Key factors impeding discharge planning in hospital social work: an exploratory study

Despite its long historical tradition in Northern Ireland, there is a dearth of research studies on the role of hospital social work and the professional challenges involved at the health and social care interface. This is the first small-scale exploratory study in Northern Ireland that sought to identify the key factors that hospital social workers perceive as impeding their practice in the discharge planning process. A 15-item postal questionnaire was developed and distributed to 30 hospital social workers from four hospital social work departments in a city in Northern Ireland. The study group comprised social workers based in a range of hospital directorates who had differing levels of hospital social work experience. Data generated from the questionnaires suggested that deficits in community resources impacted most negatively on social workers' practice in discharge planning. The length of time respondents had been in their current post was also shown to influence their responses to the perceived impediments in their discharge planning role. The implications of the study and recommendations are discussed in relation to in-service training, social work practice and continuing education in Northern Ireland.