Journal article
Developing a Prioritisation Framework for Social Work Referrals in Australian Hospitals: A Modified Delphi Study
Australian social work, Vol.First online, pp.1-15
19/02/2025
Appears in Recent Faculty of Health Publications
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Abstract
Hospital social workers rely on their professional judgement to make difficult decisions about allocating their time and prioritising referrals. The challenge of prioritising referrals lies within the fallibility of decision making and the conflict between social work and hospital goals for patient care. The resulting inconsistencies in clinical practice contrast with the profession's need for consistent, transparent, and justified decisions. Responding to this context, authors in this article detail the development of a prioritisation framework for social work referrals. Using the modified Delphi technique, 26 hospital social workers completed four survey rounds, and 13 hospital social workers participated in two meetings to gain a consensus about the factors that should be integral in a prioritising framework. We anticipate the framework will support hospital social workers in making transparent and consistent decisions, assessing patients promptly, and improving efficiency and patient outcomes.
IMPLICATIONS
• A prioritisation framework allows hospital social workers to navigate challenging prioritisation decisions efficiently, consistently, and successfully.
• Improved articulation of clinical priorities by social workers will assist in accounting for the psychosocial needs of patients in the context of hospital requirements for timely discharge.
Details
- Title
- Developing a Prioritisation Framework for Social Work Referrals in Australian Hospitals: A Modified Delphi Study
- Creators
- Joanne Hilder - Southern Cross UniversityMaree Petersen - The University of QueenslandJill Wilson - The University of Queensland
- Publication Details
- Australian social work, Vol.First online, pp.1-15
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
- Number of pages
- 15
- Grant note
- Social Work Clinical Prioritisation Framework
- Identifiers
- 991013281443002368
- Copyright
- © 2025 Australian Association of Social Workers.
- Academic Unit
- Social Work; Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article