Nurse Associate or Assistant Practitioner

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust; Manchester; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare provider in Manchester seeks a Nurse Associate to manage patient discharge processes. The ideal candidate will work collaboratively with clinicians and nursing teams to ensure timely and effective discharges, while also advocating for patient needs and maintaining high standards of care. Responsibilities include daily board rounds, managing documentation, and supporting multidisciplinary teams. Candidates should demonstrate healthcare experience, especially in oncology, and be committed to improving patient care in a diverse environment.

Benefits

Employee wellness programs

Professional development opportunities

Comprehensive health benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in oncology and discharge desirable but not required.
• Evidence of dynamic, motivated, and confident Nurse Associate or Assistant Practitioner.
• Knowledge of NHS systems and Trust procedures.

Responsibilities

• Attend daily board rounds and update the discharge team.
• Work closely with multidisciplinary teams for patient discharge.
• Ensure timely communication with patients and their families.
• Manage documentation and patient records.

Skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Patient advocacy

Caring for individuals with additional needs

Understanding end-of-life care principles

Education

Nursing Associate qualification

Job description

To ensure that patients have a planned timely discharge that is effectively managed and a positive experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Attend daily board rounds and update or escalation to the discharge team on patients' Expected Date of Discharge (EDD), reason to reside status and any anticipated barriers.
• Advocate why not home? why not today?
• Work closely with Clinicians, Nursing teams and the multidisciplinary team (MDT) to support proactive management of patients throughout the discharge process in a timely manner.
• Support patient flow team with cross cover to ensure safe operation and utilisation of the Transfer lounge on a rotational basis (target 1 day a month).
• Ensure key elements of the patient discharge pathway such as take‑home medication, District Nurse referrals, transport and home oxygen are requested promptly.
• Named ward allocation is anticipated but cross cover for other inpatient wards will be required at times.
• Effectively communicate information to patients, relatives, carers and all members of the MDT.
• Encourage the patient’s family and friends to be actively involved in the discharge process.
• Documentation: Keep electronic and paper discharge documentation up to date and record key elements in the appropriate systems.
  Serve as the first point of call for staff with issues regarding patient discharges.
• Work autonomously and collaboratively with the wider MDT to manage objectives following daily board round and discharge team huddle.
• Identify potential complex patients at board round and support ward staff with appropriate referrals early.
• Update each ward patient’s EDD and reason to reside status on CWP after daily board round.
• Ensure effective communication with the patient and family regarding discharge planning as soon as the patient is identified as having care needs on discharge.
• Communicate and discuss sensitive issues such as personal and emotional care needs with individuals, families and carers in a sensitive and confidential manner in line with Trust policy and professional governance.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, daily huddles and actively contribute to patient discharge planning.
• Work with the wider teams including discharge team and supportive care team to ensure principles of end‑of‑life care are adhered to.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all MDT members to ensure collaborative and holistic working for the benefit of patient care.
• Share up to date discharge information with relevant staff, patients and families.
• Encourage patients to overcome barriers, treat patients with dignity and respect.
• Support Nursing staff with clinical tasks within scope, maintain mandatory training, clinical skills and personal/professional development.
• Contribute to ongoing developments of discharge processes within the organisation.
• Have awareness of safeguarding boundaries and report any concerns appropriately.
• Act within scope of practice in collaboration with the wider team.
• Support Band 2s and Band 3s in care provision and ensure PDRs and essential training are completed per Trust policy.
• Ensure electronic daily hygiene need checklists are completed and perform regular audits.
• Uphold the Trust’s values and behaviours, maintain public confidence and an excellent experience of care.
• Be willing to undertake additional skills and training, dependent on department requirements.
• Engage in reflective practice, manage self and reflect on own reactions, ask questions and reflect on answers given.
• Recognise and work within limits of competence.
• Promote health and prevent ill health.
• Support people to improve and maintain their physical, mental, behavioural health and wellbeing.
• Understand caring for individuals with additional needs such as dementia, mental illness, learning disabilities.
• Utilise a wide range of communication methods.
• Adapt communication methods to meet needs of individuals with sensory impairment or communication difficulties.
• Develop understanding of all elements of the nursing process and assist the registered nurse.
• Develop competencies in clinical skills required for Nursing Associate: catheterisation, venepuncture and ECGs.
• Maintain clear and accurate patient records.
• Ensure privacy, dignity and safety of individuals at all times.
• Recognise changing priorities; seek advice from the registered nurse as needed.
• Ensure high standards of nursing care, raise concerns when standards are not met.
• Evaluate effectiveness of care delivered; liaise with the registered nurse to agree changes to care plans.
• Administer medications within local policy and NMC Standards of Proficiency.
• Respond to emergency situations promptly and appropriately.
• Ensure own practice complies with GDPR/Code of Confidentiality and Caldicott principles.
• Work as part of a multi‑professional team; deliver care in collaboration with others.
• Work without direct supervision where appropriate; deliver care independently within defined parameters.
• Support newly qualified staff, students, new starters, trainee nursing associates and provide learning environment.
• Support Healthcare Assistants to promote their learning and development.
• Work a variety of shifts to meet service needs.
• Communicate effectively across channels and individuals, maintain focus on delivery and improvement of health and care services.
• Contribute to team success and challenge others constructively.
• Communicate effectively with colleagues, provide clear information and instructions when sharing information, delegating or handing over responsibility.
• Participate in Trust initiatives to improve patient safety and care such as CODE Accreditation audit.
• Report accidents or incidents through Datix process; raise concerns including safeguarding.
• Be aware of Freedom to Speak Up to raise concerns safely.
• Maintain clear, concise, accurate records and all communication.
• Keep patient‑related information sensitive and confidential.
• Improve quality of care by contributing to continuous monitoring of patient experience.
• Identify risks to safety or experience and take appropriate action.
• Escalate safety, safeguarding or risk concerns appropriately.
• Participate in audit and review of patient care.
• Prevent and control infections, ensure compliance with hand washing, Trust uniform policy and MRSA screening policies.
• Advocate for patient and family; protect their interests, privacy, rights and inclusion.
• Be flexible to work within areas or departments to meet changing service needs.
• Contribute to care for people with complex needs.
• Understand roles of other professionals and carers from other organisations and settings.
• Understand communication and collaboration across all healthcare settings.

Experience and Background

• Experience in oncology and discharge desirable but not required.
• Evidence of dynamic, motivated and confident Nurse Associate or Assistant Practitioner.
• Passionate about service development and delivering best possible patient care.
• Knowledge of NHS systems and Trust procedures.

Application Information

Closing date may be extended or brought forward based on applicant volume.

If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, your application will have been unsuccessful.

Pre‑Employment Checks: Identity verification, DBS/criminal record check (applicant responsibility), professional registration/qualification check, occupational health assessment, employment history and reference validation. External applicants will provide HMRC employment history for the most recent three years.

Additional Information and Policies

• We are an approved sponsoring organisation; non‑eligible roles may have conditional offer withdrawn if right to work cannot be demonstrated.
• No Smoking Policy: Employees are not permitted to smoke at work.
• Equality, diversity and inclusion: We welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities. The Christie guarantees interview of all disabled applicants who meet minimum criteria. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to balancing workforce diversity.
• We uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity, with a zero‑tolerance approach to modern slavery.
• We are committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all, fair representation and to tackling health inequalities in cancer care.