Employer Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Basingstoke Town Basingstoke Salary £32,073 - £39,043 Per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 04/05/2026 23:59
Operational Discharge and Flow Support Team
NHS AfC: Band 5
Our cultural ambition is to have a culture that places people at the heart of all we do, where we all belong, and where learning, improvement and excellence thrive.
Job overview
Band 5 RN Operational Discharge and Flow Support Team
The new HHFT Operational Discharge and Flow Support Team has been formed via the merger of the existing Discharge Lounge and Transfer Teams on both the Winchester and Basingstoke sites, and we are excited to recruit into our Band 5 RN roles across our Winchester and Basingstoke sites.
Working collaboratively with the Site and Duty team, In-patient and clinical areas, and Integrated Discharge Teams amongst others, the Operational Discharge and Flow support Team will positively impact the patient experience and operational performance by supporting earlier discharges from the wards via the Discharge Lounges, and earlier movement from our Emergency Departments and assessment areas. The team will work dynamically and with multiple key stakeholders to provide targeted support to alleviate blockages and barriers to flow.
Potential candidates must be able to work across all functions of the role, and the ability to work intuitively and under the guidance of the Band 7 and Site and Duty team.
The main duties of the role include:
* Discharge coordination, working with the Integrated Discharge Team, Patient Flow Facilitators, ward teams and the Operations Centre team.
* Maintaining accurate data on our eWhiteboards,
* Supporting with transport arrangements
* Patient engagement and experience - working together to support patient's safe and timely transfer both on the day of admission and to the Discharge Charge Lounge on their discharge date.
* Be flexible and responsive with the ability to move between tasks quickly and efficiently.
* Medicines management - supporting patients with TTOs
* Providing clinical leadership for the Band 3 HCSW
Working for our organisation
We understand relocating can be a big step. Hampshire Hospitals may be able to provide accommodation options for successful candidates, depending on availability. If this something you would like to explore please contact Southern Housing on 02080 360017
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
* Proactive planning for same-day and next-day discharges, working collaboratively with the Duty Manager, and with the Integrated Discharge Team (IDT), Patient Flow Facilitators (PFFs), ward teams, and the Operations Centre.
* Ensuring discharge lounges are operational from 08:30 hrs to facilitate early patient transfers and bed availability.
Data Accuracy and Digital Tools
* Maintaining accurate and timely updates on electronic whiteboards (eWhiteboards) to reflect real-time patient status.
* Utilising Power BI dashboards to gather discharge intelligence, enabling informed decision-making and targeted liaison with IDT, wards, and key stakeholders.
Clinical Documentation and Medicines Readiness
* Ensuring TTOs and discharge summaries are prepared and verified the day prior to planned discharge, reducing delays and improving patient safety.
* Clinical discussions with Medical and Nursing teams as necessary.
Transport Arrangements
* Confirming appropriate patient transport is pre-arranged and meets individual needs.
* Encouraging and supporting patients to arrange their own transport wherever clinically appropriate, promoting independence and reducing Trust costs.
Patient Engagement and Experience
* “Meet and greet” patients identified for discharge lounge transfer, providing clear communication about the process and expected timelines, ensure consistency of service when on alternative site/ leave etc.
* Coordinating packing, collection, and transfer of patients, property, and medications to the discharge lounge on the morning of discharge.
* Supporting patients with breakfast as required and contacting relatives/carers to confirm collection details and discharge lounge location.
Operational Oversight and Escalation
* Monitoring progress of all discharge actions, escalating barriers promptly to the lead or Duty Manager or clinical leads for the Operations Centre Team.
* Ensuring safe and timely transfer of patients from ED/admission areas to inpatient wards and discharge lounges, prioritising flow in collaboration with the Duty Manager.
* Coordinate Band 3 activity according to greatest need.
* Effective and appropriate delegation and review of allocated tasks.
Flexibility and Responsiveness
* Ability to redeploy rapidly to areas of greatest operational pressure.
* Anticipating demand and adapting to evolving site requirements, maintaining a proactive “what’s next?” approach to patient flow.
Communication and Stakeholder Engagement
* Maintaining regular communication with the band 7 lead for the team, Duty Manager and Site Coordinator to ensure alignment with operational priorities.
* Developing strong relationships with key stakeholders across clinical and non-clinical teams, fostering open and supportive communication channels
Person specification
Training and Qualifications
* Professional UK registration e.g. NMC, HCP
* Degree level education or equivalent knowledge and skills gained through any combination of alternative study, or employment experience
* Ability to meet the physical demands of the role, including standing, moving and handling patients and equipment safely, and shift pattern.
Experience and Knowledge
* Completed clinical placements in a variety of areas
* Knowledge of the management of in-patients and out-patients including evidence-based strategies
* Experience of staff supervision, and the ability to delegate appropriately and professionally.
Additional Criteria
* Knowledge of local policies and procedures and workstreams around supporting timely discharges from the acute setting i.e. discharge lounge criteria, Complex Discharge pathways, IDT processes
* Multidisciplinary team working
Our commitment to you:
We are committed to equality and diversity in both the provision of our services and how we recruit and manage our staff. Applications are encouraged from everyone with the necessary attributes for the job, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity.
Happy to Talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible and part time working will be considered.
The paperwork:
* HHFT is committed to putting the safety and care of our patients first – as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues. Therefore, we would recommend that you are vaccinated against COVID-19 and that you understand that we are treating COVID-19 positive patients within our services.
* Shortlisted candidates will be contacted at least 5 working days before the scheduled interview date. Applications will be submitted directly into our preferred third party recruitment system (Trac). All subsequent information regarding your application will be generated from apps.trac.jobs via email - please ensure to check your junk/spam folders.
* All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.
* In compliance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, all applicants must be able to communicate fluently in English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed as part of the selection process.
* This vacancy may close before the current listed closing date. If you intend to apply you are advised not to delay submitting your completed application.
* We believe that using technology wisely reflects strong time management and a commitment to innovation. However, it's essential to personalise your recruitment application to showcase your unique skills and experiences. Over-reliance on generic, AI-generated content may result in rejection if multiple candidates submit applications with similar language or structure. In such cases, recruiting managers may reach out for further clarity where applications appear consistent with others, to better understand your individual strengths.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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