Hospital Discharge Coordinator inTorquay inTorquay PUBLISHED 11 DEC 2023

Band 4: Depending on experience pro rata  PERMANENT 
To provide a single point of contact for patients, families, carers and associated people and co-ordinate/contribute to the safe and timely hospital discharge in partnership with other multi-disciplinary colleagues.


Primary Duties and Areas of Responsibility

Support MDT to work in accordance to current Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust/Devon Discharge policies

Identify through use of appropriate IT systems (Paris, Care First etc), medical notes, liaising with patients and/or carers relevant health and social care history including any existing services and which authority (Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust/Devon Partnership Trust/Devon County) is responsible for care provision

Having gained informed consent from the patient and/or carer share relevant information with wider MDT to facilitate appropriate care and discharge planning.

Screen all patients on the ward and with the wider MDT identify those patients likely to require ongoing health and social care support including care or support services

Assimilate appropriate information from hospital stay; input re-referrals directly onto Paris in a timely manner or onwards referrals to the Discharge Hub.

Maintain regular contact throughout hospital stay with Zone teams, specialist teams, Hospital Assessment and Discharge Team and Care Direct Plus/Devon Hospital Discharge Team ensuring all those involved in the ongoing care of the patient and/or their carer are aware of discharge planning processes, throughout hospital stay and at the point of discharge

Ensure all those involved in the current or onward care of the patient carry-out their assessments and related activities in a timely manner; this will involve negotiation with and constructive challenge of other professionals including doctors, nurses and the wider MDT This will include OT assessments recording and requesting of drugs to take away (TTAs)

Support ward clerk in ensuring that transport has been arranged for the patients discharge as appropriate

Meet with consultants/junior doctors regularly to obtain medically appropriate estimated dates of discharge (EDDs); liaise with the wider MDT to ensure EDD set take into account the holistic needs of the patient

Support the ward clerk in ensuring EDDs are recorded and updated on Swiftplus.

Meet regularly with ward manager and wider MDT to ensure clinical delays are appropriately identified, recorded and reported in line with legislation and local policy

Support nursing and medical staff in ensuring that the patient and their carer/families are aware of EDD, particularly if it changes during the episode of care.

Support medical and nursing staff to ensure that patients and their families/carers are fully involved in discharge planning and are aware of all plans

Negotiate with patient, carers/families and MDT where there is disagreement about appropriate discharge date or other plans for discharge. Co-ordinate arrangements for case conferences or multi-professional meetings where discharge plans are complex or there is dispute

Prepare and co-ordinate patient information for weekly multi-disciplinary (MDT) meeting where they occur; ensure all relevant information is available and presented at the meeting.

To participate in an Discharge Co-ordinator duty rota for weekend cover

Maintain the overview of discharge planning arrangements for all patients on the ward; act as central point or contact for patients, carers, families, other professionals and specialist teams and the ward-based MDT with regards to issues relating to discharge

Carry out baseline assessments, record those assessments and request simple services or alterations to packages of care for Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust service users within the Paris IT system. Ensure appropriate and timely hand over to Zone team for review and follow-up at the point of discharge

Liaise with Care Direct plus and the Devon Hospital Discharge Team regarding the outcome of MDT assessments and care requirements for patients based on the outcomes of those assessments

To contribute to detailed care plans/summary of needs and setting of patient centred goals and objectives based on initial assessments carried out by the multi-disciplinary team and contributed to by the post holder. To ensure all recorded information is accurate, up-to-date and factual

Work closely with Hospital Assessment and Discharge Team and Discharge Liaison Nurses to ensure that patients, their families and carers have access to appropriate and timely information about Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust policies and processes including financial assessment; ensure that patients families and carers are appropriately supported whilst looking for suitable placements and/or care and are aware of timescales within legislation and local policy

To develop an understanding and awareness of all the resources available to meet the needs of people in the community and to contribute to the assessment of patients and/or their families/carers identifying which resource can best meet their needs

Make onward referrals as appropriate to specialist teams or resources such as the Financial Assessment and Benefits (FAB) Team, Intermediate Care or Mental Health teams and where appropriate highlight the need for carers assessments.

Support the collation of any relevant statistical information as required by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust or Devon Partnership Trust which will help with developing or improving services for patients and/or carers

Assist with patient or public involvement activity (PPI) as required such as follow-up phone calls or patient satisfaction questionnaires

Ensure any risks highlighted during the patients stay are recorded appropriately and identified to relevant individuals to ensure that risk can avoided or minimised where possible and that staff, the public or other agencies are not put at unnecessary risk.

To work autonomously continually prioritising incoming work based on individuals needs. To manage workload in a manner that is not detrimental to other colleagues and targets

To carry out any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post as may be assigned by the project lead from time to time

To work flexibly support and contribute to new ways of working to ensure continuous service improvement and development




Policy and Service Responsibility

Where safeguarding adults concerns are raised ensure that concerns are reported in accordance with legislation and policy

To work in adherence with policies and procedures of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and where acting on their behalf in accordance with policies of partner organisations (Devon Partnership Trust/Devon County); to include health and safety, confidentiality and data protection policies






Responsibility for Supervision, Leadership and Management

To be responsible for own continuing professional development including participating in supervision and achievement review and undertaking training as required

Contribute to the training and development of new staff or staff new to the role to ensure the continuation of good practice

We require a Discharge Co-ordinator on a permanent basis to work on the wards across the acute and community hospitals to increase patient flow and optimise patient experience surrounding all transfers of care.

Discharge Co-ordinators are responsible for coordinating complex hospital discharges in collaboration with the ward staff, therapists and the wider Multi-Disciplinary Team.

There is full support from within the Discharge team and the training is provided with a robust induction programme. We will consider applicants for a developmental post to allow completion of the required qualification.

We are looking for an energetic and caring person who has a good understanding and working knowledge of the health and social care environment to coordinate discharges and work within the multi-disciplinary team.

We are a friendly and supportive team. We work within the hospital setting and have good relationships across the discharge system and with the community teams. This is an exciting role that has a great deal of variety within the working day.

Working pattern to support 1 x 37.5hours a week consisting of 4 x 9.5 hour days. Additional post 1 x 30.0 hours per week consisting of 4 x 7.5 hours days. This role may have the potential to become full-time working hours.

For any further info please contact Anke Scholey (who would welcome a conversation with you.

To provide a single point of contact for patients, families, carers and associated people and co-ordinate/contribute to the safe and timely hospital discharge in partnership with other multi-disciplinary colleagues. This is a 7 day service.


Primary Duties and Areas of Responsibility

Support MDT to work in accordance to current Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust/Devon Discharge policies

Identify through use of appropriate IT systems (Paris, Care First etc), medical notes, liaising with patients and/or carers relevant health and social care history including any existing services and which authority (Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust/Devon Partnership Trust/Devon County) is responsible for care provision

Having gained informed consent from the patient and/or carer share relevant information with wider MDT to facilitate appropriate care and discharge planning.

Screen all patients on the ward and with the wider MDT identify those patients likely to require ongoing health and social care support including care or support services

Assimilate appropriate information from hospital stay; input re-referrals directly onto Paris in a timely manner or onwards referrals to the Discharge Hub.

Maintain regular contact throughout hospital stay with Zone teams, specialist teams, Hospital Assessment and Discharge Team and Care Direct Plus/Devon Hospital Discharge Team ensuring all those involved in the ongoing care of the patient and/or their carer are aware of discharge planning processes, throughout hospital stay and at the point of discharge

Ensure all those involved in the current or onward care of the patient carry-out their assessments and related activities in a timely manner; this will involve negotiation with and constructive challenge of other professionals including doctors, nurses and the wider MDT This will include OT assessments recording and requesting of drugs to take away (TTAs)

Support ward clerk in ensuring that transport has been arranged for the patients discharge as appropriate

Meet with consultants/junior doctors regularly to obtain medically appropriate estimated dates of discharge (EDDs); liaise with the wider MDT to ensure EDD set take into account the holistic needs of the patient

Support the ward clerk in ensuring EDDs are recorded and updated on Swiftplus.

Meet regularly with ward manager and wider MDT to ensure clinical delays are appropriately identified, recorded and reported in line with legislation and local policy

Support nursing and medical staff in ensuring that the patient and their carer/families are aware of EDD, particularly if it changes during the episode of care.

Support medical and nursing staff to ensure that patients and their families/carers are fully involved in discharge planning and are aware of all plans

Negotiate with patient, carers/families and MDT where there is disagreement about appropriate discharge date or other plans for discharge. Co-ordinate arrangements for case conferences or multi-professional meetings where discharge plans are complex or there is dispute

Prepare and co-ordinate patient information for weekly multi-disciplinary (MDT) meeting where they occur; ensure all relevant information is available and presented at the meeting.

To participate in an Discharge Co-ordinator duty rota for weekend cover

Maintain the overview of discharge planning arrangements for all patients on the ward; act as central point or contact for patients, carers, families, other professionals and specialist teams and the ward-based MDT with regards to issues relating to discharge

Carry out baseline assessments, record those assessments and request simple services or alterations to packages of care for Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust service users within the Paris IT system. Ensure appropriate and timely hand over to Zone team for review and follow-up at the point of discharge

Liaise with Care Direct plus and the Devon Hospital Discharge Team regarding the outcome of MDT assessments and care requirements for patients based on the outcomes of those assessments

To contribute to detailed care plans/summary of needs and setting of patient centred goals and objectives based on initial assessments carried out by the multi-disciplinary team and contributed to by the post holder. To ensure all recorded information is accurate, up-to-date and factual

Work closely with Hospital Assessment and Discharge Team and Discharge Liaison Nurses to ensure that patients, their families and carers have access to appropriate and timely information about Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust policies and processes including financial assessment; ensure that patients families and carers are appropriately supported whilst looking for suitable placements and/or care and are aware of timescales within legislation and local policy

To develop an understanding and awareness of all the resources available to meet the needs of people in the community and to contribute to the assessment of patients and/or their families/carers identifying which resource can best meet their needs

Make onward referrals as appropriate to specialist teams or resources such as the Financial Assessment and Benefits (FAB) Team, Intermediate Care or Mental Health teams and where appropriate highlight the need for carers assessments.

Support the collation of any relevant statistical information as required by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust or Devon Partnership Trust which will help with developing or improving services for patients and/or carers

Assist with patient or public involvement activity (PPI) as required such as follow-up phone calls or patient satisfaction questionnaires

Ensure any risks highlighted during the patients stay are recorded appropriately and identified to relevant individuals to ensure that risk can avoided or minimised where possible and that staff, the public or other agencies are not put at unnecessary risk.

To work autonomously continually prioritising incoming work based on individuals needs. To manage workload in a manner that is not detrimental to other colleagues and targets

To carry out any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post as may be assigned by the project lead from time to time

To work flexibly support and contribute to new ways of working to ensure continuous service improvement and development




Policy and Service Responsibility

Where safeguarding adults concerns are raised ensure that concerns are reported in accordance with legislation and policy

To work in adherence with policies and procedures of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and where acting on their behalf in accordance with policies of partner organisations (Devon Partnership Trust/Devon County); to include health and safety, confidentiality and data protection policies






Responsibility for Supervision, Leadership and Management

To be responsible for own continuing professional development including participating in supervision and achievement review and undertaking training as required

Contribute to the training and development of new staff or staff new to the role to ensure the continuation of good practice

We require a Discharge Co-ordinator on a permanent basis to work on the wards across the acute and community hospitals to increase patient flow and optimise patient experience surrounding all transfers of care.

Discharge Co-ordinators are responsible for coordinating complex hospital discharges in collaboration with the ward staff, therapists and the wider Multi-Disciplinary Team.

There is full support from within the Discharge team and the training is provided with a robust induction programme. We will consider applicants for a developmental post to allow completion of the required qualification.

We are looking for an energetic and caring person who has a good understanding and working knowledge of the health and social care environment to coordinate discharges and work within the multi-disciplinary team.

We are a friendly and supportive team. We work within the hospital setting and have good relationships across the discharge system and with the community teams. This is an exciting role that has a great deal of variety within the working day.

Working pattern to support 1 x 37.5hours a week consisting of 4 x 9.5 hour days. Additional post 1 x 30.0 hours per week consisting of 4 x 7.5 hours days. This role may have the potential to become full-time working hours.

For any further info please contact Anke Scholey (who would welcome a conversation with you.

To provide a single point of contact for patients, families, carers and associated people and co-ordinate/contribute to the safe and timely hospital discharge in partnership with other multi-disciplinary colleagues. This is a 7 day service.



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