Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) is the biggest employer in Nottingham with over 19,000 staff
Main area: Discharge Coordinator 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
Job ref: 164-6951651
Site: Queen's Medical Centre
Town: Nottingham
Salary: £24,071 - £25,674 per annum/pro rata
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 14/02/2025 23:59
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 prioritize workload while recognizing 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 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 familiarize yourself with the 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, and the wider multidisciplinary team. Experience in the use of hospital IT systems would be desirable though not essential as full training and support would be given. 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. You will work alongside the bed managers to ensure patients are transferred/discharged at the earliest opportunity to maintain patient flow.
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 recognize our responsibility to ensure that staff are developed and stimulated within their environment in order to achieve our vision and deliver care that reflects the values and behaviors 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 endeavor 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
1. Act as the focal point of contact for up-to-date information in relation to discharge communication within the MDT.
2. Act as the focal point of contact for up-to-date discharge information for relatives/caregivers while also providing good, quality, up-to-date, relevant written discharge information for patients, relatives, and/or caregivers.
3. 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.
4. Develop an effective partnership with any admission areas and the Trust/specialty bed coordinators/managers to coordinate the timely transfer of patients at the earliest opportunity.
5. Provide effective discharge planning to help with smooth, timely discharges which will support the nurse in charge with early admissions.
6. Maintain a regular presence on the ward by working alongside the nurse in charge by attending board rounds to find patients that are medically fit for discharge that day and by discharging these patients in a timely manner.
7. Identify and facilitate early transfer to the Discharge lounge for patients who fit the criteria.
8. 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.
9. Ensure the medical staff identify and record a predicted length of stay for each patient within 24 hours of admission to a base ward.
10. Ensure expected discharge date and time are clearly documented within the discharge plan and the medical/nursing notes.
11. Proactively manage the expected date of discharge against the treatment plan and report any variances to the medical and nursing teams.
12. Ensure patients and their caregivers are informed of the anticipated discharge date and time within 24 hours of a predicted length of stay being identified.
13. In collaboration with the Integrated Discharge and ward nursing and medical Team, support the coordination of the discharge process for patients with more complex needs.
14. Ensure social services are informed of the patients' admission if the patient is already known to them.
15. Ensure all relevant and required assessment notices are completed in a timely manner.
16. Progress chases referrals and test results.
17. Work collaboratively with the MDT to ensure patients' continuing care needs are met with the minimum of delay.
18. Coordinate the implementation of MDT discharge services/care packages.
19. Inform the NIC when a discharge delay is anticipated or identified.
20. Manage the coordination of the more complex discharges from the ward ensuring the ward nurse in charge is kept up to date with any relevant changes or issues relating to that discharge.
21. Escalate any delays internal or external to the nurse in charge and bronze lead in a timely manner.
22. Coordinate the prescription of TTOs as early as possible within the patients' stay, but not later than 24 hours prior to discharge.
23. Take responsibility for ensuring all the necessary arrangements are put in place to optimize discharge including social care has been put in place where required, clothes for discharge, and keys are available, TTOs organized, and patient transport arrangements booked and confirmed.
24. Ensure weekend discharge arrangements for clinically fit patients are implemented by Friday afternoon.
25. Facilitate and maintain good collaboration between hospital, community, social services, and other agencies.
Person specification
Training & Qualifications
* Educated to GCSE level. Evidence of a good standard of written and spoken English.
Experience
* 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.
* Previous experience of working in healthcare.
Communication and Relationship skills
* 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. Recognizes own role as part of an effective team. Is open to suggestions, ideas, and new working practices within a team.
* Experience of working in a team.
Analytical and Judgement skills
* Able to use judgement to make decisions in order to solve problems/enquiries. Able to analyze 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 behavior and personal presentation.
* Demonstrate a knowledge of current issues related to the NHS.
Planning and organisation skills
* Demonstrates an ability to organize 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 behavior and personal presentation.
Physical skills
* Uses own equipment responsibly. Able to lift and maneuver small loads. Frequent use of VDU equipment. Frequent sitting at a keyboard.
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