Job summary
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is one of
the largest integrated care providers in England, serving a population of
around 600,000 people. We are a high performing organisation with a track
record of success and have been rated as Outstanding by the CQC for our
Palliative and End of Life Care. This Band 6 post offers an exciting
opportunity for a suitably qualified and experienced Nurse/AHP to work within
the Specialist Palliative Care as a Discharge Facilitator in the Acute setting
at DMH.
The post covers core hours of 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday.
Core hours are 09:00-17:00.
Main duties of the job
As a Palliative Care Discharge Facilitator the successful
candidate will:
Enable fast track progression of the discharge process for
any patient wishing to exercise choice in preferred place of care/death and for
palliative care patients with complex discharge management needs.
Support patients and carers
Have a role in education, facilitating and providing a
resource to staff both within and outside the Trust
Actively participate in clinical audit activity
Work collaboratively as part of a team and provide advice
and direct clinical support for all members of the team to assist and guide
colleagues within multi-disciplinary teams with the discharge process, in order
to ensure safe, effective and timely transfer, as well as influencing best use
of resources
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents
Over reliance on
AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of
success
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two years
of experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to consider
sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and
have a current visa expiring within 3 months)
Job description
Job responsibilities
The successful candidate will be part of the Specalist
Palliative Care team that provides consistent high quality specialist palliative
care service for patients and families
Working with the ward medical and nursing teams,
rehabilitation, discharge management and community based services to facilitate
the discharge, increasing the numbers of palliative care patients able to die
in their preferred place of care.
Identify patients who are reaching the end of their lives
who wish to be discharged or transferred to their preferred place of care to
die.
Provide a specialist/expert service for patients, acting as
an autonomous practitioner offering advice to primary/secondary care staff
regarding the care of patients in this specialist group.
Undertake home visits when required.
Work collaboratively as part of a team to guide colleagues
within multi-disciplinary teams with the discharge process, in order to ensure
safe, effective and timely transfer, as well as influencing best use of
resources
Job description
Job responsibilities
The successful candidate will be part of the Specalist
Palliative Care team that provides consistent high quality specialist palliative
care service for patients and families
Working with the ward medical and nursing teams,
rehabilitation, discharge management and community based services to facilitate
the discharge, increasing the numbers of palliative care patients able to die
in their preferred place of care.
Identify patients who are reaching the end of their lives
who wish to be discharged or transferred to their preferred place of care to
die.
Provide a specialist/expert service for patients, acting as
an autonomous practitioner offering advice to primary/secondary care staff
regarding the care of patients in this specialist group.
Undertake home visits when required.
Work collaboratively as part of a team to guide colleagues
within multi-disciplinary teams with the discharge process, in order to ensure
safe, effective and timely transfer, as well as influencing best use of
resources
Person Specification
Special Requirements
Essential
- Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post.
- Ability to work hours flexibly when service needs require
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Excellent communication and counselling skills both in clinical settings and with other healthcare professionals
- Demonstrate on-going commitment to personal professional development
- Evidence of experience in teaching across all disciplines
- Evidence of recent practice in a cancer/specialist palliative care field
- Ability to think strategically and see the bigger picture
- Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing at all levels of understanding.
- Ability to work autonomously and as part of an integrated team
- Well-developed influencing negotiation and facilitation skills
- Organised and able to prioritise and work to deadlines
- Ability to respond sensitively to situations of conflict
- Confident & effective teaching / presentation skills
- Ability to deal with difficult and complex situations with sensitivity & compassion
Desirable
- Demonstrates proactive approach to palliative and end of life care
Statutory Registration
Essential
- Registered health professional
Experience
Essential
- Significant post registration experience.
- Must be able to demonstrate a track record of practice development.
- Demonstrates ability to communicate at all levels within the organisation.
- A sound understanding of communication principles
Desirable
- Demonstrates proactive approach to palliative and end of life care
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional Registration
- Knowledge of palliative care symptom control and management.
- Advanced communication skills training or willing to undertake
Desirable
- Post registration accredited qualification in palliative care or oncology.
- Teaching qualification.
- Knowledge of national and regional policies influencing palliative care services
Person Specification
Special Requirements
Essential
- Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post.
- Ability to work hours flexibly when service needs require
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Excellent communication and counselling skills both in clinical settings and with other healthcare professionals
- Demonstrate on-going commitment to personal professional development
- Evidence of experience in teaching across all disciplines
- Evidence of recent practice in a cancer/specialist palliative care field
- Ability to think strategically and see the bigger picture
- Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing at all levels of understanding.
- Ability to work autonomously and as part of an integrated team
- Well-developed influencing negotiation and facilitation skills
- Organised and able to prioritise and work to deadlines
- Ability to respond sensitively to situations of conflict
- Confident & effective teaching / presentation skills
- Ability to deal with difficult and complex situations with sensitivity & compassion
Desirable
- Demonstrates proactive approach to palliative and end of life care
Statutory Registration
Essential
- Registered health professional
Experience
Essential
- Significant post registration experience.
- Must be able to demonstrate a track record of practice development.
- Demonstrates ability to communicate at all levels within the organisation.
- A sound understanding of communication principles
Desirable
- Demonstrates proactive approach to palliative and end of life care
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional Registration
- Knowledge of palliative care symptom control and management.
- Advanced communication skills training or willing to undertake
Desirable
- Post registration accredited qualification in palliative care or oncology.
- Teaching qualification.
- Knowledge of national and regional policies influencing palliative care services
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).
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.
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).
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
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust
Hollyhurst Road
Darlington
County Durham
DL3 6HX
Employer's website
https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)