and their families to take this step. For those patients returning home assistance to obtain appropriate support is provided.

Groups are also facilitated in areas such as brain tumour support, living with cancer, cardiac, dialysis, burns, cardiac rehabilitation and Diabetes Education Group.

Social Workers provide counselling and consultation at a number of outreach sites including Middle Park, Carlton and Prahran Market GP Clinics as well as the Positive Living Centre through the Infectious Diseases Unit.

Transcultural Health Service

The Transcultural Services Coordinator is available to all service providers at Caulfield Hospital and acts as a resource and facilitator to ensure culturally and linguistically appropriate service delivery to inpatients and outpatients from diverse backgrounds.

The coordinator is available to provide training to staff on cross-cultural issues.

Pastoral Care

We can provide pastoral care to patients and families by coordinating chaplains and pastoral care volunteers.

Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers

We have Aboriginal Hospital Liaison Officers (AHLOs) who work alongside the hospital team to ensure that the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) patients are met.

Alfred Drink Drive Course

The Alfred Drink Driver Course is an six-hour education session to help facilitate individuals in having their licence restored.

Find out more about The Alfred Drink Drive Course.