Complex Discharge Specialist Nurse

Cambridge University Hospitals; Cambridge; Remote; GBP 39,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site facilities

Staff travel concessions

Parking subsidy

Job summary

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust invites applications for a Band 6 Specialist Support Nurse in the Complex Discharge Team. You will assess patients, plan safe discharges and work with multidisciplinary teams to optimise patient flow.

The role spans a seven-day service with flexible hours; the salary is £38,682-£46,580 per annum pro rata, with a 12-week probationary period and potential for part-time arrangement.

Qualifications

• Registered nurse with a minimum of 2 years ward-based clinical experience
• Evidence of continuous professional development
• Teaching or mentoring qualification
• Post-registration qualification in speciality or willingness to complete
• Degree
• Research Module

Responsibilities

• Provide seven-day service including weekends and bank holidays to assess patients’ needs for a safe discharge.
• Prioritize workload to manage discharge cases in a timely manner.
• Consider Home First as the preferred discharge pathway and justify any bed-based care.
• Communicate with patients and families from admission regarding discharge planning.
• Provide relevant information to patients and families to enable informed discharge decisions.
• Signpost patients to external services and voluntary sectors.
• Act as an MDT member to manage the discharge journey.
• Complete onward referrals for care support across discharge pathways.

Skills

Good verbal and written communication

Capable of working as an integral team

Adaptable to changing situations

Teaching of staff and patients

Work unsupervised and manage own load

Effective interpersonal skills

Multidisciplinary working

Education

Bachelor's degree in Nursing

Post-registration qualification in specialty

Research Module

Job description

Main area Discharge Planning Grade Band 6 Contract 10 months (Fixed term Maternity cover until 27/09/2027.) Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (To cover a 7 day / 365 days a year service - Full Time or Part Time / Flexible working hours may be considered) Job ref 180-F-CVA1263

Employer Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Addenbrookes Hospital-Corporate Town Cambridge Salary £38,682 - £46,580 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 12/11/2026 23:59

Job overview

An opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated individual to join the Complex Discharge Team at CUH as a Band 6 Specialist Support Nurse.You will work within the ward environment alongside the multidisciplinary team liaising with community partners, patients, families, and carers to plan, facilitate and optimise complex patient discharges from the hospital.

You will be part of an existing team of Specialist Support Nurses, Clinical Nurse Specialists and Discharge Co-ordinators who currently support all adult inpatient areas across CUH. You will be part of a dedicated team working together to achieve the best possible outcomes for all our patients, keeping them at the centre of what we do.

You will work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary health and social care teams within both CUH and community teams to navigate the patients across pathways to ensure a safe discharge once deemed clinically fit for discharge. The Specialist Support Nurse will elevate issues with external organisations to prevent a delayed discharge through agreed escalation process. Negotiation with staff, services and patients will be a vital part of this role to ensure the patient journey is progressed appropriately and safely.

You will support ward professionals in agreeing the pathway for discharge from hospital in accordance with agreed policies and professional guidelines and complete onwards referrals for care support across all discharge pathways.

Main duties of the job

To work within the Complex Discharge Team providing a seven-day service including weekends & bank holidays assessing patients’ needs for a safe discharge. Working with health and social care teams, the post holder will agree the most appropriate pathway of care to support discharge from hospital.

To provide a proactive and continuous approach to complex discharge planning. This will involve the continual prioritization of workload to ensure all discharge cases are managed in a timely manner.

To consider “Home First” as the preferred Discharge Pathway, evidencing clearly rationale for any provision of bed-based care.

To communicate with patients and their families/carers from admission regarding discharge planning. This will include taking patient history regarding social circumstances, establishing with the patient their wishes post-discharge and signposting and referring to relevant services.

To provide relevant and accurate information to patients and their families regarding discharge plans in a timely way enabling them to make informed decisions regarding discharge plans.

To provide sign posting information to patients and their carers regarding external services i.e. Voluntary sector

To obtain feedback from patients regarding their experience about the discharge planning process to inform the development of discharge processes and prevention of poor future discharges.

Act as an effective MDT member in managing discharges and progress the patients’ journey.

Working for our organisation

Come Nurse with us…

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the country. It comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital. We provide accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge and regional and national specialist services. It’s a great place to nurse, work and live.

You will work on a vibrant hospital campus with a friendly community feel; we have excellent facilities to practise your skills and abilities to support your career pathway and development. Our values of Together – Safe, Kind, Excellent support the delivery of outstanding care. We have a fully electronic patient record system that is improving health-care quality; this is transforming services, improving patient safety and clinical outcomes.

Why choose Cambridge University Hospitals?

• Our values and reputation for outstanding care
• Opportunities to experience a range of specialities
• Career and development opportunities
• Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support team
• Research experience and opportunities
• Lovely location and quality of life
• Excellent schools/colleges and transport links (road, rail and air)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

· Please note:- Internal applicants on permanent contracts can apply for this post as a secondment or fixed term contract. For secondments you must have the approval of your line manager before applying. If you are an internal applicant currently on a fixed term contract you are able to apply for this as a fixed term position.

This vacancy will close at midnight on 12th November 2026.

Interviews are due to be held on 27th November 2026.

All appointments with a start date on or after 1 October 2026 will be subject to a 12-week probationary period. This provides a structured and supportive period to help you settle into your role, with regular reviews and feedback.

As there is a 12-week probationary period, successful candidates are expected to have the Right to Work for a period of at least 6 months from the proposed start date. Immigration and Right to Work status will be discussed with successful candidates at conditional offer. CUH will not offer sponsorship to candidates that have applied for a fee waiver.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full-time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full-time permanent contract unless you have:
- applied for a Graduate visa
- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Registered nurse – with a minimum of 2 years ward based clinical experience
• Evidence of continuous professional development
• Teaching or mentoring qualification
• Post registration qualification in speciality or willingness to complete
• Degree
• Research Module

Experience

• Evidence of mentorship/preceptorship roles
• Accept personal accountability for own practice
• Experience of formal/informal teaching
• Experience in a leadership role at ward level

Knowledge

• Understanding of evidence based practice
• Understanding of Clinical Governance
• Understanding and knowledge of specialist field

Skills

• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Capable of working as an integral member of a small team
• Adaptable to changing situations due to both workload and colleagues needs
• Ability to undertake teaching of staff and patients
• Ability to work unsupervised and manage own workload; effective time management.
• Effective interpersonal skills
• Commitment to multidisciplinary working.
• Assertiveness/perceptive counselling skills
• Documentation, audit and presentation skills

Additional Requirements

• To act in a professional manner at all times in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct
• Capable of developing liaisons with other practice areas/academic institutions.
• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.