Discharge Co-Ordinator

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Discharge Co-Ordinator to work with the Discharge Pathway Team, Harplands Hospital.  This vacancy would suit someone who is looking for an exciting opportunity and wants to work within our Discharge team.

The post is full time, fixed term for 12 months and is a Band 4, £27,485 - £30,162 per annum.

We offer free parking to all staff as well as encouraging staff to develop their careers.

If you would like to arrange an informal visit prior to making an application, please email

Main duties of the job

The   Discharge Coordinator (DC) will function as part of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) within the relevant ward, to help provide a seamless service to patients, with proximal supervision from registered nursing staff and other professionals as appropriate.  They will be skilled in taking the appropriate actions to achieve the planned outcome guided by standard operating procedures and protocols.

One of the most important functions of the DC will be to assist in the timely and safe discharge of patients from inpatient care, following an appropriate assessment by the MDT, in line with the relevant policies, care plans and risk assessments.

The DC will frequently be expected to deliver hands on care in the same manner as Band 3 Healthcare support worker staff as required by the demands of the ward – including the provision of intimate personal care, and patient observations.  They will support the induction and initial training of new (trainee)’ DC’s, Healthcare Support Workers and other staff as deemed appropriate.

The post is in development and may change over time and vary in application according to the needs of each individual ward.  Not all duties described below will be required but may be implemented as the role develops, in accordance with client & service needs, and the skills/aptitudes of the DC.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To maintain excellent standards of communication where complex and/or sensitive clinical information may have to be conveyed to other clinicians (e.g. in MDT or in external organisations as appropriate), or patients/relatives/carers.  Patients are likely to have some degree of mental health condition such that communication may be difficult and/or emotive.
• Bed management and co-ordination of beds – Transfers/ discharge preparation/ out of area Completion of relevant patient documentation on admission and discharge including:
• Single Assessment Process forms
• Continuing Healthcare Process forms
• The Decision Support Tool
• Assessment Notifications
• Withdrawal Notifications
• Referral forms to Social Work and other relevant teams Identify areas of concern and escalate as required.
• Keeping up to date and being involved with out of area patients and placements
• Working with Assistant practitioners and Discharge coordinators on other wards
• Wider system meetings – such as bed meetings, delayed discharge meetings, link meetings with the community teams
• Building networks and relationships between community teams and beyond the wards
• Assistance with SAP 3 and the social care processes
• Linking with social care colleagues
• Helping with discharge planning and making follow up arrangements
• Completing discharge paperwork and pathways with patients
• Arranging ward reviews, MDT meetings and coordinating the meetings for the MDT
• Referring for CPA and CCO allocation
• Using Lorenzo and making clinical records
• Referring and engaging with rehab services
• Supporting patient assessments – such as social care assessments, rehab assessments, EIT assessments
• Completion of Decision Support Tool (DST) paperwork to assist with seeking discharge funding
• Liaising with all agencies involved within patient care such as housing/finance and benefits
• Liaising with Emergency accommodations and partners
• Collaborate with service user/carers groups to promote and practice shared decision making.
• Prepare and present accurate reports, both written and verbal.
• Adopt and oversee accurate, robust and high stands of record keeping.
• Participate in MDT reviews, daily reviews, ward meetings and handovers.
• Promote a culture of compassion where relationships are based on compassion, kindness, respect and dignity.
• Demonstrate initiative and decision-making skills within defined parameters, including the management of challenging behaviour.
• Plan straightforward tasks guided by standard operating procedures and protocols.
• Organise own workload on a daily basis ensuring the timely completion of assigned tasks.
• Deliver and maintain high standards of clinical care and contribute to achieving the Care Quality Commission Essential Standards.  The DC will identify any circumstances or practices which may compromise standards, quality of care and/or patient safety and report to the ward manager.
• Support service users, carers, relatives and colleagues following incidents.
• Provide advice and guidance in relation to the promotion of service user health and wellbeing.
• Assist service users to access the appropriate community-based services in other NHS Trusts, the private and third sector.  This may involve occasional visits to service user homes or other establishments.
• Assist in the collation of data from a variety of sources.  Such data will contribute to clinical audit, surveys, freedom of information requests etc.
• The DC will be able to work independently (without direct supervision) however a more senior member of staff will be present at all times.