Job at a glance
Lead safe, timely discharges and make a lasting difference to patient journeys every day. Join our Discharge and Flow Service and play a crucial role in ensuring patients leave hospital safely, smoothly, and at the right time. This role directly strengthens patient experience by leading a team who support timely discharge decisions - helping people return home or move on to the next stage of their care with confidence and clarity.
What You'll Do As a key leader within the service, you will line-manage Discharge Coordinators across BSW Community Hospitals, ensuring they deliver a consistent, high-quality service that supports efficient patient flow from community hospitals into community services. You'll work closely with nurses, therapists, social workers, and the wider multi-disciplinary team (MDT) to keep the discharge process moving and ensure everyone is informed about a patient's progress.
You will maintain accurate and up-to-date records to support effective planning, monitor capacity, and track demand across the system. Above all, you'll help ensure patients and their families feel supported and informed about their discharge pathway - making a direct and meaningful difference during a critical stage of their care journey. Working Hours This is a full-time role within a 7-day service, based at Royal United Hospital, Bath.
During periods of increased demand, you may be required to work weekends or Bank Holidays, and your working pattern may be adjusted to support extended service hours - for example, shifts such as 8am-4pm or 10am-6pm., Supporting Safe, Timely Discharge Work as part of the MDT to maintain strong communication across all services involved in the discharge process. Proactively complete and coordinate all administrative actions that support timely, safe discharge.
Ensure patients, families, and carers understand the discharge pathway, expected timeframes, and reasons for any delays. Visit patients on the wards to provide regular updates on their discharge progress. Communication & MDT Coordination Attend huddles, MDT meetings, and professional/family meetings, recording actions, minutes, and discharge readiness in the clinical system. Maintain excellent communication with MDT colleagues, system partners, and commissioners.
Alert the team to predicted discharge dates so planning can begin as early as possible. Provide cover for Discharge Coordinators when required. Patient Flow & Discharge Monitoring Monitor predicted discharge dates and pathways for community hospital patients, ensuring details are accurately recorded. Identify patients with potential complex discharge needs and escalate to the Flow Team as appropriate.
Maintain oversight of ongoing discharge plans and provide guidance to ward teams to support effective flow. Ensure all necessary referrals are completed before discharge and escalate any issues to Flow Clinicians. Systems, Documentation & Administration Use multiple electronic systems efficiently to prevent delays in the discharge process. Document all actions in the patient record, particularly those relating to discharge arrangements.
Provide relevant patient information leaflets to individuals, families, or carers. Answer phone calls and relay messages accurately, respectfully, and professionally. Provide general administrative support for the team and act as a resource for referral processes and available services. Collect and maintain data and reports as required. Keep up to date with all mandatory training. NVQ Level 3 in Care, Business Administration, or equivalent experience.
Confident IT skills, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), Email, and MS Teams. Experience working in a health or social care environment. Experience working within a multi-disciplinary team. Ability to prioritise workload and stay organised in a fast-paced setting. Strong minute-taking and note-taking skills. Previous supervisory experience. Able to handle queries professionally and empathetically.
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