About this role
Job summary
The Discharge Key Worker is responsible for coordinating and facilitating safe, timely, and effective discharge planning for patients undergoing surgical care on their assigned ward. Acting as the central point of contact throughout the patient's admission, the post holder works collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team, patients, families, carers, and external health and social care providers to ensure seamless transitions from hospital to home or onward care.
The role focuses on identifying discharge needs at the earliest opportunity, proactively managing barriers to discharge, and ensuring that appropriate assessments, referrals, equipment, medications, transport, and community services are arranged in a timely manner.
This is a cross-site role, and the post holder will be expected to work across both acute hospital sites to support the delivery of the Surgical Discharge Service.
Interview: 6th October
Main duties of the job
To work closely with the clinical inpatient care groups and discharge team highlighting patients with complex needs,specifically those patients who aredeemedto have No Criteria toresidein an acute hospital bed where supported interventionis required toprogress thedischarge plan.
-Act as a key point of contact for patients, relatives, carers, and members of the multidisciplinary teamregardingdischarge arrangements.
-Participate in daily multidisciplinary board rounds, discharge planning meetings, and patient flow discussions.
Ensure all inpatients have a discharge plancommencedon admission, an expected date of discharge in line with the no criteria toreside(no C2R) guidance, the SAFER Care Bundle and manage discharge dependent actions to reduce any potential delays.
-Identifypotential barriers to discharge at the earliest opportunity and develop plans to address delays proactively.
To work in partnership with the ward MDT, the system SPA (Single Point of Access team) Cluster teams, social services, community care providers, integrated care boards and the discharge team and voluntary agencies regarding simple and complex needs identified during the admission process to provide effective discharge planning to patients and their representatives that facilitates timely discharge.
About us
UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.
If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.
UHD has active networks including Women's, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.
AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.
Job description Job responsibilities
The Discharge Key Worker is responsible for coordinating and facilitating safe, timely, and effective discharge planning for patients undergoing surgical care on their assigned ward.
To work closely with the clinical inpatient care groups and discharge team highlighting patients with complex needs,specifically those patients who aredeemedto have No Criteria toresidein an acute hospital bed where supported interventionis required toprogress thedischarge plan.
-Act as a key point of contact for patients, relatives, carers, and members of the multidisciplinary teamregardingdischarge arrangements.
-Participate in daily multidisciplinary board rounds, discharge planning meetings, and patient flow discussions.
Ensure all inpatients have a discharge plancommencedon admission, an expected date of discharge in line with the no criteria toreside(no C2R) guidance, the SAFER Care Bundle and manage discharge dependent actions to reduce any potential delays.
-Identifypotential barriers to discharge at the earliest opportunity and develop plans to address delays proactively.
To work in partnership with the ward MDT, the system SPA (Single Point of Access team) Cluster teams, social services, community care providers, integrated care boards and the discharge team and voluntary agencies regarding simple and complex needs identified during the admission process to provide effective discharge planning to patients and their representatives that facilitates timely discharge.
Communicates effectively with a range of people aboutday to daytasks asrequiredwithin limits of job role and training.
Ensure all documentation applicable for the role is recorded accurately, legibly, signed and Job description dated in accordance withtrust policies and procedures.
Work with MDT to ensure holistic care for patients and their representatives
Listens to and respects the needs of patients and/or colleagues.
Appliesappropriate communicationmethods using a range of verbal andnonverbalskills helping patients/relatives overcome barriers to understanding when English is not their first language. Treats everyone in a friendly and courteous manner
To provide discharge planningexpertiseto patients and their representatives during the admission process
Identifypatients with cognitive impairment and highlight need for mental capacity assessments to support the discharge planning process.
Facilitate and coordinate discharge plans atappropriate meetingsincluding daily handovers, MDT meetings, care reviews and / or case conferences to agree and finalise discharge plans with patients and next of kin.
Liaise with care agencies and care homes toestablishdates for assessments and agree transfer dates Escalate issues and barriers affecting a patients discharge to the clinical leads/MDT in line with the trusts escalation matrix in the Discharge Planning Standard Operating Procedure
Person Specification
Essential Essential
NVQ level 3 Experience of working in a hospital setting
Desirable
Experience of working with patients requiring CHC and social services Use of IT clinical systems such as ecamis
essential Essential
Good communication skills
Desirable
use of computers
Essential Essential
Knowledge of comples discharge planning process Understanding of MDT assessment for frail surgical patients
Desirable
Knowledge of integrated care systems Experience of patient flow
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.
Employer details Employer name University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
Address Bournemouth Hospital but cross site working is expected
Castle Lane East Bournemouth, Dorset BH7 7DW
Bournemouth
BH7 7DW
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)