Star team wins World Social Work Day treat

Social workers based at Epsom hospital in Surrey won a cake-shaped treat from the Guardian social care network.

In the run-up to World Social Work Day, we asked network members and readers to nominate a star team who deserved recognition.

Our favourite nomination was for Surrey county council’s Epsom hospital adult social care team.

A five-page document setting out why the team are worthy winners, explained: “They are a shining example of how joined-up working and innovative use of new technology has achieved improved outcomes for patients, who are now leaving the hospital faster and with well-organised social care support in place, knowing they will be safe and supported at home. This is an outcome that the majority of people staying in hospital, and their families, want – and is a key indicator of service quality. The work this team has achieved is innovative, pioneering, highly effective and also very inspiring.
    
“As a result, the team, which is based in the acute medical unit (AMU) is working hard to share their approach and is leading the way in promoting its benefits to other teams in Surrey.”

Their nominator said the Department of Health has hailed the team for its joined-up working with NHS colleagues, and a DH representative is due to make a fact-finding visit to the hospital to learn more.

The 56-bed AMU was set up at the hospital in 2010 and is designed for patient hospital stays of up to 72 hours. The social care professionals work as part of a multidisciplinary team managing patients’ discharge.

Since the new approach was introduced, the length of time patients spend in the hospital has dropped from an average of 15 days in October 2011 to a two-day average this January.

It is hoped that the AMU’s team working model can be used as a template for other wards in the hospital.

Team manager Claire Hubble said: “We were out on a team building day on Tuesday and the arrival of cakes and being told we had won your ‘star team’ nomination absolutely made our day. We are really proud.”