Discharge Coordinator (TOCH)

Job overview

This is a permanent full time post (37.5 hours) to be worked across Monday to Sunday with shifts between 0800-1800. The post is based at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Substantial Band 3 clinical experience within the NHS
• RQF accredited NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care - certificates obtained via online courses will not be accepted.

An Enhanced DBS with Adults' Barred List check will be obtained during pre-employment checks.

Main duties of the job

• To function as a member of the Multidisciplinary Team, by assisting the better at home team leads to facilitate timely discharges for patients. By ensuring that efficient and effective processes are in place to prevent delays in discharge.
• The post holder will liaise with all relevant health & social care professionals and managers to ensure patient flow and hospital discharge/transfer of care is safely and effectively managed. The post holder will have a key role within all specialities supporting the implementation of the Community Care act 2003, Discharge to Assess process and Continuing Health Care assessment.
• To ensure full compliance by both the hospital and patient with all requirements to enable effective and efficient admission, treatment and discharge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Planning and Organisational Duties

The post holder will participate in, and influence, care delivery by:

• Daily consultation with Team lead / Huddles
• Daily e-mails to community providers regarding community beds.
• Make timely/appropriate referrals to community services e.g. Falls Team / Therapy Team/ Matrons
• To prioritise own workload
• Follow-up requests for investigations/assessments, results etc.
• Liaise with ADT / Ward staff re: transport home on discharge
• To maintain data collection system for audit purposes
• Ensure Tracker / HIS updated with accurate discharge predictions

Communications and Key Working Relationships

• To communicate effectively with members of the Multidisciplinary Team, patients, their relatives and outside agencies / community providers as required.

• To communicate with tact and diplomacy when dealing with patients and their families and to have empathy when dealing with any adverse situations that may arise.
• To Liaise with ADT / Ward staff / Out of Borough Hospitals regarding discharge plans.
• To provide a good standard of written, verbal and electronic communication skills.

Responsibility for Patient/Service User Related Tasks/Duties

• Identify potential needs of patient / client with regard to discharge planning.

• Report any adverse or untoward incidents in the appropriate manner inkling Datix.
• Undertake tasks determined via service, working to ensure timely effective patient care

Responsibility for Health & Safety

Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 – the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.

Responsibility for Teaching

The post holder will promote life-long learning through the use of appropriate coaching, teaching and assessment in practice by:

• Report condition, progress any clinical problems encountered to nurse or doctor responsible for patient.
• Report any discharge problems to the Complex Discharge Lead
• Ensure all relevant documentation is completed in an accurate and timely manner

• Awareness of patient information systems e.g. HIS, EPR, PAS.

Work Circumstances

Service hours are 7 days between 0800-1800.