Discharge Officer in Southampton

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for a detailed description of the role. Are you passionate about making a real difference to patients’ journeys through hospital care? Join our friendly and dedicated team, The Complex Discharge Team, as a Discharge Officer, where you’ll play a key role in helping patients leave hospital safely, smoothly, and on time.

In this rewarding role, you’ll work closely with a wide range of professionals – nurses, doctors, therapists, social workers, and community teams – to coordinate discharge plans from the very start of a patient’s admission. You’ll be the vital link between the ward, patients and families, and partner organisations, ensuring every discharge is planned, communicated, and completed efficiently. Your work will have a direct impact on improving patient flow, reducing delays, and supporting the Trust’s goal of providing exceptional, patient‑centred care. No two days will be the same: you’ll manage your own caseload, problem‑solve in real time, and see the positive results of your efforts as patients safely return home or move on to the next stage of their care.

You’ll be part of a supportive and proactive team, working alongside and reporting to Advanced Discharge Officers, Complex Discharge Practitioners and other senior leaders. Together, you’ll help ensure every patient’s discharge is safe, timely, and well‑coordinated. If you’re organised, compassionate, and thrive in a busy environment where teamwork truly makes a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Specific to this role we are open to discussing flexibility in the hours that you work. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need, and we will explore what’s possible for the role and service. As a Discharge Officer, you’ll be at the heart of our patient flow and discharge process, supporting patients, families, and the multidisciplinary team (MDT) to ensure every discharge is safe, timely, and well‑coordinated.

You’ll manage a caseload of patients across designated wards, working in partnership with clinical and community teams to help patients transition smoothly from hospital to home or ongoing care. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference to patient experience and service efficiency every single day.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate and support the safe discharge of patients from the point of admission, ensuring plans are realistic, proactive, and person‑centred.
• Work closely with nurses, doctors, therapists, social workers, and community partners to ensure discharge plans are communicated, documented, and delivered on time.
• Monitor and update patient discharge information on the hospital’s digital systems (UHS Apps), escalating any issues or delays to the appropriate teams.
• Liaise with care agencies, care homes, and social services to arrange assessments, confirm placements, and restart care packages.
• Act as an advocate for patients and their families, providing clear discharge information and ensuring their voices are heard in decision‑making.

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who is organised, compassionate, and confident communicating across multiple teams. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate strong organisational and multitasking skills, with the ability to prioritise a busy workload and meet deadlines.

Excellent communication and teamwork, with the confidence to liaise effectively with staff at all levels and external partners. Experience in an administrative or patient‑facing role, ideally within a hospital or healthcare setting. Good IT skills and confidence using Microsoft Office and hospital systems. A proactive and empathetic approach to supporting patients and their families during their hospital stay.

Person Specification

Trust Values

• Patient First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential Criteria

• Good standard of secondary education with literacy and numeracy skills demonstrable to GSCE grade C or equivalent.
• NVQ 3 qualification or relevant equivalent experience.
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology.
• Experience working in an administrative capacity in a customer‑focused environment.
• Proven ability to work to deadlines, prioritise and multitask.

Desirable Criteria

• Courses / further study attended to demonstrate evidence of personal development.
• Diploma level qualification or equivalent experience.
• RSA 2 word processing/typing or equivalent experience.
• Proficient in the use of all hospital computerised patient systems.
• Experience in medical or patient services administrative role.

Seniority Level

Entry level

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Other

Industry

Hospitals and Health Care