The Clarity and Contribution of the Hospital Social Work Role: Observations on its Professional Identity

This review explores international practice in hospital social work with older people through the lens of four different aspects of professional identity (self-identity and reported practice; professional characteristics; patient perspectives, and professional authority or power). It highlights the skills needed for hospital social work and the challenges faced by practitioners following organisational change in acute hospital care. It offers an agenda for new research and for professional debates about what will be needed from hospital social workers in the future.