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Job Overview
Be part of something special. Join our new End of Life Discharge Team and help make a real difference to patients and families at the most important time. This is a 6-month internal secondment opportunity to provide essential coordination support for patients requiring CHC Fast Track discharge.
As our End of Life Discharge Coordinator, you'll gather vital information, support documentation processes, and ensure nothing falls through the cracks during these time-critical discharges. You'll liaise with ward teams, therapies, and community services, maintain accurate records, and work sensitively with patients and families. This is an entry-level opportunity to develop skills in end of life care within a small, supportive specialist team.
The role sits within the Palliative Care specialty and reports to the Band 7 End of Life Discharge Lead. The team manages approximately 12 new Fast Track referrals per week with an estimated caseload of 40-60 patients. Full training will be provided in CHC Fast Track processes and end of life care principles.
Main duties of the job
Support Case Manager and Lead with coordination of CHC Fast Track patient discharges
Gather essential collateral information within 48-hour timeframe including GP records, therapy assessments, medication lists, social circumstances, next of kin details
Liaise with ward staff, therapies, pharmacy, community services to obtain required documentation for discharge planning
Maintain accurate records in electronic systems, ensuring all patient information current and accessible to case management team
Support completion of Fast Track referral paperwork, discharge summaries, capacity assessments under supervision of registered practitioners
Coordinate practical arrangements including equipment deliveries, transport bookings, community service notifications, care package confirmations
Act as point of contact for families regarding discharge progress, providing updates and reassurance under guidance of case managers
Communicate sensitively with patients and families during emotionally difficult situations, recognising when to escalate concerns
Monitor caseload progress, identify potential delays, alert case managers to issues requiring intervention
Attend team meetings, contribute to service improvement discussions, participate in training and development activities
Work collaboratively within small specialist team, share workload effectively, maintain professional boundaries when working with dying patients
Support quality assurance activities
Working for our organisation
North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialties. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.
North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
This is an ideal opportunity for someone who wants to develop their career in discharge coordination or end of life care. You'll receive comprehensive training and support from experienced practitioners, work within a dedicated team, and gain valuable skills in a specialist area of healthcare.
Key Responsibilities
Collateral Gathering (48-Hour Process):
Identify triggers for collateral gathering when Fast Track patients are identified by the team
Create a checklist of required information for each patient (assessments, equipment, medication, transport, family input)
Contact therapy teams to request urgent assessments or updates on existing assessments
Follow up therapy requests within 24 hours if not completed
Check with ward teams that all medical tests are complete and there are no outstanding investigations
Confirm medication reconciliation is done, TTAs are written, and anticipatory medication is prescribed
Contact Red Cross or community equipment services to order required items (e.g., hospital bed, hoist, commode)
Arrange patient transport for discharge day, ensuring appropriate vehicle type (e.g., ambulance, taxi, volunteer driver)
Gather information from families about home setup, informal carers available, and any concerns
Documentation Support
Assist with completion of Fast Track assessment forms under supervision
Ensure all sections of Transfer of Care Documents are completed accurately
Upload documents to electronic systems (CareFlow, Connecting Care) in a timely manner
Maintain clear, professional documentation using SBAR format where appropriate
File paperwork appropriately and ensure electronic records are updated
Support with printing and distribution of community contact sheets to patients and families
Practical Coordination
Coordinate timing of equipment delivery with discharge date
Confirm care packages are starting on correct date and time
Check families have contact numbers for community services and know who to call if problems arise
Ensure patients have sufficient medication to last until community pharmacy delivery
Verify that all discharge paperwork has been completed by ward team (discharge summary, medication, GP letter)
Support with any last-minute arrangements needed on discharge day
Communication & Liaison
Maintain regular communication with ward staff about discharge progress
Update Band 6 Case Manager on completion of collateral gathering tasks
Alert senior team members immediately if there are delays or problems
Communicate clearly and professionally with external agencies
Respond to queries from families about practical aspects of discharge
Escalate concerns about patient safety, family distress, or safeguarding issues promptly
Sensitive Interactions
Approach all interactions with patients and families with kindness and empathy
Recognise that families may be frightened, upset, or overwhelmed
Adapt communication style to individual needs (e.g., slower pace for those struggling to understand, use of interpreter services)
Be present and attentive even during brief interactions
Respect the significance of this time for patients and families
Demonstrate patience and understanding even when families are demanding or distressed
Maintain professional boundaries whilst showing genuine care
Working With Dying Patients
Be prepared to interact with patients who are visibly unwell, frail, or deteriorating
Understand that some patients may die before discharge and be able to cope with this professionally
Recognise your own emotional responses to death and seek support from team or supervisor
Participate in debriefs after patient deaths or difficult situations
Contribute to team reflective practice sessions where death and dying are discussed openly
Develop emotional resilience whilst maintaining compassion
Team Contribution
Attend team meetings and contribute ideas for service improvement
Participate in training sessions on CHC Fast Track processes and end of life care
Engage in reflective practice and clinical supervision
Be willing to take on new tasks and develop skills as the service evolves
Support team members during challenging times
Celebrate successes when patients achieve their goal of going home
Professional Development
Complete Trust mandatory training and role-specific training as required
Maintain NVQ Level 3 or equivalent qualification
Identify learning needs and discuss with line manager
Participate in service evaluation and data collection for the pilot
Develop understanding of CHC Fast Track national frameworks and processes
Build knowledge of end of life care principles and best practice
Working Arrangements
Core hours Monday to Friday 08:00-17:00
Weekend working on a rotational basis to maintain case continuity
Based in Transfer of Care Hub
May need to visit wards to collect information or speak with ward staff
Flexibility required to respond to urgent discharge needs
What We Offer
Comprehensive induction and ongoing training in CHC Fast Track and end of life care
Regular supervision and support from Band 7 Lead and Band 6 Case Manager
Opportunity to develop specialist skills in a growing area of healthcare
Experience working within a dedicated, supportive team
Contribution to an innovative pilot with potential for permanent establishment
Recognition of the emotional demands of the work and access to wellbeing support
Support & Wellbeing
Working with dying patients and bereaved families can be emotionally challenging. The Trust provides support through clinical supervision, wellbeing services, and a team culture that encourages staff to talk about the impact of the work. You will be supported to develop emotional resilience whilst maintaining the compassion that makes this role so important.
Person specification
Education/Training/Qualification
Essential criteria
Educated to GCSE grade C (or above or equivalent) in English Language and Mathematics
NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent qualification
IT literate with competency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and electronic patient record systems (e.g., CareFlow)
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Essential criteria
Excellent communication skills with ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders including patients, relatives, carers, and multidisciplinary team members
Ability to communicate sensitively in difficult and emotive situations, including managing patient and family expectations
Able to work effectively as part of a team while also demonstrating initiative and ability to work autonomously within scope of practice
Ability to manage own workload, prioritise competing demands, and adapt to changing situations in a fast -paced environment
Strong attention to detail and excellent organisational skills
Knowledge of mental health, Mental Capacity Act 2005, and safeguarding principles
Desirable criteria
Understanding of hospital discharge processes, pathways (P0 - P3), and service performance targets
Knowledge of Criteria to Reside and understanding of when patients are ready for discharge
Understanding of community services, care home provision, and home care packages
Knowledge of clinical documentation standards and ability to maintain accurate, timely records using SBAR format
Ability to recognise when escalation is required and understanding of appropriate escalation pathways
Work Experience
Essential criteria
Substantial experience of working in a healthcare setting
Previous experience in an acute hospital clinical environment
Experience of working with patients with complex needs and discharge requirements
Experience of using electronic patient administration systems and healthcare IT systems
Desirable criteria
Experience of working within discharge services or transfer of care teams
Experience of participating in multidisciplinary team meetings and board rounds
If you apply for this vacancy and have not received a communication from North Bristol NHS Trust within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful.
Please note that North Bristol NHS Trust does not reimburse travel expenses relating to interview attendance.
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North Bristol NHS Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
The successful applicant(s) will normally commence at the minimum of the scale unless they have previous NHS service at the same band. Progression through the scale is by annual increments.
At North Bristol Trust (NBT), we know diverse and inclusive environments lead to happier and healthier teams and improved patient care and outcomes. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are currently underrepresented in NBT's workforce at Band 8a and above. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people and LGBTQIA+ people.
Please note that stringent pre-employment checks are undertaken on all successful applicants prior to commencement in post.