Discharge Co-Ordinator in Stoke-on-Trent

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Discharge Co-Ordinator to work on Ward 3, Harplands Hospital. This vacancy would suit someone who is looking for an exciting opportunity and wants to work on an Acute Inpatient Ward. Full time, 37.5 hours per week. Band 4, £27,485 - £30,162 per annum.

Ward 3 is an acute ward, and we offer assessment and initial treatment for a variety of mental health needs, and work closely with other services to ensure ongoing recovery. We pride ourselves in offering intuitive, person-centred interventions and we keep people at the heart of everything we do.

We offer free parking to all staff as well encouraging staff to develop their careers. If you would like to arrange an informal visit prior to making an application, please email lucy.sparrow@combined.nhs.uk, otherwise we look forward to your application.

The Discharge Coordinator (DC) will function as part of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) within the relevant ward, to help provide a seamless service to patients, with proximal supervision from registered nursing staff and other professionals as appropriate. They will be skilled in taking the appropriate actions to achieve the planned outcome guided by standard operating procedures and protocols.

One of the most important functions of the DC will be to assist in the timely and safe discharge of patients from inpatient care, following an appropriate assessment by the MDT, in line with the relevant policies, care plans and risk assessments. The DC will frequently be expected to deliver hands on care in the same manner as Band 3 Healthcare support worker staff as required by the demands of the ward - including the provision of intimate personal care, and patient observations. They will support the induction and initial training of new (trainee) DC's, Healthcare Support Workers and other staff as deemed appropriate.

The post is in development and may change over time and vary in application according to the needs of each individual ward. Not all duties described below will be required but may be implemented as the role develops, in accordance with client & service needs, and the skills/aptitudes of the DC.

As a Trust we remain bold and ambitious with plans for both service and system collaborative transformation over the coming years to improve the health and wellbeing of our local people through high quality care. We pride ourselves on ensuring our team has their wellbeing put first and as such provide a range of wellness opportunities including flexible working.

We are committed to the Greener NHS national ambition to becoming the world's first 'carbon net zero' national health system by 2045. As part of this, sustainability is embedded in our strategy as one of our four key enablers. In order to deliver on this commitment, we recognise that we need a workforce that is as passionate as we are about achieving these goals, for the benefit of our service users, workforce, local communities and the planet alike.

The Trust is committed to ensuring that a diverse workforce is representative and inclusive at all levels. We would very much welcome applications from all under-represented groups including women, people with disabilities, people from global majority backgrounds, and those from the lesbian, gay, bi and trans communities. The Trust is committed to the Step into Health scheme and actively encourages applicants from the Armed Forces Communities to apply.

• To maintain excellent standards of communication where complex and/or sensitive clinical information may have to be conveyed to other clinicians (e.g. in MDT or in external organisations as appropriate), or patients/relatives/carers.
• Bed management and co-ordination of beds.
• Transfers/discharge preparation/out of area.
• Completion of relevant patient documentation on admission and discharge including: Single Assessment Process forms, Continuing Healthcare Process forms, The Decision Support Tool Assessment Notifications, Withdrawal Notifications, Referral forms to Social Work and other relevant teams.
• Identify areas of concern and escalate as required.
• Keeping up to date and being involved with out of area patients and placements.
• Working with Assistant practitioners and Discharge coordinators on other wards.
• Wider system meetings such as bed meetings, delayed discharge meetings, link meetings with the community teams.
• Building networks and relationships between community teams and beyond the wards.
• Assistance with SAP 3 and the social care processes.
• Linking with social care colleagues.
• Helping with discharge planning and making follow up arrangements.
• Completing discharge paperwork and pathways with patients.
• Arranging ward reviews, MDT meetings and coordinating the meetings for the MDT.
• Referring for CPA and CCO allocation.
• Using Lorenzo and making clinical records.
• Referring and engaging with rehab services.
• Supporting patient assessments such as social care assessments, rehab assessments, EIT assessments.
• Completion of Decision Support Tool (DST) paperwork to assist with seeking discharge funding.
• Liaising with all agencies involved within patient care such as housing/finance and benefits.
• Liaising with Emergency accommodations and partners.
• Collaborate with service user/carers groups to promote and practice shared decision making.
• Prepare and present accurate reports, both written and verbal.
• Adopt and oversee accurate, robust and high standards of record keeping.
• Participate in MDT reviews, daily reviews, ward meetings and handovers.
• Promote a culture of compassion where relationships are based on compassion, kindness, respect and dignity.
• Demonstrate initiative and decision-making skills within defined parameters, including the management of challenging behaviour.
• Plan straightforward tasks guided by standard operating procedures and protocols.
• Organise own workload on a daily basis ensuring the timely completion of assigned tasks.
• Deliver and maintain high standards of clinical care and contribute to achieving the Care Quality Commission Essential Standards.
• The DC will identify any circumstances or practices which may compromise standards, quality of care and/or patient safety and report to the ward manager.
• Support service users, carers, relatives and colleagues following incidents.
• Provide advice and guidance in relation to the promotion of service user health and wellbeing.
• Assist service users to access the appropriate community-based services in other NHS Trusts, the private and third sector. This may involve occasional visits to service user homes or other establishments.
• Assist in the collation of data from a variety of sources. Such data will contribute to clinical audit, surveys, freedom of information requests etc.
• The DC will be able to work independently (without direct supervision) however a more senior member of staff will be present at all times.

Qualifications: Ability to work at Diploma level or equivalent work-based experience, GCSE or equivalent English and Maths.

Experience: Experience delivering hands-on patient care in an NHS Trust, working with patients exhibiting mental health needs.

Knowledge: Basic IT skills are essential, including use of MS Office applications. Basic knowledge of mental health legislation. Knowledge of: care planning, discharge processes, safeguarding processes, carer needs, common mental health issues evidenced by patients on the ward, and standard treatment approaches for these, record keeping standards, equality, diversity and dignity, excellent communication skills, able to work under own initiative, good literacy and numeracy, time management skills, leadership skills, problem solving 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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.