Job overview
We are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic Senior Nurse to lead our Discharge Lounge team in St Richards Hospital. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of the Discharge and integrated flow team.
The Discharge Lounge is an essential part of the Trust, and strong leadership is key to its success. The Lounge:
* Support capacity and flow through the emergency and planned care pathways by releasing inpatient bed capacity earlier in the day.
* Enhancing the patient journey by providing a safe environment for patients to wait away from the ward area whilst the final arrangements for discharge/ transfer are being made.
The successful applicant will work closely with Ward Leaders and Matrons and will be key to the Trust breakthrough objective – moving the median hour of discharge, ensuring early flow and increasing the utilisation.
If you are highly motivated with a passion for transformation and leadership, clinically competent, with new ideas and keen for a challenge then this role could be for you. It will be a fantastic opportunity for an exceptional individual to lead a team whilst providing a consistent approach to the discharge process, seeking innovative ways to provide care and continuing the increase in DCL utilisation achieved to date.
Main duties of the job
The Discharge Lounge Lead Nurse will be responsible for:
1. Ensuring the safe delivery of care to all patients on their discharge ensuring a standardised approach is maintained by all staff to ensure the patient is fully informed and ready for discharge
2. Ensuring positive patient satisfaction and positive patient feedback.
3. Being actively involved in service development and personal development
4. Working collaboratively and cooperatively with clinical and managerial colleagues to develop services and quality of care delivered using continuous improvement methodology
5. Effectively communicating with patients, relatives and all health professionals
6. Ensuring the nursing team are adequately supported and developed to deliver excellent care with compassion in line with Trust values
7. Being a role model to others and is responsible for the strong leadership and management of the units ensuring safe clinical delivery of care carrying out regular audits and monitoring to support a safe, clean and organised environment based on research and development opportunities
8. Ensuring shared decision making is embedded throughout the discharge process
9. Undertaking research, audit and quality initiatives
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
Candidate Pack
This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route however sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds (£25000), and any role-specific criteria.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
10. Provide professional leadership with responsibility for performance and the day to day running of the Discharge Lounge.
11. Be able to develop, motivate, innovate and lead a team.
12. Demonstrate a logical, flexible and innovative approach to problem solving.
13. To act as an expert practitioner demonstrating specialist knowledge, skills and expertise within discharge and within the context of changing health care provision.
14. Ensure that a supportive teaching and learning environment is in place.
15. Ensure that all staff are working to their required level of clinical and professional competence whilst adhering to their NMC professional code of conduct. Ensuring that all staff are developed to attain competence as highlighted at appraisal.
16. Actively audit and proactively manage care against audits, incidents, high impact interventions, complaints and benchmarking.
17. Ensure that the discharge lounge reflects infection control standards of cleanliness, be proactive in response to any issues raised through cleaning audits, infection control audits or patient environment inspections.
18. Ensure high levels of patient satisfaction; ensure that any required actions are reported back to the matron from patient questionnaires and implemented where applicable.
19. When required, deal with patient complaints proactively to minimise the risk of them becoming formal. Appropriately investigate complaints in a timely manner and provide response as required. Prepare and evaluate staffing rosters, adjust accordingly to provide cover with the required skill mix making best use of resources available. Minimise the use of bank and agency staff by relocation of staff as needed to cover the rota effectively.
20. In conjunction with the Hospital Director of Nursing assist with appointing staff to your area in line with the recruitment policy and budget allocation.
21. Report/ action any accidents, incidence or undue occurrences reported to you or witnessed by you in line with Trust policy. Ensure the timely management of incidence allocated to you for investigation on Datix. Ensure proactive investigation of any clinical incidence, undertaking root cause analysis if indicated, ensuring action plans are developed as needed.
22. To have the responsibility for risk management and health and safety in the workplace, by being proactive in raising risks with the Hospital Leadership team and ensuring adequate controls are in place to manage these risks.
23. Ensure staff sickness in the discharge lounge team is managed proactively within Trust policy.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
24. Senior Band 6 experience
25. Experience of Discharge procedures
Desirable criteria
26. Band 7 experience
27. Experience of working in other acute areas.
28. PFIS or quality improvement training.
29. Experience of working with in DCL.
30. Evidence of study at Level 7 at University (eg. MSc modules/degree)
Qualifications
Essential criteria
31. Management/ leadership qualification or equivalent experience and demonstrate ability to work towards management/Leadership qualification
32. Ability to act as clinical expert or equivalent
33. Computer literate
34. Mentorship course or equivalent e.g. PS/PA
Desirable criteria
35. Immediate Life Support or Advanced Life Support
36. Recognised leadership and/or management course (eg. University module or NHS)
Skills
Essential criteria
37. Ability to organise and co-ordinate the work of the multi-disciplinary team
38. Able to produce and modify staff rotas that meet the manpower needs of the ward and medical unit
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Essential criteria
39. Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
40. Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
Important information for applicants:
A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.
Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications