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173 A ied Heal Services NMH Annual Rep t | 2020 Sinead Stakelum, Senior Medical Social Work and Karen McCormack, Medical Social Worker hosting Women's Aid awareness day. A ctivity levels were significantly impacted in the Social Work Department (SWD) by COVID–19 for various reasons including reduced footfall in the hospital and reduced face to face contact. A total of 649 new referrals were received in the SWD in 2020 with a carryover of 231 open/active cases from 2019. Total workload for 2020 = 880 cases. Social work activity ranges from task focussed/ limited intervention to complex psychosocial/high risk intervention. Complex intervention accounts for approximately 30 – 50 % of overall departmental activity. Consistently high volumes of activity were recorded for both diagnosed foetal anomaly referrals as well as referrals for neonatal admissions. However, the highest areas of risk remain parental substance misuse, parental mental health and domestic violence. COVID-19 The Social Work Department developed a highly agile pandemic response to ensure that the service would be consistently available as needed. The priority for our service was to be able to offer direct social work intervention to high risk cohorts of patients within the parameters of COVID-19 risk management. Staff demonstrated consistent commitment to flexibility in relation to service delivery by adapting working hours, working patterns Social W k and service pathways. In doing so the Social Work Department was required to distribute its workforce across 6 days from 0800 – 20:00 hrs. This extended service configuration provided the SWD with adequate facilities for social distancing to be able to meet with women directly who required a face to face service (complex psychosocial/high risk). Other interventions were provided telephonically or across virtual platforms. Highlights The SWD engage in the annual international '16 days of action' campaign to raise awareness of violence against women. This year the campaign was particularly relevant given the dramatic increase in domestic violence within the community triggered by the pandemic. The SWD provided ward based staff information sessions and an organised an awareness campaign throughout the hospital. Patient information packs were developed and made available throughout the hospital.