Flow Coordinator

Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS FT; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job description

Sheffield Health & Social Care NHS Foundation Trust

About

Sheffield Health & Social Care NHS Foundation Trust is an integrated health and social care Trust. We are the main provider of a wide range of specialist health & social care services to individuals and their carers or families in Sheffield. The Trust has an excellent reputation for providing high quality services to people within our care. Our vision is that people who use our services will achieve their full potential, living fulfilled lives in the community. We provide: Mental health services for adults and older people, Services for people with learning disabilities, Services for people with drug and alcohol problems, A wide range of other specialist services, such as for people accessing maternal mental health, gender dysphoria services and psychology for people with physical health problems. We also provide a full range of services at sites where people live. These services aim to provide care and treatment to individuals and their families and help people to maintain their independence and continue with their day-to-day lives as far as possible. We provide a range of in-patient and residential services for individuals who cannot be appropriately helped in a community-based setting. Within our learning disability services, we work closely with a large number of supported living settings/residential care homes in partnership with housing associations. Many of the people we help are seen in their own homes by members of staff, and some people attend our clinics to see nurses, social workers, therapists or doctors. We provide treatment, care and help on an individual or group basis where support and guidance is provided. We also work alongside GPs and other staff in local health centres, or with staff from other organisations often in the voluntary sector. We often see people for short periods of time, providing advice and treatment which helps resolve the persons problems. For people with more serious longer term difficulties, we will support them and work with them for a number of years. As a Foundation Trust, we work in partnership with Sheffield City Council and have formal agreements with them, called a section 75 agreement, to provide a range of social care services on the Councils behalf. Through these arrangements, we have made good progress in developing integrated services for the people of Sheffield - an important goal that is shared by ourselves and the City Council. We have placed great importance on working with other organisations to deliver integrated health and social care services to local people. In doing this, we have aimed to reflect and provide for the diverse needs of the people and communities of Sheffield.

We have core values which are at the heart of all our daily activities, these values are:

• Working together for our service users
• Respect and kindness
• Everyone counts
• Commitment to quality
• Improving lives
  
  

Key details

Location: Site The Longley Centre, Address Norwood Grange Drive, Town Sheffield, Postcode S5 7JT, Major / Minor Region South Yorkshire

Contract type & working pattern: Contract 6 months (6 month fixed term), Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week

Salary: Salary £43,742 - £50,056 per annum, Salary period Yearly

Grade (NHS AfC: Band 7)

Specialty: Main area Adult Home Treatment

Job Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced mental health professional to join us in the extremely varied role of Flow Coordinator on a 6 month temporary contract. This role is pivotal in our 24/7 service, maintaining flow throughout systems and working alongside the leadership team. The role provides expert clinical and professional support to the in-patient units as well as the Health Based Place of Safety suites.

Reporting to the Service Manager, you will be a dynamic, forward-thinking and highly experienced registered mental health professional with experience of working as a Band 6 or above in a crisis and/or acute care setting.

You must demonstrate excellent communication & risk management skills, with the ability to challenge decisions, problem solve, support the gatekeeping /assessment of potential admissions and maintain high-level clinical oversight, whilst possessing highly developed organisational skills.

You will be part of a close team who cover a 24/7 rota, including nights, weekends and Bank Holidays. Out of Hours, you will be the primary contact for escalations of clinical and operational challenges, including immediate staffing concerns, and as such, leadership experience is essential. You will be able to work flexibly as required. We can offer access to training and the opportunity to be involved in service development, alongside good opportunities for progression.

Advert

To Work Closely With Clinical And Operational Leaders, As Well As Inpatient Services To Maximise Flow And Champion High Standards. This Will Include:

• In liaison with colleagues in the crisis hub support the gatekeeping/assessment of potential admissions.
• Maintain effective personal contact with patients, relatives and carers.
• To work closely with the Out of Area Bed Manager to look at appropriate placements.
• Work alongside the crisis hub to ensure proactive management within the Trust and community services to avoid admission where possible.
• Liaise with colleagues to ensure complex packages of care are available and implemented in a timely way to minimise the occurrence of delayed discharges.
• Assist and participate in Governance and audit.
• Instigate escalation plan when acute inpatients is at or nearing capacity.

Clinical Leadership

• Liaise with ward managers, senior clinicians and other Flow Coordinators to identify patient bed allocation.
• Liaise with other hospital Trusts to appropriately repatriate patients to and from other providers.

Management and Organisational Leadership

• Provide management support and participate and lead bed meetings, gathering appropriate concise information.
• Provide operational and clinical leadership to inpatient wards and the wider trust as a point of escalation for any immediate concerns.
• Be responsible for personal development and all duties are carried out with accordance within the clinical and quality assurance agenda within the Trust.

Working for our organisation

We are passionate about providing the very best care to the people we support, and we're looking for amazing people who share this passion to join us. What is it that makes our Trust such a special place to work? Well, it's all about the people. Our staff, service users, carers and families all come from such diverse backgrounds and all have expertise and stories to share.

Its important that you feel supported in your role, that the people who you work with are as passionate as you are and that your health and wellbeing is taken care of. If you're interested in developing your career, you'll have access to a range of training and education opportunities, including apprenticeships, work experience and placements, as well as the chance to get involved in research.

We are all very proud of the difference we make to people's lives each and every day and if that's something that you'd like to be part of we'd love to have you with us.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

This is a 6 month temporary opportunity.

Professional

• To contribute to the development of departmental policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Maintain a professional appearance in line with the Trust dress code.
• Uphold the Trusts values and behaviours (available on the Trust web site) and behave in a manner fitting with the responsible position of the post holder, maintaining the public confidence, Maintain professional and courteous working relationships with staff and respect the equality and diversity of each and every person he/she comes into contact with in the course of his/her business.
• Uphold the privacy and dignity of the patient and respect the equality of patients at all time.
• Maintain professional credibility by liaising and involving Ward/Team Managers.
• Maintain professional accountability for ensuring all personal mandatory training needs are met and reviewed regularly.
• Maintain a high profile visible presence within all key areas whilst ensuring the highest standards of professional standards are maintained.
• Work as a professional role model at all times and work as the patient advocate when necessary, which reflects the Trusts values and behaviours.
• Contribute to local resolution of any informal or formal complaints and carry out any follow-up action as required.
• Provide leadership to promote the patient flow and operational agenda.

Key Responsibilities

Monitoring Patient Flow and Discharge Process

• In liaison with colleagues in the crisis hub support the gatekeeping/assessment of potential admissions.
• Ensure explicit agreement is gained with ward teams regarding discharge plans and coordinated dates of discharge.
• Challenge the estimated date of discharge (EDD) on ward areas and actively manage escalation to the responsible Ward Manager.
• Maintain effective personal contact with patients, relatives and carers, being sensitive to their clinical needs and patient placement.
• Work alongside the office bed manager to ensure pro-active management within the Trust and community services to avoid admission to hospital where possible.
• Be fully aware of the Trust bed management policy and conversant with Trust discharge procedures and awareness of all escalation policies.
• Foster positive relationships across the wards and departments to facilitate immediate patient flow, identifying any shortfalls in capacity.
• Proactively liaise with other Flow Coordinators, admin support, social care colleagues and care providers to ensure complex packages of care are available and implemented in a timely way to prevent/minimise the occurrence of delayed discharges.

Clinical Leadership

• Liaise with ward managers and other Flow Coordinators to identify patient bed allocation.
• Liaise with other hospital Trusts to appropriately repatriate patients to and from other providers.
• Instigate the escalation plan when acute inpatients is at or nearing capacity.
• Plan for and mitigate short-term sickness within the team.
• Liaise with Consultant colleagues, whatever the specialty, to advise, where necessary, of the site bed position to allow a strategy for overcoming such issues.
• Maintain awareness and competency within the role against national and regional initiatives and subsequently implement these initiatives into practice.
• Foster and demonstrate creativity, energy and inspiration into wards teams toward efficient patient flows and pathways.
• Participate in professional forums where appropriate.
• As a resource for nursing/medical staff on matter of Trust policy and procedural matters.

Quality and Clinical Governance

• Value and foster a patient centred care focus.
• Create a culture which recognises and works in partnership with ward and department teams.
• Respecting and promoting dignity of all patients and their families/carers. Report where breaches in the dignity agenda have occurred and ensure action is immediate.
• Assist and participate in Governance and audit as required.

Management and Organisational Leadership

• Participate and lead, where appropriate, bed meetings, gathering appropriate concise information.
• Complete the daily metrics when used to inform senior colleagues of the bed position.
• Contribute to the management of staffing issues which are affecting patient flow within the system.
• Be responsible for personal development and all duties are carried out with accordance within the clinical and quality assurance agenda within the Trust.
• Be accountable at all times and act in accordance with the Nursing & Midwifery Councils Code of Professional Conduct.
• Give concise and timely updates on shift activity, problems occurring and difficulties resolved.
• Resources and Finance
• The post holder will ensure the proper use of the Trusts resources such as stationery, telephone usage, photocopying and other consumables in the course of business, ensuring minimal waste and minimal cost.
• Organisational Responsibilities
• To maintain the confidentiality of the Trust in respect of patient and staff information obtained at all times, and use such information only as authorised for specific purposes. Report any concerns about the use of such information to the senior manager.
• Personal Responsibilities
• The post-holder is responsible for taking reasonable care with regard to himself/herself as well as for any colleagues, patients or visitors who might be affected by any act or failure to act by the post-holder in accordance with the Trusts policies on Health and Safety at Work.
• To report any accident, untoward incident or loss relating to staff, patients or visitors according to Trust policies.
• To undertake in-service training relevant to the post.
• Comply with Trust Policies and Procedures.
• Area of work
• The post holder will be required to undertake training events at any site across the trust.
• The post holder may be required to work on other wards/ department within the Trust at short notice to cover unplanned sickness or to cover planned sickness or annual leave on other wards/departments.
• Staff Development, Training and Education
• The post holder will be required to undertake mandatory training and is responsible for keeping this training up to date.
• The post holder will have an appraisal of performance each year and will be responsible for agreeing a development plan with their manager or immediate supervisor. The development plan will be reviewed each year.
• The Trust will provide assistance and agreed development to enable the post holder to achieve their objectives and standards in line with the development plan.
• If the post holder feels he/she is not achieving their objective as agreed in the development plan, they will bring it to the attention of their supervisor or manager at the earliest opportunity.
• Health and Safety
• Work in accordance with Health and Safety regulations at all time.
• Report any incidents of breaches of Health and Safety and report any dangerous acts or omissions that are seen in the course of duty that compromise the Health and Safety of staff or patients using the Trust Health and Safety policy.
• Comply with audit recommendations and risk assessment recommendations to make the workplace and work practice safer.
• Assist when required to do so, in any risk assessment activity undertaken.
• Additional Responsibilities:
• Responsible for other duties within the general scope of the post and appropriate to the grading, will be agreed with the post holder.
• Undertaking work outside normal hours - the post extends beyond the working day and hence the post holder will be required to undertake a mixture of core days, late and night shifts including weekend and bank holidays. In addition, the post holder will be required to support the cover arrangements for the 24/7 rota.

The post holder should be comfortable in the use of computer technology, have basic keyboard skills and have the ability to use email.

We aim to be an organisation that is diverse and inclusive and to meet this aim we welcome applications from people with a wide range of life experience and whose diversity echoes the diversity of Sheffield, that of the people who use our services, and that of the people who may need to use our services but face barriers to access. Please think about your personal values and how these align with our values when you are applying. Find out more about our organisation through our website.

We are a Disability Confident employer level 2 and hope to achieve level 3 this year. We offer a guaranteed interview to disabled applicants who meet all of the essential criteria for a role. When you apply you will have the opportunity to let us know if you require adjustments to be made, please contact us if you are not sure or if you require adjustments to the application process itself.

Our six staff network groups welcome new members, these are:

• The Ethnically Diverse Staff Network Group
• The Disability Staff Network Group
• The Lived Experience Staff Network Group
• The Rainbow Staff Network Group
• The Staff Carers Staff Network Group
• The Womens Staff Network Group

We know how important flexible working can be to applicants and therefore we encourage you to discuss any working arrangements as part of this process. We will always aim to accommodate requests, wherever possible.

The Trust is committed to safeguarding adults and children and as part of our safe recruitment practice the successful applicant(s) will be subject to a check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) if it is deemed appropriate for the role. The cost of the DBS check (currently up to £48.23) must be met by the successful applicant(s).

When applying for this post you will be redirected to complete your application in our preferred applicant management system, Trac. If you are successfully offered a role, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. In addition, in submitting an application, you authorise our Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the ESR IAT process should you be appointed.

Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications

If you choose to use AI or other tools to assist in writing your application, it's essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting statement. While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you're applying for, nor can they accurately reflect your skills, knowledge, and experience. It is crucial that you personalise your supporting statement by articulating these in your unique voice. Relying solely on AI to write your application or supporting statement is not advocated by SHSC and could negatively impact your chances of success in the application process.

For example, AI responses:

• usually lack relevance and fail to address the key criteria outlined in the job description and person specification.
• may come across as generic and fail to distinguish you from other applicants.
• may be ambiguous or open to misinterpretation. Without careful review and editing, the supporting statement could convey messages that are unclear or misconstrued by hiring managers.
• may include qualifications, skills, knowledge or experience that you do not possess, potentially leading to misrepresentation.

Supporting Statement

The supporting statement is an opportunity for you to showcase how your qualifications, knowledge, skill and experiences align with the requirements and criteria outlined in the job description and person specification. Recruiting managers score applications based on the criteria listed in the person specification. Managers will be looking for evidence of how you meet these criteria. To increase your chances of securing an interview, provide examples of how you have applied your skills and knowledge in real-life situations. Share work-related successes and challenges you've navigated that align with the criteria. These could be from various aspects of your life, including work, education, and personal experiences.

Consider structuring your statement with clear headings or bullet points. This approach will help both you and the recruiting manager navigate through your application more effectively.

Applicant requirements

warning You must have appropriate UK professional registration. info 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.

Person specification

Communication Skills

Essential criteria

• Evidence of Multi-Disciplinary Working
• Experience of Crisis and Risk Management

Desirable criteria

• Ability to make referrals within an acute crisis system

Strong experience and knowledge of acute mental health care

Essential criteria

• Experience of working with people with acute mental health difficulties
• Demonstrate an understanding of the health care needs of people who are acutely unwell
• Demonstrate an understanding of referral processes within the crisis community and inpatient services

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in inpatient services
• Experience of working in community services

Leadership skills

Essential criteria

• Evidence leadership skills within a multi-disciplinary health care setting
• Demonstrate experience of leading a team of staff within health care setting

Desirable criteria

• Leadership training courses

Documents

• 6 month Flow job description (, 69.6)PDFKB
• Flow Person spec (, 371.7)PDFKB

Further details / informal visits contact

Name: Chris Wharton, Job title: Service Manager, Email address: [email protected], Telephone number: 0114 2716310