Adult Social Care Glossary, v 0.6

A key worker is a named member of clinical staff (for example, a senior nurse, physiotherapist or occupational therapist) assigned at each stage of the care pathway who coordinates the person's rehabilitation and care; this may continue post-discharge. They act as a single point of contact for the person and their family and carers, and will support liaison with other services, such as social care. The person who fulfils this role may be different along the pathway, for example, following hospital discharge. This role may also be performed by case managers or case coordinators, who would coordinate care as well as liaise with insurers and legal teams, particularly following discharge. For major trauma, the role of key worker is defined further in recommendation 1.6.3 in the NICE guideline on major trauma: service delivery.