Patient Discharge Facilitator
Closing date: 29 May 2026
The Patient Discharge Facilitator will provide an essential support service to the efficient running of the Patient Flow Team. They must be able to work as part of a team and on their own initiative. The post holder must have excellent communication skills, be IT competent, work well under pressure, and prioritise their workload. They will assist in the safe and timely discharge of patients from both Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals.
This is a 22.5 hour per week position over 3 days, with potential to increase to 30 hours in September.
Main duties
* Work closely with clinicians, social work teams and multidisciplinary teams to deliver a high‑quality, patient‑focused service.
* Liaise with multi‑disciplinary teams to facilitate accurate assessments of patients' needs.
* Ensure patients, relatives and carers receive information about discharge planning, including timescales.
* Liaise with pharmacy to ensure TTOs are ready for patient discharge.
* Liaise with ambulance control when transport is required.
* Liaise with care/nursing homes to ensure timely assessments and completion of required documentation.
* Attend regular discharge planning meetings and raise any relevant issues with the multidisciplinary team to ensure resolution prior to discharge.
* Ensure all relevant discharge information is recorded accurately, processed on time and communicated to the multidisciplinary team.
* Ensure awareness of hospital discharge policies is communicated to all relevant parties.
About us
The post holder will act as a competent and integral part of the team, supporting the medical and nursing teams in the flow of patients from the Accident and Emergency department to the Rehabilitation wards. They will liaise with key members of the multidisciplinary team, social services and partners to identify potential discharges and barriers to discharges. The post holder will utilise and update the various IT systems available in the Trust to support the smooth flow of patients across the organisation.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience
* Experience in an acute/community setting.
* Experience in an urgent care setting.
* Knowledge of nursing assessments and how to perform them.
* Clear knowledge of the discharge process.
* Awareness of key national and local policies and their impact on practice.
* Understanding and support of the benefits of clinical supervision and reflective practice.
Qualifications
* NVQ Level 4 or above in Health and Social Care or a similar qualification or relevant experience.
* NVQ assessor's certificate.
Skills
* Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing.
* Excellent numeracy and literacy skills.
* Excellent interpersonal skills.
* Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.
* Ability to care for patient workload and manage their needs with supervision from a registered discharge coordinator.
* Ability to undertake nursing assessments and document clearly.
* Flexible approach to the workplace.
* Good knowledge of IT systems such as patient databases and Microsoft Office suite.
* Ability to handle sensitive or complex situations and resolve conflict.
* Excellent negotiation and influencing skills.
Other
* Work pattern may be unpredictable and involves shift patterns.
* The post may have some distressing circumstances when dealing with terminally ill, chronically sick, or disabled patients, and patient death.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check to verify any previous criminal convictions.
Employer
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
£28,392 – £31,157 per annum, pro rata.
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