About this role
Job summary
The Patient Flow Support Worker is an integral member of the Patient Flow team, providing practical and administrative support to help facilitate the safe, effective and timely movement of patients through the hospital.
The post holder will work closely with Patient Flow colleagues, ward teams, clinical services, discharge teams and relevant partner organisations to support the coordination of patient pathways and discharge activity. They will assist with maintaining accurate and up-to-date patient information, following up agreed actions, identifying potential delays and escalating issues appropriately.
The role requires excellent communication and organisational skills, with the ability to work effectively in a busy and changing operational environment. The post holder will manage competing priorities, maintain confidentiality and provide a professional and responsive service to colleagues, patients and external partners.
Through effective coordination and administrative support, the Patient Flow Support Worker will contribute to reducing avoidable delays, supporting timely discharge, improving patient flow and helping the organisation make the best use of available bed capacity.
Main duties of the job
The Patient Flow Support Worker will provide day-to-day operational and administrative support to the Patient Flow team, helping to ensure patients move safely and efficiently through the hospital.
Key duties include supporting the coordination of patient discharges, transfers and repatriations; liaising with ward teams, clinical staff, therapists, discharge services and external partners to progress patient pathways; and identifying and escalating delays or barriers to discharge.
The post holder will use OPTICA and WardBoard daily to monitor patient pathways, maintain accurate discharge information and undertake reconciliation between systems, following up discrepancies and outstanding actions.
The role will also support patient transport arrangements, operational and discharge meetings, data collection and general administrative duties. The post holder will respond to telephone and email enquiries, maintain accurate and confidential patient records, and work flexibly in response to changing operational pressures.
The role requires effective communication and close working with multidisciplinary and partner teams to support timely discharge, effective patient flow and appropriate use of hospital capacity. Further duties are detailed within the full Job Description and Person Specification
About us
We want to attract the best and brightest people to work with us and that means we will look after you from the moment you apply for a role at the Trust and throughout your career with us. Our staff are central to everything we do, and we believe that investing in you is crucial if we want to enable you to reach your full potential.
Job description Job responsibilities
The Patient Flow Support Worker will support the effective coordination of patient flow across the organisation, working with ward teams, clinicians, discharge teams, community services and external partners to facilitate timely admission, transfer, repatriation and discharge.
Key responsibilities include:
Assisting and supporting patient flow across the hospital, including safe and timely transfers, discharges and repatriations. Using OPTICA, WardBoard and other patient flow systems to monitor patient pathways and maintain accurate, real-time patient information. Undertaking twice-daily reconciliation of WardBoard and OPTICA, ensuring discharge plans, delay reasons and estimated dates of discharge are accurate and consistent. Monitoring and coordinating patient repatriations to local hospitals, specialist units and other acute providers. Identifying, investigating and escalating internal and external barriers to discharge. Supporting patients with complex discharge requirements, including care packages, rehabilitation placements, continuing healthcare assessments, housing support and specialist transport. Acting as a point of contact for discharge planning and patient flow escalation. Attending and supporting patient flow, long length of stay, escalation and discharge meetings, accurately recording and progressing agreed actions. Supporting the coordination of discharge transport and responding to transport-related queries. Supporting complex transport arrangements, including repatriations, bariatric transfers and discharge transport. Providing advice and guidance to staff regarding OPTICA, patient flow processes, discharge pathways and transport booking systems. Supporting staff training on OPTICA, patient flow, discharge management and transport processes. Promoting high standards of data quality through education, coaching and auditing of patient flow information. Identifying opportunities for service improvement aimed at reducing delays and improving operational efficiency. Maintaining accurate patient information in line with Trust policies and information governance requirements. Escalating capacity pressures, discharge barriers, transport issues and patient safety concerns appropriately. Overall, the post will support the Patient Flow team in maintaining safe and effective patient flow, reducing avoidable delays and ensuring patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
Person Specification
Essential Essential
GCSE or equivalent level of qualification in English and Mathematics
Desirable
Evidence of recent learning or development in health
Essential Essential
Ability to demonstrate enthusiasm for and an understanding of the role
Desirable
Understanding of OPTICA and other trust systems
Desirable Essential
Accuracy and attention to detail
Desirable
Understanding of patient patways
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current 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 (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address James Paget Univeristy Hospital
Lowestfot road
Gorleston
NR31 6LA
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.jpaget.nhs.uk/work-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)