Discharge Facilitator

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Dorset is seeking a Discharge Facilitator to join their dynamic admissions team. This role focuses on supporting timely and person-centred discharges for older patients. You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams to develop discharge plans, ensuring effective communication between hospital and external agencies. Previous experience in a healthcare setting is preferred, along with strong IT skills and a commitment to high-quality patient care.

Qualifications

• Understanding of complex discharge planning in care of the elderly.
• Experience of working in a hospital setting or relevant community service.
• Ability to progress plans for discharge with internal and external agencies.

Responsibilities

• Assess and develop individualised discharge plans for patients.
• Collaborate with medical and therapy teams to assess discharge needs.
• Monitor and reduce delayed discharges to support patient flow.

Skills

Experience of supporting patients' specialised care needs

Good communication skills

Pro-active approach towards discharge planning

Assessment, planning and organisational skills

Education

NVQ level 3: health / social care management or equivalent

Tools

IT skills including Windows, Word, Excel, Powerpoint

Clinical IT systems

Job description

Discharge Facilitator

The closing date is 15 October 2025

Are you passionate about improving outcomes for older patients? Join our dynamic admissions team and help shape safe, timely and person-centred discharges.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an individual to be part of a forward thinking team to support Multidisciplinary teams and Patients with discharge planning on the Older Persons Admissions Unit (OPAU).

The Discharge Planning (Co-ordinator) Support Worker will need competent IT skills and the ability to use initiative to work to deadlines and prioritise workload.

The role is fast-paced and efficiency is vital in order to support timely patient flow through the department facilitating safe, smooth and timely discharges.

Ideally, you should have some experience of working within a healthcare setting and have a good understanding of community services. A willingness and commitment to learn, with a passion for delivering high-quality patient care is essential.

Base Location: Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Interview Date: TBC

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will be assessing and developing individualised, appropriate and timely discharge plans for patients.

Collaborate with medical, nursing and therapy teams to assess discharge needs early in the admissions process, liaising with community services, social care, and families to ensure continuity of care, providing clear communication between hospital and external agencies.

Monitor and reduce delayed discharges and support patient flow across the Unit.

Good communication skills, a pro-active approach towards discharge planning and the ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service is essential.

They should be able to problem solve complex situations and recommend appropriate action.

About us

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues. UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme. This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have about this at interview. Please note if the role or service is relocated as part of a planned move, employees will not be eligible for excess mileage reimbursement. Travel from the postholder's home to the new work base will be considered a normal commute. Any other changes not related to this relocation will be managed according to the relevant Trust or National terms and conditions

Job responsibilities

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Person Specification

Experience

• Understanding of complex discharge planning in care of the elderly, stroke and vulnerable adults.
• Experience of supporting patients' specialised care needs to enable informed decision making
• Previous experience of working with patients requiring CHC and Social care involvement
• Experience of working in a hospital setting or relevant community service
• Experience of working within an MDT
• Assessment, planning and organisational skills
• Ability to progress plans for discharge with internal / external agencies and family members
• Use of IT including Windows, Word, Excel, Powerpoint,
• Use of clinical IT systems

Qualifications

• NVQ level 3: health / social care management or equivalent

Personal Attributes

• Team working qualities including understanding the needs of other professions.
• Self-motivated
• Good time management
• Ability to work under pressure
• Able to prioritise own caseload
• Flexibility to respond to urgent requests, changes to plans etc.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of complex discharge planning process.
• Understanding of assessing and problem solving issues related to discharge planning
• Understanding of NSF's, CHC Framework, Delayed Discharged Act and Reimbursement.
• Understanding of multidisciplinary assessment and treatment for older people / vulnerable adults within acute care and community settings.
• Knowledge of Integrated Care Systems

Interpersonal skills

• Good Communication Skills
• Team working qualities including understanding the needs of other professions.
• Willing to be flexible to meet the needs of the service.
• Sense of humour.

Language requirement

• Be able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role

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 name

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust