Job Summary
Exciting opportunity for a band 6 to join our patient flow team as a Discharge Coordinator / Specialist Housing Worker. The post holder will work as an experienced clinician, a key member of the discharge coordination team based within the acute inpatient services for working‑age adults and older people. The role requires working collaboratively with the Patient Flow Hub, inpatient wards (internal & external), crisis teams, relevant community teams/services, service users and their families to achieve the best pathway for inpatients on discharge, with early identification of factors that could delay timely discharge and impact on provision of appropriate aftercare.
The Specialist Housing Worker will partner with the housing department to support patients for whom accommodation is a barrier to discharge, facilitating stable accommodation and independence for vulnerable individuals with complex needs such as homelessness, enduring mental health challenges or substance misuse.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
* Attend daily morning briefing and other team meetings.
* Complete IDT Screening Tool within 48 hours of a new admission.
* Attend ward rounds, professional meetings and other MDT meetings.
* Perform complex case management and allocate caseloads based on Broughs.
* Liaise with families, other agencies and professionals.
* Follow the Escalation process.
* Support and coordinate timely and appropriate assessment and safe discharge of patients from acute inpatient beds.
* Provide regular, informative, and accurate bed‑management information.
* Work closely with inpatient wards and Home Treatment Teams, acting as the lead contact for discharge coordination.
* Conduct early assessment of barriers to discharge and proactively support safe, timely discharge to home or onward care settings.
* Develop and maintain strong working relationships with ward multidisciplinary teams, Patient Flow Hub, crisis teams, community teams/services, and social services to prevent delays and resolve complex discharge arrangements.
Person Specification – Essential
* NMC registration; or relevant BSc or MSc qualification in Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Social Work; HCPC registration.
* Demonstrable recent experience in acute/crisis mental health care, with a minimum of 2 years recent experience in mental health care.
* Communication skills, risk assessment/management and crisis intervention skills.
* Ability to meet deadlines.
* Experience of working within the NHS and with multidisciplinary teams.
Person Specification – Desirable
* Motivational Interviewing, MBT, CBT, Brief Solution Focused Therapy or similar therapeutic approaches.
* Experience of working in Band 5/6 NHS roles.
* Knowledge of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and experience with Disclosure and Barring Service checks.
* Experience with housing support for patients facing accommodation barriers.
Employment Details
Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
Band: 6
Salary: £44,485 to £52,521 a year (including)
Contract: Fixed term (12 months)
Working pattern: Full‑time
Reference number: 277‑7616774‑AAC
Locations: Various sites – Dartford, DA2 7WG
Employer
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust – address: Various sites, Dartford, DA2 7WG. Website: http://oxleas.nhs.uk/
Additional Information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Guidance can be found on the UK Visas and Immigration website and NHS Careers website.
Disclosing and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a submission for disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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