Job summary
- Main area
- Discharge Co-Ordindator
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (Working hours 8.00am - 4.00pm Saturday and Sunday either at QMC Campus)
- Hours
- Part time - 15 hours per week (Working hours 8.00am - 4.00pm Saturday and Sunday either at QMC Campus)
- Job ref
- 164-7285567
- Employer
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Queen's Medical Centre
- Town
- Nottingham
- Salary
- £24,625 - £25,674 per annum/pro rota
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 13/07/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Discharge Co-Ordinator
Band 3
Job overview
As the discharge coordinator you will be expected to work in the ward environment, alongside the multidisciplinary team to ensure that effective discharge planning and communication are managed in order to provide a smooth, timely discharge from hospital for all our patients.
We are looking for an individual who is self-motivated, content with working in a busy environment and who has good time management skills. You must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work autonomously and as part of a team. It is essential that you act professionally at all times, have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to prioritise work load and recognising simple or complex needs, coordinating the discharge or transfer process together with the multi-disciplinary team.
This is an exciting opportunity for a Band 3 discharge coordinator to join a motivated team , that are dedicated to the development of skills and the delivery of high quality safe care. We pride ourselves on maintaining safe patient flow and providing an efficient and quality service, the discharge coordinator is an integral part of the team.
Main duties of the job
In addition to the below summary you need to familiarise yourself with full job description and person specification documents attached to this advert.
The successful candidate must have excellent communication skills as you will need to communicate with patients, families, the wider multidisciplinary team. Experience in the use of hospital I.T. systems would be desirable though not essential as full training and support would be given as you will be required to take responsibility for ensuring that all Trust IT systems (Medway /Nerve centre etc) are kept up to date in relation to bed states and discharge planning. To work alongside the bed managers to ensure patients are transferred/discharged at the earliest opportunity to ensure patient flow is maintained
Our team is both innovative and proactive in ensuring that high quality care is delivered to our patients. We are keen to encourage developments in line with Trust policy and working in new ways. We recognise responsibility to ensure that staff are developed and stimulated within their environment in order to achieve vision and deliver care that reflects the values and behaviours of the team.
Working for our organisation
With over 19,000 staff, we are one of the biggest employers in the city with a central role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our local population. We play a leading role in research, education and innovation.
Come and join our wonderful team at NUH. We are big believers in diversity and welcome new ideas to help develop our team in order to deliver world class healthcare to the vast patient populations we serve. With endless personal development opportunities available, at NUH we will endeavour to turn your job into a career!
We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, or Disabled, as we are striving to be better represented at NUH.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Main responsibilities will be to act as the focal point of contact for up-to-date information in relation to discharge communication, within the MDT
Act as the focal point of contact for up to date discharge information for relatives / carers whilst also providing good, quality, up-to-date, relevant written discharge information for patients, relatives and/or carers
Take responsibility for ensuring that all Trust IT systems (Medway /Nerve centre etc) are kept up date in relation to bed states and discharge planning. Ensure that Nerve centre is kept up to date in relation to all and any relevant information relating to the patients discharge including medically safe status and transfer information.
Develop an effective partnership with any admission areas and the Trust/speciality bed co-ordinators/managers to co-ordinate the timely transfer of patients, at the earliest opportunity.
Provide effective discharge planning to help with smooth timely discharges which will support the nurse in charge with early admissions.
Maintain a regular presence on the ward by working alongside the nurse in charge by attending board round to find patients that are medically fit for discharge that day and by discharging these patients in a timely manner
Identify and facilitate early transfer to the Discharge lounge patient who fit the criteria.
Take responsibility for ensuring the discharge plan information is reviewed, assessed and updated according to patient condition changes and inform the senior medical and nursing staff if patients do not have a documented management plan within 24 hours of arrival to the base ward.
Ensure the medical staff identify and record a predicted length of stay for each patient, within 24 hours of admission to a base ward
Ensure expected discharge date and time is clearly documented within the discharge plan and the medical / nursing notes.
Proactively manage the expected date of discharge against the treatment plan and report any variances to the medical and nursing teams.
Ensure patients and their carers are informed of the anticipated discharge date and time, within 24 hours of a predicted length of stay being identified.
In collaboration with the Integrated Discharge and ward nursing and medical Team, support the co-ordination of the discharge process for patients with more complex needs
Ensure social services are informed of the patients admission, if the patient is already known to them
Ensure all relevant and required assessment notices are completed in a timely manner.
Progress chases referrals and test results.
Work collaboratively with the MDT to ensure patients continuing care needs are met with the minimum of delay.
Co-ordinate the implementation of MDT discharge services / care packages.
Inform the NIC when a discharge delay is anticipated or identified
Manage the coordination of the more complex discharges from the ward ensuring ward nurse in charge is kept up to date with any relevant changes or issues relating to that discharge
Escalate any delays internal or external to the nurse in charge and bronze lead in a timely manner
Co-ordinate the prescription of TTO’s as early as possible within the patients stay, but not later than 24 hours prior to discharge. Be responsible for ensuring where possible TTO’s are available on the ward at least 12 hours before the patient is due to leave hospital
Take responsibility for ensuring all the necessary arrangements are put in place to optimise discharge including social care has been put in place where required , clothes for discharge and keys are available , TTO’s organised and patient transport arrangements booked and confirmed.
Ensure weekend discharge arrangements for clinically fit patients are implemented by Friday afternoon.
Facilitate and maintain good collaboration between hospital, community, social services and other agencies
Person specification
Training & Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to GCSE level Evidence of a good standard of written and spoken English
Experience
Essential criteria
- Demonstrate understanding of patient/client confidentiality Experience in delivering excellent customer care Experience of effectively working with a team of people from different professions/backgrounds
Desirable criteria
- Previous experience of working in healthcare
Communication and Relationship skills
Essential criteria
- Must be able to clearly and accurately convey information verbally gathered from both verbal and documented reports Must be understanding and helpful Uses information gathered to inform others Friendly and professional telephone manner Maintain sensitivity and empathy in communication with patients/clients Recognises own role as part of an effective team Is open to suggestions, ideas and new working practices within a team
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in a team
Analytical and Judgement skills
Essential criteria
- Able to use judgement to make decisions in order to solve problems/enquiries Able to analyse situations/issues Uses resources cost effectively Works in line with standard procedures Uses own initiative Seeks appropriate training opportunities Works in line within prescribed deadlines Sets and achieves high standards for own behaviour and personal presentation
Desirable criteria
- Demonstrate a knowledge of current issues related to the NHS
Planning and organisation skills
Essential criteria
- Demonstrates an ability to organise own work schedule Manages time effectively and displays initiative Consistently works to a high standard Works within prescribed deadlines Sets and achieves high standards for own behaviour and personal presentation
Physical skills
Essential criteria
- Uses own equipment responsibly Able to lift and manoeuvre small loads Frequent use of VDU equipment Frequent sitting at a keyboard
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Jennifer Wallace
- Job title
- Matron
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07812275511
- Additional information
Further contact information
Joanna Peet - [email protected] 07812269970
Nicola King - [email protected]
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