Discharge Facilitator - Patient Flow

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Sefton; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job description

Job Summary

The Patient Discharge Facilitator will provide an essential support service to the efficient running of The Patient Flow Team.

They must have the ability to work as part of a team as well as being able to work on their own initiative.

The post holder must have excellent communication skills, IT competent, be able to work well under pressure and prioritise their work load. They will assist in the safe and timely discharge of patients from both Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals.

Main duties of the job

• Work closely with clinicians, social work teams and multidisciplinary teams to deliver a high-quality patient focused service.
• Liaise with multi-disciplinary teams to facilitate accurate assessments of patient's needs.
• Ensure that patients, relatives and carers are provided with information about discharge planning and that the information and timescales of the discharge are provided and understood.
• Liaise with pharmacy to ensure TTO's are ready for the patients discharge.

About us

The post holder will act as a competent and integral part of the team, supporting the medical and nursing team in the flow of patients out of the organisation from the Accident and Emergency department to the Rehabilitation wards.

They will liaise with key members of the multidisciplinary team, social services and partners to gain intelligence on actual or potential discharges and or barriers to discharges.

The post holder will be able to utilise and update the various IT systems available in the Trust to support the smooth flow of patients across the organisation.

Date posted

31 March 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

409-7034343

Job locations

Southport General Hospital

Town Lane

Southport

PR8 6PN

Job Description

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• To ensure the registered nurse responsible for the care of the patient is kept informed of any changes in condition and treatment.
• To ensure that the registered nurse is made aware of any transfer of information between members of the multi-disciplinary team and patients & relatives.
• To acknowledge own personal limitations in line with Trust policy relating to role and requirements.
• Co-ordinate and undertake the safe transfer and discharge of patients and contribute to flow through the hospital.
• Provide high quality care appropriate to patient need ensuring documentation completed.
• Evaluate care delivered and document accurately.
• Undertake nursing assessments on patients in your care within the hospital.
• Take personal responsibility for ensuring patients are treated with courtesy at all times, the individuals needs of patients are respected.
• Undertake and interpret a range of patient observations as required in clinical areas, e.g., temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, neurological observations, EWS; reporting adverse signs to registered clinicians.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Liaise with ambulance control when ambulance transport is required for the patients discharge.
• Liaise with care/nursing homes to ensure timely assessments and completion of required documentation to facilitate discharge.
• Attend the weekly discharge planning meetings and raise any relevant issues with the multi-disciplinary team to ensure resolution prior to discharge.
• Ensure that all relevant discharge information is recorded accurately, processed on time and is communicated to the multi-disciplinary team.
• Ensure awareness of the hospital discharge policies are communicated to all relevant parties.
• Extract data as needed from designated data sources (paper records and electronic records) in regards to patient length of stay and delayed transfer of care and understanding the importance of the nationally reportable data.
• Utilise all electronic systems in the Trust including: Evolve, Medway and Vital Pac.
• Enter data on the dedicated computerised systems ensuring that full and accurate records are maintained in accordance with required reporting standards.
• Prepare, on request, monthly reports for clinical teams, community teams and Trust information, identifying and resolving issues that could delay the safe and timely discharge of our patients.
• Provide advice and respond to queries from clinicians and other staff, both internally and externally to the Trust, with regards to patient discharge.
• Knowledge of software programme such as Microsoft Access/Excel and word to enable the input, extract and manipulation of data using various computer systems.
• Take responsibility for ensuring that all data is collected in a timely manner and that deadlines are met.
• Communicate effectively within the nursing team, multi-disciplinary team and other departments to ensure patient care is planned and coordinated.
• To be aware of and maintain the requirement for confidentiality in the clinical setting.
• Provide reassurance to patients and carers/family.
• Effectively communicate patients needs and plans of care to the registered nurse/practitioner who you are working with to manage a group of patients.
• Involvement in the reporting, handover and documentation of patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse.
• Ability to provide and receive information in writing/verbally to maintain patient records.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain personal development and participate in identifying personal needs to develop further.
• Share knowledge and skills with colleagues.
• Involvement in relevant audits required for the Patient Flow Team.

Person Specification

Qualifications Essential

• NVQ level 4 or above in Health and Social care or Similar qualification or relevant experience.

Desirable

• NVQ assessors certificate.

Knowledge & Experience Essential

• Clear knowledge of the discharge process.
• Awareness of key national and local policies and their impact on practice.
• Understanding and support of the benefits of clinical supervision and reflective practice.

Desirable

• Experience in an acute/community setting.
• Experience in an urgent care setting.
• Knowledge of nursing assessments and how to perform.

Skills Essential

• Ability to communicate both verbal and written.
• Excellent numeracy and literacy skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work both autonomously and as part of a team.
• Ability to care for patient workload and manage their needs with supervision from registered discharge co-ordinator.
• Ability to undertake nursing assessments and document clearly.
• Flexible approach to the workplace.
• Good knowledge of IT systems such as patient databases and Microsoft office suite.
• Ability to handle sensitive or complex situations and resolve conflict.
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills.

Other Essential

• Work pattern may be unpredictable and involves shift patterns.
• The post may have some distressing circumstances when dealing with terminally ill, chronically sick, disabled patients, patient death.
• The post requires frequent exposure to unpleasant conditions, bodily fluids & smells.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Southport General Hospital

Town Lane

Southport

PR8 6PN

Employer's website

https://www.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/