Patient Key Worker

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Discharge Team as a Patient Key Worker.

Patient Key Workers (PKWs) assists to facilitate a patients discharge pathway from admission, assisting the ward staff, discharge team and wider MDT in facilitating a safe and timely transfer out of hospital.

Patient Key Workers rotate around all wards of the hospital to gain experience of each ward and their speciality.

You will be expected to communicate effectively with patients, relatives, ward staff and other external agencies.

Right to Work in the UK: This role is not available for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, we are unable to support visa applications for this post in line with UKVI regulations.

Main duties of the job

• To ensure quality care and support service which enables patients to be supported throughout their care pathway whilst promoting independence and protecting choice, dignity, privacy, and safety.
• To work in support of qualified staff and allied health care professionals in the assessment, planning, implementing and evaluation of the discharge pathways in conjunction with the complex discharge team.
• To assist the wider MDT in facilitating a safe and timely transfer out of the hospital environment for all ward patients.
• To ensure early conversations are initiated with the patient, /carer to ensure the following:
• Patient and/or carer is aware of the expected date of discharge and is kept informed when this changes.
• Identifying and escalating any barriers to the patient returning home/ care home on the expected date of discharge.
• To communicate effectively at all times within the team, other health care professionals and with the patient family, carers/visitors.
• To support with the patients and families expectations about discharge destinations within the capability of partner agencies.
• Seek advice from complex discharge team at earliest opportunity if a complex need is identified.
• Ability to prioritise workload daily and adapt as needed.
• Any other requirements deemed appropriate by complex discharge team as commensurate to grade.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Patient Key Worker role will primarily focus on providing a smooth discharge plan for each patient. The primary function of this role is to ensure patients and relatives are aware of the plan both in terms of interventions and expectations on discharge. Also, to highlight to all concerned, any problems that may become apparent that could affect a delay in discharge.

The post holder will facilitate the discharge pathway from admission, liaise with the wider multi- disciplinary team to ensure timely interventions are addressed along said pathway, and provide daily update to the ward sister and complex discharge team.

The post holder will also act as a conduit between the ward-based team and the discharge teams and in doing so will provide an extension of the discharge team based within the ward environment. The post holder will also be expected to liaise and work alongside the ward teams and Complex Discharge team, to assist and support the patients journey through the organisation ensuring good communication with patients and families.

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.