Flow Co-Ordinator

Job overview

The post holder will provide a comprehensive service to the Trust with a focus to facilitate effective and timely discharge of patients no longer requiring acute care.

 Participate as an active member of the healthcare team assisting with patient flow and safe discharge of patients as determined by the Ward Manager and the Nurse in Charge. 

 To implement and evaluate the discharge needs of patients and to refer for the provision of these care needs to appropriate members of the multidisciplinary team.

 To supervise and train junior nursing staff, aiding their learning and development of safe and timely discharge planning.

 Carry out daily practice in line with our Trust values:

Communication  Kindness and Understanding  Fairness and Transparency  Working Together  Excellence

Main duties of the job

Specific responsibilities of the role requires a consistent and coordinated approach to the operational management of patient flow, with an emphasis on an on-going and ‘real time’ understanding of the wards current and predicted capacity position and the timely and well-timed discharge process.

Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships and rapport with medical and nursing teams as well as the wider Multidisciplinary Teams (MDT) – to ensure best and safest patient care, and ensure they have a safe discharge.

Act as a liaison/point of contact with specialist teams and services. This will require enhanced communication and collaborative working – attending and participating fully in meetings, and keeping colleagues up-to-date through eg. face-to-face and written/electronic briefing.

Assist in the safe admission, transfer and discharge of patients in accordance with Trust policies. Provide assistance to registered healthcare practitioner in planning and evaluating health and social care to the patient.

Communicate at all times with tact and empathy, and interact appropriately with patients and relatives/carers where barriers to communication may exist (eg. challenging behaviour, varying levels of ability, where English is not the first language). Fully participate in multidisciplinary case conferences, where requested to attend.

*For full duties please the the attached JD 

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1.Manage the discharge of an identified group of patients to ensure flow is maintained. 

2.You will be available as the primary point of contact for the multidisciplinary team including the discharge team and will be expected to feed back any issues or complex cases to the Ward Manager, Discharge Coordinators in your area or Matrons.

3. Attend the daily board rounds, and safety huddles, taking actions to support the wards and patient flow for that day. This will include updating of the Real Time Bed State (RTBS) and update patients estimated discharge date, (EDD).

4.Reviewing all patients each day noting which patients are for discharge within 48hrs, and supporting the preparation for discharge, and escalating delays to the Ward Manager, Matron or nurse in charge. 

5.When required, assist with the completion and sending of other referral forms for Multi-disciplinary Team within Trust and Community such as Community Services or Inpatient Rehabilitation referrals.

6.Ensure early identification and referral of patients needing repatriation to other hospitals. Initiate escalation process advising cardiac bed manager of patient’s details

7.Assist in organising transfers between wards and external transfers.

8.Liaise with Pharmacy when required regarding Discharge Medication.

9.Booking Discharge Transport

10.Support the full utilization of the Discharge Lounge throughout the day, and encourage the use of this to team.

*For full duties please the the attached JD 

Person specification

Essential

Essential criteria

GCSE English Experience of working in a clinical area Computer skills

Desirable criteria

Experience in Care of the Elderly Experience in working in the patient flow/ discharge coordinator role.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential criteria

Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

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