Liaison Sister/Charge Nurse

East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust; Luton; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust is seeking an experienced Band 6 sister/charge nurse to lead integrated discharge planning at Luton & Dunstable Hospital, working with hospital and community teams to ensure safe, timely patient discharges.

The role emphasises clinical supervision, GP liaison, staff development and adherence to information governance, with a strong focus on patient and family involvement and high-quality, compassionate care.

Qualifications

• Current registration with NMC is required.
• Experience in discharge planning and integrated care is desirable.
• Ability to supervise and develop junior staff.

Responsibilities

• To work in partnership with a range of multi-disciplinary and organisational teams within both the hospital and community settings to ensure safe discharge for End-of-life patients and those requiring Dept of Health Fast Track Funding.
• To facilitate clear and effective communication between patients, relatives, carers, and professional colleagues to ensure seamless patient care.
• To enable patients and their families/carers to participate in their discharge planning, encouraging independence and choice.
• To prescribe need for equipment to promote patient safety and enable staff to provide safe and effective care in the community setting.
• To manage GP Liaison service by receiving telephone calls from referrers, taking a basic triage, and signposting to appropriate service.
• To practice clinical supervision for team members with regular 1:1 sessions with delegated members of the team.
• To recognise difficulties that may arise associated with cross boundary working in relation to complex patient needs and the various pathways available.
• Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff records and information in line with the Data Protection Act.

Job description

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced Band 6 sister/charge nurse to gain further knowledge in integrated working and discharge planning.

The Integrated Discharge Team, based at the Luton & Dunstable Hospital, has an excellent reputation for playing a vital role in facilitating safe and effective management of complex discharges, covering the hospital 7 days a week. We have a well-rounded knowledge of community services available which means we can support clinical staff in creating appropriate referrals and ideally shortening length of stay.

We are an enthusiastic 'can do' team who enjoy new challenges and opportunities to develop our knowledge and skills. We work closely together and pride ourselves in being incredibly supportive of each other.

'If we receive a high number of applications we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point after 20.10.2026'.

To work in partnership with a range of multi-disciplinary and organisational teams within both the hospital and community settings. To ensure safe discharge for End-of-life patients and those requiring Dept of Health Fast Track Funding.

To facilitate clear and effective communication between patients, relatives, carers, and professional colleagues to ensure seamless patient care. Ability to provide and receive sensitive patient medical information.

To enable patients and their families/carers to participate in their discharge planning, encouraging independence and choice.

To prescribe need for equipment in order to promote patient safety and enable staff to provide safe and effective care in the community setting.

To manage GP Liaison service by receiving telephone calls from referrers, taking a basic triage, and signposting to appropriate service.

To practice clinical supervision for team members with regular 1:1 sessions with delegated members of the team.

To recognise difficulties that may arise associated with cross boundary working in relation to complex patient needs and the various pathways available.

Rated 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives.

There's one reason why our services are outstanding - and that's our amazing staff who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey.

If you share our passion for innovative and high-quality care delivery, then please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading-edge specialist community provider. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

To work in partnership with a range of multi-disciplinary and organisational teams within both the hospital and community settings. To ensure safe discharge for End-of-life patients and those requiring Dept of Health Fast Track Funding.

To facilitate clear and effective communication between patients, relatives, carers, and professional colleagues to ensure seamless patient care. Ability to provide and receive sensitive patient medical information.

To enable patients and their families/carers to participate in their discharge planning, encouraging independence and choice.

To prescribe need for equipment in order to promote patient safety and enable staff to provide safe and effective care in the community setting.

To manage GP Liaison service by receiving telephone calls from referrers, taking a basic triage, and signposting to appropriate service.

To practice clinical supervision for team members with regular 1:1 sessions with delegated members of the team.

To recognise difficulties that may arise associated with cross boundary working in relation to complex patient needs and the various pathways available.

Communication:

Ability to communicate with patients and families, including sensitive discussions regarding End-of-Life preferred place of care and death.

Able to work closely with the Acute Trust and all Local Authorities/ Community Health Services and ICBs.

Providing evidence based clinical information in order to request funding for care provision, ensuring accurate records are kept for each patient engagement through documentation.

Ability to manage efficient telephone conversations to receive referrals and signpost onwards to appropriate teams.

Ensuring Community Nurse teams receive timely referrals from the Acute Trust, checked for accuracy.

Budgetary Responsibility:

To assess, prescribe and order appropriate equipment for discharge within delegated delivery and order limits.

To understand the complexities of both health and social care funding entitlements which impacts when advising patients and families.

Human Resources:

Maintaining own professional development and requirement to take part in appraisal.

To attend meetings as required by EEC and the Acute Trust.

To support with staff supervision.

Act as a support to facilitate the training and education of new staff.

Promote understanding of role to different involved staff groups.

Research and Development:

Responsibility for identifying and developing a range of clinical knowledge appropriate to role.

To ensure awareness of any changing policies, guidelines or procedures associated with role.

To be aware of relevant legislation related to role.

Clinical and Practice Governance:

Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

Any data that is taken or shared must be in line with Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies.

Adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes.

Adhere to infection control policies and procedures.

Current registration with NMC, and responsibility to maintain own professional registration.

Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by EEC.

Participate in clinical audits and assist in the maintenance of accurate and timely data i.e patient records to enable the service to be monitored, reviewed, and developed.

Provide patients and their families/carers with contact information and what they should expect from the team.

Participate in clinical supervision on a regular basis.

Participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team.

General:

Awareness of East of England Health and Care Services NHS Trust Equal Opportunities Policy.

Awareness of responsibility of all employees to maintain a safe and healthy environment for patients, visitors, and staff.

Adhere to the code of conduct on confidentiality in accordance with the Data Protection Act (1998), and to adhere to the trust's own policies and procedures in the performance of their duties.

Take responsibility for own actions and work unsupervised.