Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Transfer of care Operational Lead

The closing date is 18 September 2025

Job summary

This vacancy holds restrictions - Only available to candidates currently employed by UHD, Dorset County Hospital, Dorset Healthcare NHS Trusts, Dorset Council, BCP Council and NHS Dorset.

The Dorset System is currently transforming Urgent and Emergency Care and Intermediate care and as part of this are improving our integrated approach to managing transfers of care and system flow. The development of our transfer of care and flow hub model is an important part of our ambitions to reduce unnecessary hospital stays and ensure people receive timely and effective care at home in the community.

We are now looking for an experienced clinician with excellent leadership skills who is able to build positive relationships and toimplement change and improvements to people's experience and managing our recovery, rehabilitation and reablement pathways before and after discharge from hospital. We are seeking a person who has the ability to work strategically and to be accountable for the oversight, activity and performance within transfers of care and discharge to assess/intermediate care services across Dorset.

The postholder will need to work in an agile way and to manage the demands of working in a fast-pace environment, providing excellent support to our operational teams in the transfer of care and flow hubs in Dorset. You will be joining the Dorset system at an exciting time of change.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities

Lead and coordinate patient flow across acute and community services.

Identify and address barriers to timely discharge and transfer.

Use data and analytics to monitor flow performance and drive improvements.

Work with multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement best practice approaches and pathways to manage transfer of care and flow.

Provide escalation.

Act as point of escalation for individual patient escalations, working with senior leaders across organisations to resolve barriers to discharge and prevention of readmission.

Support escalation processes and work strategically with system partners to manage demand and resilience including leadership of TOC escalation actions aligned with OPEL escalation levels.

Collaborate with system partners (e.g., social care, community services) to improve discharge pathways.

Ensure consistent approach by the TOC and flow team to manage provider performance and escalate unresolved issues of provider quality, capacity and performance to relevant commissioning teams.

Lead service improvement projects focused on flow and capacity management and contribute to future delivery models.

Provide expert advice and guidance to senior leaders on flow-related issues and intermediate care.

Ensure compliance with national targets and local performance indicators.

About us

At Dorset Healthcare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to be better every day through excellence, compassion and expertise in all we do.

Details

Date posted

05 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£64,455 to £74,896 a year p.a.

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

152-C182.25

Job locations

Sentinel House

Nuffield Road

Poole

BH17 0RB


Job description

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contactdhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

Job description

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contactdhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net

Person Specification

Knowledge, Skills and Training

Essential

  • Nursing or AHP professional registration
  • Demonstrable experience in successfully managing budgets
  • Track record of managing multi-disciplinary services during a time of significant change
  • Current knowledge of public sector policies and procedures and the wider health service agenda
  • Demonstratable specialist skills, knowledge and experience in: Partnership working Demand management Capacity planning Project management Service redesign Change management Stakeholder involvement Business planning

Job Specific Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrates leadership and motivational skills
  • Ability to work effectively in collaboration with partners and maintain effective multidisciplinary working relationships
  • Audit and analytical skills with evidence of successful use in complex option appraisal and planning
  • Highly developed specialist knowledge acquired through training and/or experience to master's degree level or demonstrable equivalent level
  • Proven achievements in delivering service objectives, establishing and implementing innovative solutions

Managerial/Supervisory Experience

Essential

  • Experience of dealing with human resource management including the management of poor performance.
  • An understanding of contract management and negotiation

Personal Qualities/Attributes

Essential

  • Ability to think creatively and laterally
  • Able to demonstrate sound judgment and decision making
Person Specification

Knowledge, Skills and Training

Essential

  • Nursing or AHP professional registration
  • Demonstrable experience in successfully managing budgets
  • Track record of managing multi-disciplinary services during a time of significant change
  • Current knowledge of public sector policies and procedures and the wider health service agenda
  • Demonstratable specialist skills, knowledge and experience in: Partnership working Demand management Capacity planning Project management Service redesign Change management Stakeholder involvement Business planning

Job Specific Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrates leadership and motivational skills
  • Ability to work effectively in collaboration with partners and maintain effective multidisciplinary working relationships
  • Audit and analytical skills with evidence of successful use in complex option appraisal and planning
  • Highly developed specialist knowledge acquired through training and/or experience to master's degree level or demonstrable equivalent level
  • Proven achievements in delivering service objectives, establishing and implementing innovative solutions

Managerial/Supervisory Experience

Essential

  • Experience of dealing with human resource management including the management of poor performance.
  • An understanding of contract management and negotiation

Personal Qualities/Attributes

Essential

  • Ability to think creatively and laterally
  • Able to demonstrate sound judgment and decision making

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sentinel House

Nuffield Road

Poole

BH17 0RB


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sentinel House

Nuffield Road

Poole

BH17 0RB


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Interim Deputy Service Director ICS

Shaun Carthew

shaun.carthew1@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

05 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8b

Salary

£64,455 to £74,896 a year p.a.

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

152-C182.25

Job locations

Sentinel House

Nuffield Road

Poole

BH17 0RB


Supporting documents

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