Forensic Patient Flow and Capacity Practitioner in Prestwich

Following a successful business case, Adult Forensic Services (AFS) are advertising for two full-time Patient Flow and Capacity Practitioners. The practitioners will have a significant and key role in the transformation and direction of the AFS referral and assessment pathway including the repatriation process and out of area placements (OAPs). Supported by the Multidisciplinary Panel, the post holders would be expected to provide management and clinical leadership responsibility for the pathway including the Admission and Referral Panel.

An ability to work within and take a whole system collaborative approach is essential as is an ability to work productively alongside different agencies and partners across Greater Manchester and the Secure Provider Collaborative. These roles are key to the success of the redesigned clinical model within AFS. The roles require direct patient contact and expertise in being able to carry out forensic assessments, create discharge plans, and make clinical recommendations. This is a unique opportunity to be part of the redesign and development of a growing, highly skilled and supportive team. The successful candidates will report to the Operational Manager for Forensic Community Services but also work closely with the Service Manager and Lead Consultants. There may be a requirement to travel long distances. Flexible working will be considered.

Responsibilities:

• Lead in triage and management of all forensic referrals for forensic inpatient and forensic community services, resource allocation, forensic bed management, patient flow, integrated discharge planning and monitoring of OAPs.
• Participate and attend the Referrals and Admissions Panel which ratifies all recommendations for admission to AFS forensic inpatient beds.
• Manage, monitor, and prioritise patients on the waiting list for admission based on clinical presentation.
• Establish the care pathway and core interventions for patients admitted to AFS.
• Identify discharge pathways at the point of admission, working with clinical teams to ensure that the length of an admission is appropriate to the level of need and risk.
• Ensure assessments and outcomes are completed within national guidelines and timescales, including outcome letters.
• Maintain the AFS referrals tracker alongside admin colleagues.
• Communicate decisions with referring teams and document all outcomes on the clinical database.
• Report to the LPC regarding admissions, discharges and referral activity.
• Oversee the predicted care pathway of all inpatients including OAPs and challenge MDTs to reduce unnecessary delays and ensure smooth delivery of care to discharge.
• Provide expert advice on flow and process design that supports a seamless patient journey integrating specialist forensic pathways aligning with national and local policy.
• Develop and implement guidance, plans, processes and policies applying a project management approach where appropriate to achieve compliance with relevant guidance and standards and to apply good practice in referral management, bed management, patient pathways and discharge.
• Ensure systems are in place to embed agreed key performance indicators and develop data capture for measurement and delivery.
• Assist in the preparation of operational and contingency plans for specific events in conjunction with SLT and the Head of Emergency Planning.
• Conduct complex assessments for patients that may require secure care or are in secure care, working collaboratively with service users and their families, and make recommendations to MDTs and involved agencies.
• Attend professional meetings, inpatient reviews of all OAP placements and clinical team meetings as required.
• Lead and chair weekly patient flow meetings and support critical oversight of assessments.
• Participate in the on-call rota.

Person specification:

Education / Qualification:

• Relevant professional qualification to postgraduate degree level or equivalent experience in area of expertise.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience within an inpatient, community or social care setting.
• Evidence of leading on collaborative working across system partners to influence system wide change.
• Previous bed management, inpatient flow experience in mental health.

Experience:

• Significant experience in secure mental health services at management level.
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary setting.
• Knowledge and application of key policies and procedures.
• Referral, assessment and discharge management skills.
• Experience of successful leadership and management in a complex organisation.
• Evidence of leading on collaborative working across system partners to influence system wide change.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to work under pressure and prioritise.
• Ability to lead, motivate and influence individuals through facilitating and fostering excellent working relationships with other colleagues across the Trust.
• Manage sensitive or difficult situations appropriately.
• Innovative thinking with the ability to identify and work through barriers.
• Patient pathway management skills focusing on the needs of the individual patient.
• Ability to pre-empt problems and create solutions to resolve problems before they arise.
• Data analysis and IT skills.
• Advanced IT skills.

Equal Opportunity and Diversity Statement:

We are aspiring to ensure our workforce is representative of the diverse communities that we serve, and we are strongly committed to removing barriers to employment for candidates from under-represented groups, for example BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ communities.