Patient Flow Discharge Co-Ordinator

East Cheshire; Macclesfield; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

East Cheshire NHS Trust in Macclesfield Hospital is seeking a proactive Patient Flow Discharge Coordinator. The role focuses on ensuring safe, timely discharges by coordinating with MDTs, wards and external services to avoid delays and improve patient experience.

You will work with patients, families and the discharge team to manage expectations, document activity, and support bed management to optimise throughput within the hospital.

Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Good numeracy and literacy skills.
• Good computer and keyboard skills.
• Clear knowledge of the discharge process and trust policy.
• Ability to work autonomously or as part of the MDT.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate early discharges including use of the discharge lounge when safe.
• Act on MDT discharge planning information for individual patients.
• Coordinate services to avoid delays in transfers of care.
• Escalate concerns impacting patient safety or delays in discharge.
• Maintain documentation for the safe discharge process.
• Support bed/site management with discharge profiles and updates.

Skills

Communication skills

Numeracy

Literacy

Computer skills

Discharge process knowledge

Education

GCSE English & Maths

NVQ Health Care Level 2/3

Tools

Excel

Word

Outlook

Job description

It is all about the people at East Cheshire NHS Trust. We have a real sense of community, and our values are truly embedded into everything we do, ensuring we are a great and inclusive place to work. You will be supported, developed and empowered throughout your career with us. Come and join us, where you can play your part in helping us deliver outstanding care and improving the health of all the people we serve.

Job overview

East Cheshire NHS Trust are looking for motivated and dynamic individuals to work with us as a Patient Flow Discharge Coordinator.

Based at Macclesfield Hospital, the role ensures continuity of care by assisting the effective coordination of timely, safe patient discharges throughout the hospital.

The post holder will work closely with the multi-disciplinary team over designated wards to deliver a high quality, patient focused service. They will actively monitor the multidisciplinary management and discharge planning for all patients on the wards, and take action to expedite the process, avoid delays and thereby improve the patients’ experience, escalating any concerns impacting patient safety or delay to patient flow as appropriate.

The role requires good interpersonal skills. The post holder will liaise with patients and families to facilitate discharge and manage expectations whilst also identifying any areas of concern early in the discharge planning process. Alongside the MDT, they will work closely with the medical outlier team to ensure that all patients not within their specialist field are reviewed daily.

Main duties of the job

Facilitating early discharges including the use of the discharge lounge where safe and appropriate to do so.

Act on information relayed from board rounds and communication from the MDT regarding discharge planning for individual patients.

Facilitate the early request and coordination of any required services to avoid any unnecessary delays in transfers of care.

Expedite any referrals/assessments that may be outstanding – escort any concerns accordingly.

To work with the discharge doctor highlighting patients for review and that require the completion of the electronic discharge notification.

To maintain good communication with the patient flow team regarding imminent and future discharges, escalating potential delays in the pathway.

Ensure all relevant documentation is in place to ensure the completion of the safe patient discharge process.

When working within the surgical wards ensure that all medical outliers are reviewed by the medical outlier team or where necessary their specialist consultant team.

To support the bed/site management team to establish an accurate discharge profile for the day and the next 24 hours via regular updates.

Proactively manage the transfer of patients from the ward to the discharge lounge, providing discharge information to enable the booking of appropriate transport as required.

Ensure any vacated beds are utilised at the earliest opportunity through liaison with the bed managers.

Working for our organisation

We are committed to providing the best quality integrated care to our patients. To achieve this aim we need highly motivated staff who are united by common values and behaviours.

We believe our workforce is our greatest asset and we actively support our staff to develop their capabilities to the full, with a variety of learning and development opportunities.

Whether you are just starting out in your career or are looking to use your skills and experience in a new role, East Cheshire NHS Trust is the right employer for you. We look forward to you joining us so that we can bring out your best.

Please be aware that this post requires an Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check with barred lists, the cost of which is payable by the successful candidate. If you have lived or worked abroad for 6 months or more in the last 5 years you will need to obtain an overseas police clearance. Further information can be found on the additional information links at the bottom of the advert.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome all applications irrespective of age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race or religion. The Trust is a Disability Confident Leader and as such, applicants with disabilities will be offered an interview providing they meet the minimum criteria for the post (outlined in the Person Specification).

We understand that some applicants may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in preparing their application. While this is not discouraged, it is essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting information section as these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for. We kindly remind candidates that all submissions must be truthful and accurately reflect your own experiences and suitability for this role. Personal integrity and authenticity are central to our recruitment process and being a member of East Cheshire NHS Trust.

Please note that Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is not available for this post.

For Graduate visa holders; it is important to note that you must have a minimum of 12 months before this expires at the start of your employment for training and operational reasons.

If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of the advert closing date, regretfully you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE level (or equivalent) in English and Maths
• NVQ in Health Care Level 2 and 3
• Experience Healthcare assistant within a hospital setting
• Care Certificate

Knowledge and skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Good numeracy and literacy skills
• Good computer and keyboard skills
• Clear knowledge of the discharge process and trust policy
• Ability to work autonomously or as part of the MDT
• Ability to problem solve
• Good time management.
• Experience of using Office computer programs including Excel, Word and Outlook
• Perform and accurately document patient observations
• ECGs
• Venepuncture
• Basic Life Support
• Customer care training

Experience

• Previous experience within a health care environment
• Ability to work autonomously or as part of the MDT

specific job requirement

• Ability to follow guidelines and procedures within agreed boundaries
• Ability to prioritise and manage own workload
• Able to elevate early and appropriately
• Good understanding of community services and social care

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome all applications irrespective of age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race or religion. The Trust is a Disability Confident Leader and as such, applicants with disabilities will be offered an interview providing they meet the minimum criteria for the post (outlined in the Person Specification). In order to facilitate applications from all members of the community the Trust is able to offer services including Braille Applications and Interpreting Services.

The Trust may close any advertised post before the stated closing date. We recommend that you apply as soon as possible.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.