Jobs
My ads
My job alerts
Sign in
Find a job Career Tips Companies
Find

Lewes intermediate care unit - discharge support assistant

Lewes
Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Support assistant
Posted: 21 October
Offer description

An exciting opportunity has arisen to help us enhance our in-patient services to ensure we provide the best patient experience and clinical outcomes. Are you looking for a new challenge? Do you enjoy working within a team?

Do you like working at a fast pace and want to make a positive contribution to the patient experience?

This role is fundamental in supporting patient flow throughout the trust and maximising the use of resources across Health & Social Care systems. The main focus of this role will include supporting the ward staff to expedite discharges, both simple and complex patients awaiting their discharge.

We are looking for enthusiastic, driven and motivated staff, to complement our existing team. Excellent communication skills and knowledge of national patient flow drivers are essential for the role.


Main duties of the job

The Discharge Support Assistant (DSA) will be expected to work as part of the multidisciplinary (MDT) ward team under the direction of the Nurse in Charge.

They will co-ordinate and facilitate the safe and timely discharge of patients from the Intermediate Care Unit (ICU) in line with the SCFT trust standards and policies to ensure the patients journey is as smooth as possible and without any unnecessary delays.

The Multidisciplinary Intermediate Care Teams comprise of:

Medics, Advanced Clinical Practitioners, Ward Managers, Nurses, Health care Support Workers, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, rehab Support Workers and Ward Administrators.

They are supported by:

General Manager, Locality Matron and Deputy Matron

The team delivers excellent patient centred care to support individuals to return to their chosen place of residence after a period of recovery and rehabilitation.


About us

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?

* Positive 2023 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
* Varied environments: community hospitals, patients homes, and bases across Sussex
* Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
* Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
* Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
* Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief network
* Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
* Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast

Our values -- Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence -- guide everything we do.

We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.


Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Work with the MDT to facilitate safe and timely discharge

Ensure that all patients and their relatives/carers are aware of discharge plans and the expected date of discharge.

Effectively monitor patient progress towards agreed discharge dates taking action to ensure delays are promptly addressed by the relevant service /individual.

Provide the ward manager, or an appropriate Nurse in Charge, with up-to-date information on the discharge progress of individual patients ensuring any anticipated delays are highlighted.

Liaise with the ward manager, or an appropriate Nurse in Charge, the Matron and the Head of Capacity and Escalation for advice and support in managing complex discharges

Liaise with the System Capacity and Flow team in a timely way to ensure patient flow (discharges from and admission to ICU) is maintained including notifying the team when a patient has been discharged

Ensure accurate and up to date documentation within the patient records, detailing progression of discharge plans.

Support the ward manager in the collection of accurate data regarding Medically Ready for Discharge (MRD) patients in advance of the regular Medically Ready for Discharge Forums and any Multi Agency Discharge Events (MADE).

Build good relationships with other team members (both internal and external)

Contribute to the delivery of patient flow improvements including for example golden discharge initiatives, SAFER bundle etc as directed and implemented in the Trust

Facilitate ward welcome meetings for patients arriving in the ICU

Main Tasks

Coordinate Best Interest Meetings/Decision Support Tool (DST) assessments/Case conferences/MDT meetings as required, ensuring notes are taken and action plans are agreed.

Send discharge letters via S1 to the patients allocated GP within the first 24 hours of discharge

Assist in the requisition of equipment required on discharge, liaising with appropriate agencies to ensure availability for date of discharge including arranging transport as required.

Make onward referrals and requests to SCFT services, adult social care, other community providers, voluntary and private sectors according to ongoing identified health and social care need

Ensure that follow up appointments are scheduled and communicated to the ward team to ensure that the patient receives their prescribed care/treatment

Support the MDT by attendance at relevant discharge related meetings such as board meetings, MDT meetings as required

Ensure each patient is discharged with any required equipment/supplies that have been specified as discharge dependent.


Person Specification


Qualifications

* NVQ II or III in care or equivalent knowledge and skills
* Demonstrate basic numeracy and literacy skills
* GCSE English and Maths or equivalent
* Care Certificate


Experience

* Previous experience in a caring role
* Use of IT in the workplace
* Experience working with patients
* Worked as a member of a multidisciplinary team


Skills and Knowledge

* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
* Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills
* Able to use own initiative
* Good IT skills to include; use of Microsoft packages, word outlook and data bases
* Understanding of healthcare needs in health setting


Other Requirements

* Demonstrate behaviours consistent with trust values


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.

£24,937 to £26,598 a yearPer Annum/Pro Rata


J-18808-Ljbffr

Apply
Create E-mail Alert
Job alert activated
Saved
Save
Similar job
Sen support assistant
Crowborough
Term Time Teachers
Support assistant
Similar job
Classroom support assistant
Crowborough
Temporary
Master Class Education
Support assistant
Similar job
Special needs support assistant
East Grinstead
Term Time Teachers
Support assistant
See more jobs
Similar jobs
Service jobs in Lewes
jobs Lewes
jobs East Sussex
jobs England
Home > Jobs > Service jobs > Support assistant jobs > Support assistant jobs in Lewes > Lewes Intermediate Care Unit - Discharge Support Assistant

About Jobijoba

  • Career Advice
  • Company Reviews

Search for jobs

  • Jobs by Job Title
  • Jobs by Industry
  • Jobs by Company
  • Jobs by Location
  • Jobs by Keywords

Contact / Partnership

  • Contact
  • Publish your job offers on Jobijoba

Legal notice - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy - Manage my cookies - Accessibility: Not compliant

© 2025 Jobijoba - All Rights Reserved

Apply
Create E-mail Alert
Job alert activated
Saved
Save