Liaison Sister/Charge Nurse in Luton

Job summary

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced Band 6 sister/charge nurse to gain further knowledge in integrated working and discharge planning.

The Integrated Discharge Team, based at the Luton & Dunstable Hospital, has an excellent reputation for playing a vital role in facilitating safe and effective management of complex discharges, covering the hospital 7 days a week.

We have a well-rounded knowledge of community services available which means we can support clinical staff in creating appropriate referrals and ideally shortening length of stay.

We are an enthusiastic ‘can do’ team who enjoy new challenges and opportunities to develop our knowledge and skills.

We work closely together and pride ourselves in being incredibly supportive of each other.

If we receive a high number of applications we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point after 17.07.2026.

Main duties of the job

• Work in partnership with a range of multi-disciplinary and organisational teams within both the hospital and community settings.

Ensure safe discharge for End-of-life patients and those requiring Dept of Health Fast Track Funding.

• Facilitate clear and effective communication between patients, relatives, carers and professional colleagues to ensure seamless patient care.

Provide and receive sensitive patient medical information.

• Enable patients and their families/carers to participate in their discharge planning, encouraging independence and choice.
• Prescribe equipment to promote patient safety and enable staff to provide safe and effective care in the community setting.
• Manage GP Liaison service by receiving telephone calls from referrers, taking a basic triage and signposting to appropriate service.
• Provide clinical supervision for team members with regular 1:1 sessions with delegated members of the team.
• Recognise difficulties that may arise associated with cross‑boundary working in relation to complex patient needs and the various pathways available.

About us

Rated 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives.

There is one reason why our services are outstanding – our amazing staff who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey.

If you share our passion for innovative and high-quality care delivery, please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading-edge specialist community provider.

All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development.

• Details
• Date posted: 10 July 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 6
• Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum, pro‑rata
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Part‑time, Flexible working
• Reference number: 448-LCA-8141195
• Job locations: Luton and Dunstable Hospital – Integrated Discharge Team, Lewsey Road, Luton, LU4 0DZ, United Kingdom
• Job responsibilities
• Work in partnership with a range of multi-disciplinary and organisational teams within both the hospital and community settings.

Ensure safe discharge for End-of-life patients and those requiring Dept of Health Fast Track Funding.

• Facilitate clear and effective communication between patients, relatives, carers and professional colleagues to ensure seamless patient care.

Provide and receive sensitive patient medical information.

• Enable patients and their families/carers to participate in their discharge planning, encouraging independence and choice.
• Prescribe equipment to promote patient safety and enable staff to provide safe and effective care in the community setting.
• Manage GP Liaison service by receiving telephone calls from referrers, taking a basic triage and signposting to appropriate service.
• Provide clinical supervision for team members with regular 1:1 sessions with delegated members of the team.
• Recognise difficulties that may arise associated with cross‑boundary working in relation to complex patient needs and the various pathways available.
• Communication
• Ability to communicate with patients and families, including sensitive discussions regarding End‑of‑Life preferred place of care and death.
• Able to work closely with the Acute Trust and all Local Authorities/ Community Health Services and ICBs.
• Provide evidence-based clinical information to request funding for care provision, ensuring accurate records are kept for each patient engagement through documentation.
• Manage efficient telephone conversations to receive referrals and signpost onwards to appropriate teams.
• Ensure Community Nurse teams receive timely referrals from the Acute Trust, checked for accuracy.
• Budgetary Responsibility
• Assess, prescribe and order appropriate equipment for discharge within delegated delivery and order limits.
• Understand the complexities of both health and social care funding entitlements which impacts when advising patients and families.
• Human Resources
• Maintain own professional development and requirement to take part in appraisal.
• Attend meetings as required by EEC and the Acute Trust.
• Support staff supervision.
• Act as a support to facilitate the training and education of new staff.
• Promote understanding of role to different involved staff groups.
• Research and Development
• Identify and develop a range of clinical knowledge appropriate to role.
• Ensure awareness of any changing policies, guidelines or procedures associated with role.
• Be aware of relevant legislation related to role.
• Clinical and Practice Governance
• Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
• Ensure any data that is taken or shared is in line with Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies.
• Adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes.
• Adhere to infection control policies and procedures.
• Maintain current registration with NMC and responsibility to maintain own professional registration.
• Undertake mandatory training and other training relevant to the role as required by EEC.
• Participate in clinical audits and assist in the maintenance of accurate and timely data (i. e. patient records) to enable the service to be monitored, reviewed, and developed.
• Provide patients and their families/carers with contact information and what they should expect from the team.
• Participate in clinical supervision on a regular basis.
• Participate in relevant emergency preparedness processes for the team.
• General
• Awareness of East of England Health and Care Services NHS Trust Equal Opportunities Policy.
• Awareness of responsibility of all employees to maintain a safe and healthy environment for patients, visitors and staff.
• Adhere to the code of conduct on confidentiality in accordance with the Data Protection Act (1998) and adhere to the Trust’s own policies and procedures in the performance of duties.
• Take responsibility for own actions and work unsupervised.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

• Registered General Nurse (NMC registered)

Desirable

• Professional Qualification in Palliative Care/Community Care

Experience

Essential

• Post-registration experience in community or hospital
• Nursing patients with a wide range of conditions including terminal illness and physical disabilities
• Experience of holistic assessment and care planning.
• Experience of multi-disciplinary working.
• IT skills – experience in use of Microsoft Word, emails.
• NMC Code of Conduct and implication on practice.
• Experience managing multiple phone calls.

Desirable

• Awareness of managing budgets/resources
• Knowledge of social care pathways
• Use of Excel
• Knowledge of current developments in the NHS e. g. Integrated Care Board (ICB), Clinical Governance
• Knowledge of Do H Continuing Health Care process – Fast Track
• Knowledge of research-based practice (NICE guidelines).
• Use of System One.
• Use of Medequip equipment ordering system.
• Experience of peer supervision.
• Experience triying
• Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Ability to manage a caseload independently.
• Ability to initiate and adapt to change.
• Work well within a team setting.
• Excellent communication skills in person, via telephone and via written communication including emails.
• Contribute to problem solving.
• Clear concise record keeping.
• Holistic assessments and care planning.
• Ability to multitask.

Desirable

• Leadership skills (ie Chrysalis).
• Evidence based shared learning.
• Teaching and presentation skills.
• Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require skilled‑worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

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