Discharge Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will have excellent communication and organisational skills and be able to work under pressure and prioritise workload. They must be able to stay polite, patient, and courteous at all times to staff, patients and families,

The post holder will support the nursing teams in the flow of patients from the ward to the most appropriate discharge destination.

They will assess all patients social situation on admission and liaise with their families, care homes and social workers to obtain accurate information and plan safe discharge to appropriate destinations.

The post holder will maintain accurate discharge records either on paper or using electronic patient record system.

They will maintain key relationships and liaise with key members of the multidisciplinary team - Nurses, doctors, therapists, Complex Discharge Team, STARRS, Allied Health Professionals, social services, patients,next of kin/carers and Primary Care service providers.

They will be IT competent and able to utilise and update the various IT systems available in the Trust to support smooth patient discharge

They may have to cover and support for other discharge practitioners in the division and assist with some essential ward clerk administrative duties.

The post holder will have to assist in preparing and taking patients to the discharge lounge or to transport vehicles.

Keep up to date with mandatory training and have clear understanding of safeguarding procedures and policies

Person Specification

Communication and relationship skills

Essential

• Able to communicate information using a variety of written and verbal communication skills.
• Provides and receives information which requires tact and persuasive skills and where there are barriers to communication.
• Understands and practices the principles of confidentiality.
• oAbility to promote good working relationships.

Experience

Essential

• Telephone/receptionist/clerical experience is required
• Able to create and maintain systems from which information can be produced

Analytical and Judgement skills

Essential

• Good organisational skills.
• Prioritises/reprioritises own workload to co-ordinate deadlines as determined by others.
• Proactive at problem solving using knowledge, initiative and experience.

Planning and organisation skills

Essential

• Able to deliver basic nursing duties to ensure patient comfort and safety.
• Ability to walk distances to collect and deliver items
• Ability to type reports and spreadsheets and ability to use a keyboard and virtual meeting functions

Training & Qualifications

Essential

• Have a health or social care background or training
• Evidence of a good standard of written and spoken English e.g. previous qualifications or evidence of previous presentations.
• Competent use of hospital IT systems e.g. EPRO, PAS, ICS., NHS mail
• Demonstrate ability to learn new skills e.g. evidence of previous study.
• Completed safeguarding traning and understand principles of safeguarding in relation to patient discharge

Desirable

• Aware of how to use word and excel,
• Be innovative and able to prioritise and problem solve to achieve safe discharges

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

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust

Address

Northwick Park Hospital

Watford road

Harrow, Middlesex

HA1 3UJ

Employer's website

https://www.lnwh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)