Nurse Specialist - Discharge

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

This is an exciting developmental opportunity to join the discharge team and enhance your knowledge and skills regarding complex discharge planning. By bolstering the number of Discharge Nurse Specialists, this will allow a 7-day service and help embed a home-first culture and further enable the discharge to assess team to meet demand over 7 days.

The Discharge Nurse Specialists are integral to the function of the Integrated Discharge Team by leading the daily discharge hub and fulfilling the role of case manager. This involves being part of the MDT when planning complex discharges and discussing with patients and their family/carer and liaising with outside agencies to ensure a safe discharge.

The Discharge Nurse Specialist is responsible for leading regular review of patients with a length of stay of greater than 7 days to ensure robust medical plans are in place and discharge planning has commenced.

To apply for this post, you must be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the national discharge policy.

• Interview Date: Monday 14 April 2025
• 37 hours 30 minutes/week
• You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.

Main duties of the job

• Be required/have the ability to act as case manager for a group of complex patients.
• Provide specialist discharge advice and support specific multidisciplinary teams.
• Enable patients with complex discharge care plans to attain their best possible quality of life by adopting the discharge to assess model.
• Require enhanced communication skills to ensure patients and families understand discharge pathways on a frequent basis and provide telephone advice.

Job responsibilities

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust defines a nurse specialist as a qualified nurse where the primary purpose of the role is to provide guidance and support based on advanced level knowledge to patients, carers, and health professionals concerning a specific disease/condition.

Within the sphere of specialist practice:

• Working towards advanced knowledge and skills within the specialist sphere of practice.
• Contributes to the facilitation of the planning, delivery, and evaluation of care pathways for a designated group of patients.
• Support the development of nursing practice within the specialist field and contribute to the body of nursing knowledge.
• Contributes to training and education within the specialist area.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Education

• Registered nurse (appropriate to branch)
• Current NMC registration
• Diploma plus specialist qualifications/experience within the specialist area; prepared to take degree level study
• Meets Nursing and Midwifery Council standards for student supervision and assessment (formally Mentorship) if relevant to the role.
• Current driving licence if relevant to the role
• Degree in health-related subject

Knowledge & Experience

• Some post-registration experience within the related specialist area of practice
• Extended clinical practice underpinned by training supervision & assessment.
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant NHS policy or project-specific policy context.
• Understanding/experience of adult/child safeguarding.
• Evidence of ongoing continuous professional development.
• Research or audit experience.
• Evidence of contribution towards education and training programmes.

Skills & Abilities

• Effective report writing skills
• Able to work independently and as a member of a team.
• Effective organisation and time management skills
• Change management skills and involvement in project work

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.