County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Discharge Facilitator

The closing date is 26 January 2026

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Discharge Facilitator on Ward 16 at Bishop Auckland Hospital. We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic, well motivated team member to facilitate safe and effective discharge from the ward area. Must have excellent communication skills, willing to learn new skills, have some understanding of safe discharge, able to liaise with all multi disciplinary teams.

Main duties of the job

The role of the discharge facilitator is to support ward staff to coordinate and facilitate safe and effective discharge, working alongside ward staff, therapy teams, charge nurse, medical team and the discharge management team.

Liaising with family, friends, carers to discuss any concerns they may have for discharge

Using clinical systems, electronic patient records.

Having a full understanding of all the Discharge pathways.

Attending ward huddle daily.

Excellent communication skills required for this role, be able to work within a team and on own initiative, friendly, approachable.

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 been employed for a minimum of two years of as a HCA within the NHS 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).

Details

Date posted

19 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9439-2526-1238

Job locations

Bishop Auckland General Hospital

Cockton Hill Road

Bishop Auckland

County Durham

DL14 6AD


Job description

Job responsibilities

To promote the correct implementation of discharge processes to ensure safe and timely smooth discharges of patients.

Work closely with Social Services and Primary Care Trusts and other local authorities, private and voluntary organisations to ensure a seamless service, including working to reduce delayed discharges.

To work closely with the Discharge Management team making referrals into their service for Trusted assessments for packages of care and Intermediate care beds.

To liaise with families and care givers utilising effective communication skills.

Book transport to ensure safe discharge to discharge destination.

To promote best practice in achieving high quality discharge planning.

To liaise with relevant staff and agencies on a daily basis to resolve daily operational issues and ensure discharges are managed effectively.

To use knowledge, training and experience to analyse, plan and implement discharge plans for patients with complex physical, mental health and social needs.

To maintain and promote confidentiality in line with national and Trust standards and policies.

To effectively manage and prioritise workload despite numerous distractions and responding to crisis situations

To adapt approach when information may be sensitive, confidential, distressing, where conflict of opinions may occur.

To be responsible for the written recording of up to date, accurate information in line with Trust guidelines.

To abide by legal requirements governing confidentiality and data protection.

To carry out routine administrative tasks within the team.

To ensure that own practice complies with appropriate Trust standards and guidelines.

To establish and maintain professional relationships with all relevant professionals, agencies, internal and external to the trust.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To promote the correct implementation of discharge processes to ensure safe and timely smooth discharges of patients.

Work closely with Social Services and Primary Care Trusts and other local authorities, private and voluntary organisations to ensure a seamless service, including working to reduce delayed discharges.

To work closely with the Discharge Management team making referrals into their service for Trusted assessments for packages of care and Intermediate care beds.

To liaise with families and care givers utilising effective communication skills.

Book transport to ensure safe discharge to discharge destination.

To promote best practice in achieving high quality discharge planning.

To liaise with relevant staff and agencies on a daily basis to resolve daily operational issues and ensure discharges are managed effectively.

To use knowledge, training and experience to analyse, plan and implement discharge plans for patients with complex physical, mental health and social needs.

To maintain and promote confidentiality in line with national and Trust standards and policies.

To effectively manage and prioritise workload despite numerous distractions and responding to crisis situations

To adapt approach when information may be sensitive, confidential, distressing, where conflict of opinions may occur.

To be responsible for the written recording of up to date, accurate information in line with Trust guidelines.

To abide by legal requirements governing confidentiality and data protection.

To carry out routine administrative tasks within the team.

To ensure that own practice complies with appropriate Trust standards and guidelines.

To establish and maintain professional relationships with all relevant professionals, agencies, internal and external to the trust.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Computer skills.
  • Ability to learn new skills.

Desirable

  • Previous experience working on a hospital ward.

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

  • Good verbal and written communiation skills.
  • Ability to act upon own initiative.
  • Able to work calmly under pressure or in busy environments.
  • Ability to plan own work and work independently.

Desirable

  • Moving and handling skills.
  • Good verbal and written communiation skills.
  • Ability to act upon own initiative.
  • Able to work calmly under pressure or in busy environments.
  • Ability to plan own work and work independently.

Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE in English and maths.
  • Care Certificate
  • Relevant NVQ Level 3 or equivalent relevant experience.

Special Requirements

Essential

  • Patient Focused: Understands how their role impacts on the patient journey, and a willingness to place the patient at the centre of what they do
  • Achieving Results: Experience of successfully working to deadlines and completing tasks.
  • Inspirational Leadership: Keen to develop themselves and others, open to new ideas and willing to share their experience with others.
  • Maximising Value: Takes ownership of problems and does not overly complicate matters or involve colleagues unnecessarily
  • Working Together: Approachable and able to build relationships with a wide variety of colleagues

Desirable

  • Ability to work in a busy and varied work environment and respond to change.
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Computer skills.
  • Ability to learn new skills.

Desirable

  • Previous experience working on a hospital ward.

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

  • Good verbal and written communiation skills.
  • Ability to act upon own initiative.
  • Able to work calmly under pressure or in busy environments.
  • Ability to plan own work and work independently.

Desirable

  • Moving and handling skills.
  • Good verbal and written communiation skills.
  • Ability to act upon own initiative.
  • Able to work calmly under pressure or in busy environments.
  • Ability to plan own work and work independently.

Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE in English and maths.
  • Care Certificate
  • Relevant NVQ Level 3 or equivalent relevant experience.

Special Requirements

Essential

  • Patient Focused: Understands how their role impacts on the patient journey, and a willingness to place the patient at the centre of what they do
  • Achieving Results: Experience of successfully working to deadlines and completing tasks.
  • Inspirational Leadership: Keen to develop themselves and others, open to new ideas and willing to share their experience with others.
  • Maximising Value: Takes ownership of problems and does not overly complicate matters or involve colleagues unnecessarily
  • Working Together: Approachable and able to build relationships with a wide variety of colleagues

Desirable

  • Ability to work in a busy and varied work environment and respond to change.

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

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bishop Auckland General Hospital

Cockton Hill Road

Bishop Auckland

County Durham

DL14 6AD


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bishop Auckland General Hospital

Cockton Hill Road

Bishop Auckland

County Durham

DL14 6AD


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Joanne Wake

joanne.wake1@nhs.net

01388455116

Details

Date posted

19 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9439-2526-1238

Job locations

Bishop Auckland General Hospital

Cockton Hill Road

Bishop Auckland

County Durham

DL14 6AD


Supporting documents

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