Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and dynamic leader to join our team as Head of Patient Flow and Site Management. This pivotal role will provide strategic direction and operational leadership for patient flow, site management, and bed capacity across our hospitals.
You will lead the Trust's Patient Flow and Site Management team, ensuring safe, effective, and efficient patient pathways from admission to discharge. You will drive improvements in flow, reduce delays, and support delivery of national and local performance standards.
This post carries responsibility for overseeing patient flow, discharge processes, and hospital site coordination. You will work closely with clinical and operational teams to ensure that patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. The role also involves shaping and delivering strategic approaches to flow and escalation, in line with national policy and local priorities.
A key aspect of this role is addressing and overcoming common challenges to hospital discharge, including delays due to complex care needs, coordination across services, and availability of community support. You will be expected to implement practical solutions that reduce length of stay, improve discharge planning, and enhance patient experience.
You will also be expected to drive a clear and ambitious vision for improvement-identifying opportunities to streamline processes, strengthen collaboration, and embed a culture of continuous learning and innovation.
Main duties of the job
Main duties of the role:
Provide Trust-wide leadership for patient flow, site management, and escalation processes
Develop and implement effective policies for bed management and complex discharge pathways
Oversee the Trust's Discharge Command Centre (DCC), ensuring safe and timely patient transitions
Identify and resolve barriers to discharge, including social care delays, patient readiness, and inter-agency coordination
Ensure systems are in place for escalation, site safety, and flow assurance across all hospital sites
Work collaboratively with care groups to maintain high standards of patient-centred care
Drive measurable improvements across safety, effectiveness, workforce, and financial outcomes
Shape and deliver a strategic vision for patient flow and discharge excellence
Communicate effectively across all levels of the organisation and negotiate solutions with internal and external partners to support timely discharge and flow
About us
To find out more about what it is like to work for our Trust please visit the following link:
https://yorkhospitals.pagetiger.com/hdjgxd
Our benefits
We offer a range of benefits to support our staff including:
- Access to the NHS Pension Scheme, providing generous benefits upon retirement, as well as a lump sum and pension for dependants
- 27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service)
- A generous relocation package of up to 30% of salary (capped at £18k) to support with relocation expenses for hard to fill positions where relocation would be an expectation to undertake the role fully. If you would like to discuss a potential relocation package, please speak to the recruiting department/manager at interview stage.
- A variety of different types of paid and unpaid leave covering emergency and planned leave
- Confidential advice and support on personal, work, family and relationship issues, 24/7, from our Employee Assistance Programme
- NHS Car Lease scheme and Cycle to Work scheme
- An extensive range of learning and development opportunities
- Discounts on restaurants, getaways, shopping, motoring, cinema and finance from a range of providers
For further information on the fantastic range of benefits we offer please visit the Trust's dedicated Staff Benefits pages.
Job description
Job responsibilities
A full description of the role is available in the attachment: job description.
Please note that if a high number of applications are received this advert may close early. You are advised to submit you application at the earliest opportunity.
Working for the Trust
Across our organisation, people are guided by values that were co-developed with staff: we are kind; we are open; and we pursue excellence.Our values play into our ambition to develop a more diverse workforce, truly representative of our communities.
We welcome applications from everyone, while working with our Staff Networks - including our Race Equality, LGBTQ+, Disability and Carers Networks - to increase the number of applications we receive from different backgrounds. If there is anything we can do to make our application process more accessible to you, please contact:yhs-tr.recruitment@nhs.net.
As part of seeking to become more inclusive, we will consider requests for flexible working from the start of your employment. It may not be suitable for every role, but we will try and be supportive where we can. We would encourage you to speak to the recruiting manager named within this advert to discuss any requirements you may have.
Armed Forces Friendly Employer
We are holders of the Gold Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which is helping actively promote SaBRE - Supporting Britains Reservists and Employers. This means that we have made a statement of intent to support all Defence personnel, including with applications for employment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
A full description of the role is available in the attachment: job description.
Please note that if a high number of applications are received this advert may close early. You are advised to submit you application at the earliest opportunity.
Working for the Trust
Across our organisation, people are guided by values that were co-developed with staff: we are kind; we are open; and we pursue excellence.Our values play into our ambition to develop a more diverse workforce, truly representative of our communities.
We welcome applications from everyone, while working with our Staff Networks - including our Race Equality, LGBTQ+, Disability and Carers Networks - to increase the number of applications we receive from different backgrounds. If there is anything we can do to make our application process more accessible to you, please contact:yhs-tr.recruitment@nhs.net.
As part of seeking to become more inclusive, we will consider requests for flexible working from the start of your employment. It may not be suitable for every role, but we will try and be supportive where we can. We would encourage you to speak to the recruiting manager named within this advert to discuss any requirements you may have.
Armed Forces Friendly Employer
We are holders of the Gold Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which is helping actively promote SaBRE - Supporting Britains Reservists and Employers. This means that we have made a statement of intent to support all Defence personnel, including with applications for employment.
Person Specification
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Capacity to build and develop teams, and maintain constructive working relationships at all levels and disciplines.
- Able to assess priorities and make effective decisions in a pressured environment.
Planning and Organisational Skills
Essential
- Contribute to strategic emergency and resilience planning.
- Lead the ongoing development of Capacity Plan, Winter Plan and Operational Pressures Escalation Level (OPEL) Framework and other plans as required.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Provide visible proactive leadership across teams, acting as the key lead for issues, challenges and escalation.
- Ensure Trust wide operational flow priorities are identified and delivered on a daily basis with robust plans in place for managing flow out of hours.
- Ensure that operations systems are in place for managing safe patient flow across the hospital including escalation areas.
Person Specification
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Capacity to build and develop teams, and maintain constructive working relationships at all levels and disciplines.
- Able to assess priorities and make effective decisions in a pressured environment.
Planning and Organisational Skills
Essential
- Contribute to strategic emergency and resilience planning.
- Lead the ongoing development of Capacity Plan, Winter Plan and Operational Pressures Escalation Level (OPEL) Framework and other plans as required.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Provide visible proactive leadership across teams, acting as the key lead for issues, challenges and escalation.
- Ensure Trust wide operational flow priorities are identified and delivered on a daily basis with robust plans in place for managing flow out of hours.
- Ensure that operations systems are in place for managing safe patient flow across the hospital including escalation areas.
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).
