Critical Care Flow Co-ordinator

Job overview

The post holder will be a member of the Critical Care team working alongside the Nurse-in-Charge and Consultant to facilitate the effective use of beds within the Critical Care Unit and Surgical Special Care Unit, ensuring timely, proactive, appropriate admissions of patients from all admission portals and discharge of patients using a structured, timely approach and in accordance with trust policies.

Main duties of the job

Assist Consultants and Senior Nursing staff with the management of all admissions and discharges for CCU and SSCU patients by facilitating an efficient, effective and timely utilisation of beds and resources.

Proactively challenge patient flow within the division

Provide support and organise resources for the expedition of discharges out of Critical Care and Surgical Special Care Unit across the Trust and to external organisations

Prepare and share information relating to patient numbers and acuity/capacity as directed

Troubleshoot and identify areas of improvement with regards to patient flow, working closely with the Divisional Flow Co-ordinator and senior nursing teams within CCU and SSCU

Support safe staffing numbers, reviewing the need for bank staff and evening out of staff, bringing to the attention of the senior nursing team where safe staffing cannot be achieved.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To facilitate the effective use of beds within the Critical Care Unit and Surgical Special Care Unit, ensuring timely, proactive appropriate admissions of patients from all admission portals and discharge of patients using a structured, timely approach.

Provide senior support with any staffing issues within CCU/SSCU

Ensure pro-active planning to allow accommodation of both elective and emergency patients

Liaise closely with Theatres/PACU regarding elective and emergency admissions.

Liaise closely and regularly with ward nursing staff and Divisional Discharge Co-ordinators to ensure accurate up to date knowledge of patient movement is obtained.

Liaise as appropriate with the discharge Co-ordinators and multi-disciplinary team with regard to discharge issues. Identify problems affecting the efficiency and effectiveness of admitting and discharging patients, making these known to the senior nursing team.

Maintain up to date bed availability state.

Maintain up to date information regarding patients who can be transferred out of CCU/SSCU ensuring that the patients’ notes detail the decision to transfer out.

Maintain accurate reporting arrangements e.g. through a database, regarding the occupancy and demand levels, including patient acuity.

To liaise closely with the Site Matron and senior nurses if staffing issues are affecting bed capacity.

To participate fully in any project involving bed management to ensure its success.

Check, confirm and challenge estimated dates and times of discharge out of CCU.

Using managerial / operational knowledge, discuss/negotiate clinical need/time scales for admissions with medical teams.

Maintain up to date knowledge of the Escalation Policy and role within this.

Provide the Divisional Flow Team with admission and discharge information in a timely manner.

Provide support to the Divisional Flow Team, senior nursing team, as deemed appropriate

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

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.