Liam Mercer
Senior Healthcare Social Worker | Acute Care, Discharge Planning & Psychosocial Oncology
Sydney
Professional Summary
AASW-accredited Senior Healthcare Social Worker with extensive hospital-based experience across acute medicine, intensive care, oncology, and palliative care. Proven record in complex discharge planning, multidisciplinary case consultation, and navigating statutory systems to support patients and families through critical health transitions.
Professional Experience
Harbourview Specialist Health Network
Sydney, Australia
Senior Clinical Social Worker (Grade 3)
Feb 2020 – Present
- Lead psychosocial assessments, crisis responses, and complex discharge pathways for a 28-bed intensive care unit and surgical oncology service.
- Facilitate family case conferences addressing substitute decision-making, advance care directives, and NSW Guardianship Division applications.
- Provide clinical supervision and practice mentoring to five Grade 1 and 2 hospital social workers and postgraduate interns.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary medical and nursing teams to reduce unplanned 30-day readmissions through structured post-discharge transitional care.
Bayside Regional Hospital
Sydney, Australia
Hospital Social Worker (Grade 2)
June 2015 – Jan 2020
- Managed a caseload of adult inpatients across general medicine, cardiology, and palliative care, providing crisis counselling and adjustment-to-illness interventions.
- Coordinated comprehensive community support packages, NDIS access requests, and My Aged Care referrals for patients with complex continuing care needs.
- Developed hospital-wide clinical practice guidelines for identifying and responding to elder abuse and institutional neglect.
- Delivered trauma-informed psychoeducation sessions for patients and carers navigating chronic and life-limiting diagnoses.
Southern Crest Health Service
Sydney, Australia
Medical Social Worker
Aug 2011 – May 2015
- Conducted emergency department psychosocial triage, crisis intervention, and domestic and family violence risk assessments.
- Arranged emergency respite placements and interim home care services to ensure safe discharge for vulnerable older adults.
- Partnered with community housing providers and legal aid bodies to support unhoused patients presenting with complex physical and psychiatric comorbidities.
Education
University of Sydney
Master of Health Practice (Psychosocial Care) · Social Work · Sydney, Australia · Distinction · Mar 2013 – Nov 2015
Specialised in advanced clinical crisis intervention, grief and bereavement therapy, and clinical ethics in acute medical environments.
University of New South Wales
Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) · Social Work · Sydney, Australia · First Class Honours · Mar 2005 – Nov 2008
Accredited four-year professional qualifying degree including clinical field education placements in acute hospital wards and community rehabilitation.
Key Projects
Acute Inpatient Psychosocial Screening Initiative
Nov 2022 – Aug 2023
- Co-designed and implemented an integrated screening tool across surgical wards to identify early psychosocial vulnerabilities, cutting referral delays to allied health by four days.
- Partnered with nursing unit managers and allied health leads to standardise care pathway documentation within the hospital electronic medical record system.
Clinical Skills & Expertise
Acute psychosocial assessment
Complex discharge planning
Crisis intervention
Grief and bereavement counselling
NDIS & My Aged Care navigation
Advance care planning
Multidisciplinary team coordination
Clinical supervision
Trauma-informed care
Statutory guardianship applications
Languages
English
C2
Certifications & Accreditations
Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW)
Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) · Nov 2015
Advanced Clinical Supervision in Health Settings
NSW Institute of Trauma and Recovery · Apr 2018
Volunteer Experience
Waratah Carers Alliance
Sydney, Australia · Mar 2018 – Dec 2021
- Volunteer Support Facilitator
- Facilitated monthly peer support groups for family members and primary carers of palliative oncology patients.
- Contributed to community awareness workshops regarding advance care planning and carer respite resources across western Sydney.