Flow Co-ordinator

Job overview

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Flow Co-ordinator to join our team and play a key role in supporting safe, effective and timely patient flow across our services.

As a Band 7 Flow Co-ordinator, you will provide proactive clinical and operational leadership to support inpatient and community teams to make effective decisions about admission, patient placement and discharge. You will work across services to maximise the use of available resources, identify and respond to capacity pressures, and support the timely progression of complex patient pathways.

The role requires someone who can work confidently in a fast-paced environment, manage competing priorities and provide constructive challenge when required. You will build effective relationships with ward teams, clinicians, managers, social care, care providers and partner organisations to overcome barriers to flow and achieve the best outcomes for patients.

You will also contribute to escalation processes, bed management, governance and service development, while acting as a visible and credible professional role model.

If you are an experienced clinician with strong leadership, assessment, problem-solving and decision-making skills and are passionate about improving patient flow and patient experience, we would welcome your application.

Main duties of the job

The Flow Co-ordinator will provide proactive leadership and coordination across inpatient and community services to support safe and effective patient flow.

Key responsibilities will include supporting the gatekeeping and assessment of potential admissions, facilitating appropriate patient placement, challenging estimated dates of discharge and supporting teams to progress complex discharge arrangements.

You will work closely with ward managers, clinicians, other Flow Co-ordinators, the office bed manager, social care and external care providers to identify capacity pressures, resolve barriers to discharge and minimise delays.

The role will also involve monitoring the bed position, contributing to bed meetings and daily reporting, initiating escalation processes when capacity is under pressure and providing concise updates on activity, risks and issues.

You will need excellent communication, leadership, risk-management and problem-solving skills, alongside the ability to make sound decisions and prioritise within a complex and changing environment. You will be expected to work flexibly across core, late, weekend and bank holiday shifts and contribute to the 24/7 out-of-hours arrangements.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Flow Co-ordinator will facilitate, enable and support inpatient services and community teams in decision making to achieve optimal patient flow and utilisation of available resources across services. The post holder will support the gatekeeping of prospective admissions, ensure timely and appropriate placement of patients requiring admission and support managers and clinicians in facilitating and expediting complex discharge arrangements.

The post holder will:

Patient flow and discharge

• Support the gatekeeping and assessment of potential admissions in liaison with colleagues in the Crisis Hub.
• Ensure agreement is reached with ward teams regarding discharge plans and coordinated discharge dates.
• Challenge estimated dates of discharge and actively escalate issues to the responsible Ward Manager.
• Maintain effective contact with patients, relatives and carers, taking account of their clinical needs and placement requirements.
• Work alongside the office bed manager to proactively manage flow across Trust and community services and avoid admission where possible.
• Maintain knowledge of Trust bed management, discharge and escalation policies.
• Develop positive relationships across wards and departments, identifying capacity shortfalls and barriers to flow.
• Work proactively with other Flow Co-ordinators, administrative colleagues, social care and care providers to ensure complex packages of care are available and implemented in a timely way.

Clinical and operational leadership

• Liaise with ward managers and other Flow Co-ordinators regarding patient bed allocation.
• Liaise with other NHS Trusts to support appropriate repatriation of patients.
• Initiate escalation arrangements when acute inpatient capacity is at or nearing capacity.
• Liaise with Consultant colleagues and other clinical teams regarding the site bed position and strategies to manage capacity pressures.
• Contribute to managing staffing issues that affect patient flow.
• Provide concise and timely updates on shift activity, problems identified and actions taken.
• Maintain awareness of national and regional developments relevant to patient flow and contribute to their implementation.
• Provide a professional resource to nursing and medical colleagues regarding Trust policies and procedures.
• Participate in professional forums where appropriate.

Governance and quality

• Promote a patient-centred approach to care and decision making.
• Work collaboratively with ward and departmental teams to improve patient flow and pathways.
• Promote and protect the dignity of patients and their families/carers.
• Contribute to governance, audit and quality improvement activity.
• Support effective risk management and comply with Trust policies and procedures.
• Maintain professional accountability and ensure mandatory training and professional development requirements are met.

Management and organisational responsibilities

• Participate in and lead bed meetings where appropriate, ensuring relevant and concise information is available.
• Complete daily metrics and provide information to support senior colleagues in understanding the bed position.
• Contribute to the management of operational pressures and staffing issues affecting flow.
• Maintain effective communication with colleagues across the Trust and partner organisations.
• Work collaboratively and flexibly to support the wider operational requirements of the service.

The post holder will be expected to maintain confidentiality, comply with health and safety, safeguarding, infection prevention and control and risk management requirements, and uphold the Trust's values and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

The role extends beyond the standard working day and requires the post holder to work a mixture of core and late shifts, including weekends and bank holidays, and to contribute to the 24/7 Flow Co-ordinator rota and out-of-hours arrangements.

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.