Discharge Planning Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Based on allocated wards and working as part of the team, support and educate ward staff with all processes relating to discharge, ensuring discharges happen safely and in a timely manner.

2. Act as the Discharge Planner on the base wards. Working with both the ward teams and under the direction of the Lead Nurse for Discharge Planning.

3. To manage a caseload of patients with the express purpose of facilitating a timely and safe discharge from Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

4. Assist the wards and the discharge planning team in maintaining records for monitoring and audit purposes ensuring that the data produced is accurate and reflective.

Key Responsibilities:

Work in partnership with the ward team to assess, plan and review care and facilitate discharge for those patients with complex assessment and discharge planning needs.

Liaise regularly with Nurse Specialists to discuss patients on your caseload ensuring patient centred care and efficient discharge planning, escalating any blockages that are causing a delay in the patient journey and impacting on delivery of care and facilitation of discharge.

Promote person-centred approach to transfers of care.

Assist in the collection of accurate and up to date information on patients whose discharge is delayed.

Provide support and information to ward staff on all aspects of discharge planning, including but not exclusively:

o The referral processes.

o Communication with other agencies.

o Managing Patients and Families expectations within the discharge planning assistant remit.

o Support ward teams to facilitate safe, timely and effective transfer of patients who are medically optimised and safe to transfer.

Be proactive in helping set accurate Estimated Discharge Dates (EDD) ensuring this is reflected in Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust computer systems.

Support the values and aspirations of the Integrated Discharge Services (IDS)

Provide support and guidance for junior colleagues to successfully perform their roles through developing informal peer networks where appropriate. Positively contributing to their overall efficiency & role performance in agreement with Senior Discharge planners.

Undertake and initiate appropriate training and education as necessary (including mandatory training) to ensure own personal and organisation needs are met.

Take part in reflective practise to develop both personally and professionally to meet the changing demands of the job.

Proactively and positively contribute to the successful overall performance of the Trust.

Act as an advocate for the Trust & its contributions to Health services.

Comply with corporate governance structure in keeping with the principles and standards set out by the Trust.

Practice and role-model a consistent level of courtesy and consideration to patients, their relatives, and visitors so that a person-friendly culture is maintained.

Deliver excellent levels of customer service to all patients/visitors and staff at the Trust.

Support with ensuring effective communication across all parties and agencies.

In compliance with the Trusts practices and procedures associated with the control of infection, you are required to:

o Adhere to Trust Infection Control Policies, assuring compliance with defined infection control standards at all times.

o Conduct hand hygiene in accordance with Trust Policy, challenging those around you that do not.

o Challenge poor practice that could lead to transmission of infection.

Proactively and positively contribute to the achievement of objectives through individual and team effort.

Increase the level of knowledge & skills within the Trust through documenting key learning, identifying additional support services and supporting others to develop their professional abilities.

Dissemination of knowledge through engagement in report writing and reviewing taking full responsibility for technical accuracy and reliability and being sensitive to the wider implications of that dissemination.

Proactively ensure you are aware of relevant organisational communications.

Perform any other duties as may be required and deemed appropriate to grade and post, and which will be subject to regular review in relation to changing government legislation and departmental policies and procedure

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Computer literacy and Keyboard Skills.
• Experience / Understanding of the healthcare setting.
• Educated to NVQ level 2 or equivalent.
• Be able to learn and participate in Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust computer systems.

Desirable

• Health care experience within a hospital setting.
• Experience in managing discharge planning processes.

Experience

Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Time Management.
• Ability to gather and compile information for documentation and record keeping.
• Ability to use own initiative to make decisions and judgements.
• Ability to ascertain available services within the community.

Desirable

• Working knowledge of associated external agencies.
• Previous experience working within a cross-functional team.

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 details

Employer name

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Address

Southwick Hill Road

Cosham

PO6 3LY

Employer's website

https://www.porthosp.nhs.uk/work-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)