Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

Key results from the job holder

• Understanding of Single Assessment Process and discharge planning/continuing care.
• Ability to complete Rockwood Frailty Score and gather patient functional baselines.
• Demonstrable experience in ward level multi disciplinary working.

 Planning and Organisational Duties

The post holder will participate in, and influence, care delivery by:

• Daily consultation with Team lead
• Complete patient baselines of functional capabilities
• Complete Rockwood Frailty Scoring of new admissions to wards
• Make timely/appropriate referrals e.g. OT/Physio/Social Worker
• Preparation of Discharge to Assess documentation
• Work alongside Family Discharge Assistant to support them with the resolution of any issues they escalate.
• To prioritise own workload
• Follow-up requests for investigations/assessments, results etc.
• Ensure EPR discharge completed by clinician
• Liaise with patients/relatives/bed managers re: transport home on discharge
• To maintain data collection system for audit purposes
• Ensure whiteboard updated with accurate discharge predictions
• Effective daily communication with the Discharge Lounge

Communications and Key Working Relationships

• To communicate effectively with members of the Multidisciplinary Team, patients, their relatives and outside agencies as required.
• To communicate with patients effectively overcoming barriers to understanding, in order to explain any clinical procedures being undertaken and obtain verbal consent for invasive procedure.
• To communicate with tact and diplomacy when dealing with patients and their families and to have empathy when dealing with any adverse situations that may arise.
• To provide a good standard of written, verbal and electronic communication skills.

Responsibility for Patient/Service User Related Tasks/Duties

• Identify potential needs of patient / client with regard to discharge planning.
• Report any adverse or untoward incidents in the appropriate manner
• To document procedure carried out in nursing documentation
• Undertake tasks determined via service, working to ensure timely effective patient care

Responsibility for Health & Safety

Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 – the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions. 

Responsibility for Teaching

The post holder will promote life-long learning through the use of appropriate coaching, teaching and assessment in practice by:

• Awareness of patient information systems e.g. EPR, PAS.
• Report condition, progress any clinical problems encountered to nurse or doctor responsible for patient.
• Report any discharge problems to the Complex Discharge Lead
• Ensure all relevant documentation is completed in an accurate and timely manner