Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Emergency Department Flow Coordinator
The closing date is 24 November 2025
The Flow Co-ordinator plays a crucial role in ensuring patients experience a seamless and timely journey through the Emergency Department (ED), supporting the goal of discharge or admission within four hours. As a key member of the ED team, you will work collaboratively with clinical and operational staff to facilitate patient flow, reduce delays, and uphold high standards of care. You will contribute to the achievement of key performance indicators, support real-time decision-making, and actively participate in service improvement initiatives to enhance patient outcomes and departmental efficiency.
This is for a pilot project therefore the posts are for 6 months only, secondments can be considered. Part time and full time applications welcome
Main duties of the job
You will be responsible for liaising with Site Management, Service Managers, Clinical Teams, support services and any other receiving areas to maintain clear and effective communication about capacity and patient flow, ensuring that any issues are appropriately escalated at an early stage.
This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties but provides a general overview of the range of work undertaken. Responsibilities may vary in response to changing demands and priorities within the Department. Any substantive changes to the role will be carried out in consultation with the post holder.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job
Job responsibilities
Work within the Emergency Department (ED) to help meet performance targets, ensuring patient flow is maintained and delays are escalated promptly to the Nurse in Charge, CIC/EPIC, Service Manager and Matron.
Monitor admission activity and elevate appropriately when trigger points are reached.
Support the completion of actions and delivery of outcomes identified during operational flow meetings within agreed timeframes.
Record breach reasons for patients exceeding the four-hour target accurately and promptly.
Maintain confidentiality and security of all patient records, adhering to Trust information governance policies.
Communication and Liaison
Maintain clear communication and close liaison with clinical colleagues, including Shift Leads, Service Managers, ED Consultants, the Clinical Site Management Team, on-call staff, and speciality teams.
Alert relevant staff to patients approaching the four-hour target to ensure compliance with national standards.
Ensure compliance with the Trusts escalation procedures, informing senior personnel of the current operational position and actions taken.
Liaise with pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to ensure timely provision of TTO (To Take Out) medications.
Communicate effectively with patients, relatives, and carers, keeping them informed of discharge plans and ensuring a positive patient experience.
Support the discharge process by arranging and booking hospital or ambulance transport in line with Trust policy.
Liaise with the Integrated Discharge Team, Community Matrons, District Nurses, CRT, and other external partners to ensure appropriate referrals are made.
Ensure TTOs and discharge letters are completed in a timely manner by relevant MDT members.
Identify and expedite any factors delaying discharge or transfer.
Operational Support and Organisation
Assist in coordinating patient movements, investigations, and interventions to minimise delays in care and optimise patient flow.
Direct patients and visitors to appropriate areas, arranging assistance as required.
Check and respond to emails daily to remain informed of departmental and Trust-wide updates.
Actively contribute to major incident responses, following the Trusts major incident plan.
Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role as required by the Operational Managers.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Experience in primary care/NHS/caring profession
* GCSE English or equivalent
* Maths GCSE Equivalent or above
Experience
* Experience in using clinical software
* Experience of dealing with the Public/Customer service experience
* Ability to work in a changing environment and work under pressure
* Experience in primary care/NHS/caring profession
* Experience in using clinical software (Symphony/Nervecentre/PIMS/ ICE/ Viper)
Knowledge
* Excellent communication / customer care skills both written and verbal demonstrating sympathy and compassion
* Excellent keyboard / IT skills ensuring accuracy
* Highly developed prioritisation skills
* Ability to deal professionally with enquiries from staff, Patients and Visitors
* Confidentiality and tact necessary for dealing with people at all levels, and the most complex and sensitive information
* Ability to pay attention to detail where there are predictable interruptions to the work pattern
* Ability to deal with stressful situations and sensitive issues
* Ability to work under pressure while meeting deadlines and adapt to changes in demand and workload
Personal Skills
* Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary management team
* Experience of dealing with members of the public
* Work effectively and flexibly as part of a team to meet the needs of the services
* Confident in dealing with people at all levels
* Must be able to demonstrate an understanding of equality and diversity
* Mature open and flexible approach to work
* Demonstrates care and compassion
* Good inter-personal and communication skills
* Good organisational skills
* Team Player
* Demonstrates reliability, motivation and commitment
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.
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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