Discharge Co-ordinator

A rare opportunity has arisen for a Discharge Coordinator on the Stroke Unit here at Chesterfield Royal.

The successful applicant will work closely alongside the large specialist stroke multi-disciplinary team to plan, coordinate and facilitate patient discharges.

A significant part of the role will be liaising with patients and their relatives to ensure a seamless, timely discharge and escalating any delays within the patients journey. You will be heavily involved with all professionals and attend regulars ward meetings and discharge planning meetings regarding most patients on the ward.

IT and organisational skills are essential for this role.

Knowledge in stroke is not essential as additional training will be provided to ensure you can confidently carry out the role and are able to signpost and refer to stroke services in the community.

The working hours will be Monday - Friday 8:00am - 16:00pm. (Full Time)
The Stroke Unit compromises of 34 beds which are a mixture of acute and rehab beds. The unit has its own stroke therapy rehabilitation team who provide specialist stroke care to our patients.
The role of the Discharge Coordinator on the stroke unit is an extremely important role who helps coordinate all professionals to ensure a safe plan of care is created to facilitate a safe discharge home for our patients with all the correct support in place prior.
The role requires someone who can communicate clearly to all levels of professionals and is able to communicate well with patients/relatives and carers to understand support required for home.

The Discharge Co-ordinator is an important role within our organisation. Leading the Chesterfield Way supports the Trust’s priorities and ambitions - and sets out the behaviours and characteristics that leaders are expected to adopt and that all staff can role model, to make the Trust an even better place to work; and to support the delivery of exceptional patient care. It provides a framework for leadership and supports individual progression through appraisal, career progression and personal development.

To have an up-to-date knowledge of the multidisciplinary management of the patient and discharge plan of all allocated patients.

To have an understanding of clinical conditions and terminology and be willing to learn basic stroke knowledge.

To gather and collate information from the medical notes, patients and multi-disciplinary team colleagues to enable a clear plan for discharge to be followed.

To demonstrate the required understanding of manual handling issues and assist patients where required following guidelines for safe moving and handling in order to assess patients for the most appropriate transport.

To take note of the expected date of discharge (EDD) and update the white board if required. If this had not been identified, to contact the relevant clinician(s) and ensure this is added to the white board and the medical record. To assist in ensuring that all patients have an accurate EDD, identify whether the patient is unwell or fit and if fit retention reason.

**To work closely with the multi-disciplinary team**:

- to check the management plan for each patient, identifying if the team have been involved
- to make any identified referrals in liaison with ward staff
- to identify any patients who are likely to have complex discharge arrangements and involve complex discharge team if

Anticipate potential delays and take action to prevent them, e.g. anticipate the need to make referrals and after checking with an appropriate clinician, make the referral.

Ensure all necessary referrals are made and received and assist those receiving the referrals to prioritise, supplying useful and relevant information.

To ensure pharmacists are aware of patients requiring TTO’s with alternative packaging / instruction for TTOs are notified in advance

Ensure TTO’s are prescribed, requested and obtained before transport arrives To organise ambulance transport

To discuss discharge planning with patients and relatives/carers ensuring that ward staff and MDT members are informed as appropriate.

To communicate effectively and appropriately with patients, carers and families and to show awareness in relation to sensitive issues and to deal with difficult situations as appropriate.

To be aware of barriers to effective communication e.g. hearing loss, altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia, dementing illness, cognitive impairment, memory loss, pain and fear and the effective use of verbal / non
- verbal communication as appropriate.

Attend and participate in the ward MDT meetings undertaking any appropriate follow up action required.

To document actions taken and communications carried out in the medical record and on the white board in line with Trust policies.

To develop a rapport with senior members of staff on the ward maintaining an awareness of ward objectives.

To facilitate effective communication and coordination of care betwe