Job summary
We are looking for an organised, proactive, and compassionate Band 4 Discharge Coordinator to join our Early Intervention Team (EIT) at Addenbrooke's Hospital. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dedicated team that plays a key role in promoting admission avoidance and ensuring timely, safe and effective discharges from the hospital.
As a Discharge Coordinator, you will work alongside EIT Clinicians, Ward Teams, and Community Partners to identify patients with potential discharge needs early in their hospital journey. You will support early discharge planning, coordinate care between hospital and Community Services and liaise closely with families and external agencies to ensure a seamless transition of care.
A key part of this role involves identifying patients who could be safely managed at home or in alternative care settings, helping to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and improve patient flow.
This role requires excellent communication, organisational and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to work flexibly in a fast-paced environment. In return, you'll join a supportive and experienced team committed to person-centred care and continuous improvement.
Main duties of the job
- The Discharge Coordinator will be Ward-based, coordinating discharges to enable a reduction in length of stay, reduction in the number of lost bed days and increase the quality of complex discharge planning whilst supporting members of the MDT team.
- The Discharge Coordinator will track the progress of patients through their hospital journey and will develop robust plans to facilitate timely discharge.
- The Discharge Coordinator will escalate issues with external organisations, which could cause a discharge delay via Early Intervention Team escalation process. Negotiation with staff, services and patients will be a vital part of this role to ensure the patient journey is progressed appropriately and safely.
- This role will involve developing excellent working relationships across the health boundaries and with patient and their families / carers.
- The Discharge Coordinator is responsible for undertaking pathway 1 and 2 referrals via EPIC and will complete and track referrals to relevant services to enable discharge planning to take place at the correct stage in the patient's hospital journey.
About us
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Early Intervention Team consists of Frailty Specialist Nurses, Therapists (PT/OT) and Complex Discharge Specialist Surses (CDSNs).
We offer asingle referral point for Frailty assessments, Therapy assessments and Complex Discharge Planning to Emergency Department and Medical Assessment Units.
We believe in strong multidisciplinary team work, valuing the individual contributions of the team, as well as supporting the wider organisation in understanding and caring for frail older people.
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:
- applied for a Graduate visa
- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
As per Home Office guidelines, please be aware that, unfortunately, the Trust is unable to offer sponsorship for this particular position.
For NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough based roles, all applicants from NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who have identified that they are at risk of redundancy will be prioritised over those not at risk. However, interviews cannot be guaranteed.
The advert will close at midnight on 30 November 2025.
Interviews are due to be held on 16 December 2025.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Early Intervention Team consists of Frailty Specialist Nurses, Therapists (PT/OT) and Complex Discharge Specialist Surses (CDSNs).
We offer asingle referral point for Frailty assessments, Therapy assessments and Complex Discharge Planning to Emergency Department and Medical Assessment Units.
We believe in strong multidisciplinary team work, valuing the individual contributions of the team, as well as supporting the wider organisation in understanding and caring for frail older people.
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:
- applied for a Graduate visa
- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment
As per Home Office guidelines, please be aware that, unfortunately, the Trust is unable to offer sponsorship for this particular position.
For NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough based roles, all applicants from NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough who have identified that they are at risk of redundancy will be prioritised over those not at risk. However, interviews cannot be guaranteed.
The advert will close at midnight on 30 November 2025.
Interviews are due to be held on 16 December 2025.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE or equivalent grades A-C in Maths and English (or equivalent)
- Computer skills (e.g. ability to use Excel, Word, email, etc.)
- Evidence of continuous professional development
Desirable
- Customer care course (or equivalent experience)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a fast-paced environment
- Experience of using own initiative to resolve problems within boundaries of role
- Experience of prioritising, planning and organising own workload and meeting deadlines
- Experience of dealing with difficult situations and conversations
- Experience of data entry and documentation in line with Data Protection / Confidentiality
Knowledge
Essential
- Awareness of NHS targets and Trust priorities
- Confidentiality and data protection processes and procedures
Desirable
- Knowledge of Trust information systems
- Knowledge of Medical Terminology
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate with a variety of people both within and external to the organisation
- Excellent organisational skills with an ability to manage a number of tasks at the same time
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, ensuring attention to detail is maintained
- Able to prioritise workload effectively and accommodate the needs of the service escalating when appropriate
- Ability to use initiative and work autonomously
- Proven record in ability to be proactive, work as part of a multidisciplinary team and establish good rapport with individuals at all levels
- Competent with standard IT software programmes, e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel, etc.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE or equivalent grades A-C in Maths and English (or equivalent)
- Computer skills (e.g. ability to use Excel, Word, email, etc.)
- Evidence of continuous professional development
Desirable
- Customer care course (or equivalent experience)
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a fast-paced environment
- Experience of using own initiative to resolve problems within boundaries of role
- Experience of prioritising, planning and organising own workload and meeting deadlines
- Experience of dealing with difficult situations and conversations
- Experience of data entry and documentation in line with Data Protection / Confidentiality
Knowledge
Essential
- Awareness of NHS targets and Trust priorities
- Confidentiality and data protection processes and procedures
Desirable
- Knowledge of Trust information systems
- Knowledge of Medical Terminology
Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate with a variety of people both within and external to the organisation
- Excellent organisational skills with an ability to manage a number of tasks at the same time
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, ensuring attention to detail is maintained
- Able to prioritise workload effectively and accommodate the needs of the service escalating when appropriate
- Ability to use initiative and work autonomously
- Proven record in ability to be proactive, work as part of a multidisciplinary team and establish good rapport with individuals at all levels
- Competent with standard IT software programmes, e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel, etc.
Additional Requirements
Essential
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details
Employer name
Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Addenbrookes Hospital-Division Corporate
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
Employer's website
https://www.cuh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)