Neonatal Discharge Planner

Job overview

The post holder will implement discharge planning within our unit. The post-holder will work directly with families, supporting them to become more involved in the care of their baby  to support discharge, whilst collaboratively working with the Neonatal Community Outreach team, neonatal nursing, AHP and medical teams to achieve this aim.

The role will require significant knowledge and experience of family integrated care, developmental care and breastfeeding as well as supporting competencies with our families

We support the facilitation of  early discharge of well preterm babies and the home nursing of babies requiring specialist nursing intervention e.g. special feeding requirements, home oxygen, congenital abnormalities and support with medication competency.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will act as a strong advocate embedding the ethos of ‘parents as partners in care’ – empowering families to learn about their babys care and support parents to be fully involved in provision of care and decision-making.

We work in conjunction with other members of the multi disciplinary team and initiate transfer of care to other services e.g. HV/CDC/social services/CCNT/AHP/NCOT to support complex discharges, supported with MDT meetings

We empower and educate families to learn new skills and become competent caring for their baby at home, ensuring they are confident and always supported by our team

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Neonatal Discharge Planner role is to establish and maintain an effective system of communication to improve the health, well being and safeguarding of all neonates who have been inpatients on the neonatal unit at Midland Metropolitan University  Hospital.

The post holder will be working as part of the multidisciplinary team working who will demonstrate expertise within the neonatal service, providing advise, education and support to parents/ carers of the neonates.

A key role will be the providing the continuing care between the hospital and community for neonates and their families.

• To participate in neonatal consultant ward rounds in the neonatal unit; assessing, planning and evaluating treatment and care, and making recommendations for changes.
• To take a lead role in the discharge planning of babies from the unit, liaising with the shift lead and matron along with other members of the multidisciplinary team.