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Discharge Lead Nurse for Surgery
Closing date is 26 May 2026
The post-holder will provide a high-quality service to all surgical patients within St Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The Discharge Lead Nurse for Surgery will work as an integral part of the MDT and will be a key role at a senior level within the Surgical Directorate by maximizing patient flow through the surgical service.
Lead on the coordination of discharges within the division to ensure maximum utilization of Trust resources and to ensure a good patient experience.
Identify barriers to optimal patient journeys and flow, acting in partnership with senior colleagues to resolve issues and make effective use of surgical bed stock, ensuring that national and local targets are achieved.
Be responsible for the leadership and line management of discharge support workers within the Surgical Directorate.
Develop strong working relationships with colleagues in bed management, site management, service and general management, matrons, ward managers and the SNCT senior divisional team.
Ensure policies pertaining to the safe discharge and repatriation of patients are upheld.
Support the identification, monitoring and timely resolution of issues relating to repatriations and complex discharges, with a focus upon case management for patients with complex health and social needs.
Participate in the identification of service improvements and the initiation of future developments – including the identification and audit of productivity and efficiency targets and indicators.
Main duties of the job
* Being recognised as an expert in their clinical field.
* Holding specialist knowledge and experience.
* Providing leadership in clinical practice for the professional team and peers.
* Ensuring an effective learning environment for students and peers.
* Working as a competent, autonomous practitioner / specialist.
* Actively disseminating best practice through teaching, presentations and participation in nursing/allied health professional research.
Qualifications
* NMC Level 1 Registered Nurse
* Degree (BSc) or equivalent in a health-related subject, and willingness to work towards an MSc/equivalent level of experience
* Evidence of post‑graduate study and continuous professional development
Knowledge
* Highly developed specialist knowledge of NHS & social care agenda, policy and developments
* Highly developed specialist knowledge of professional/patient care agenda, policy and developments
* Knowledge of discharge planning & the delayed discharge act, mental capacity & safeguarding legislation
* Up-to-date knowledge of current professional issues and issues relating to discharge, repatriation and bed capacity
* Knowledge and application of management and leadership themes
* Knowledge and application of change management themes
* Knowledge and application of HR procedures
* Understanding of governance and assurance systems and application to practice
Experience
* 2 years’ experience at senior nurse level (B6 or above) or in an operational/patient care management post within the NHS
* Experience of gathering and interpreting patient experience data and implementing measurable improvement plans
* Evidence of sound appreciation and achievement in management of financial targets and budgetary management; operational/business planning; waiting list management and contract monitoring as appropriate to role
* Evidence of successful operational leadership and effective involvement in change management
* Evidence of successful involvement in production of clear business cases
* Evidence of facilitating clinical decision making and the application of professional judgement in clinical situations
Skills (Clinical)
* Demonstrates up-to-date, evidence‑based knowledge of current clinical and professional issues
* Able to take accountability for service delivery within a context of safe patient care
Skills (communication & relationship)
* Demonstrates excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills
* Able to chair, coordinate and facilitate meetings; adopt appropriate communication style according to audience
* Ability to communicate between departments to effectively manage patient flow throughout the services
Skills (Analytical & judgemental)
* Ability to monitor the quality of work in others, to identify their learning and development needs, devising strategies to resolve
* Experience of audit and other benchmarking strategies, using the results of interim change and improvement
Planning & Organisational
* Understands and is able to deliver safe patient care within the resources available (raising and escalating concerns as appropriate)
* Able to take responsibility for policy implementation and service development
* Proven ability to support patient flow across surgical areas, maintaining effective management of complex discharges
* Works alongside multi‑speciality MDTs, other divisions and departments to improve patient experience and pathways daily
* Proven track record of excellent ability to coordinate the work of the multidisciplinary team and lead on any actions required
Personal Development
* Keeps up to date with the wider NHS developments and their impact at local level
* Able to prioritise own work in an environment of changing and sometimes conflicting priorities
People Management and Development
* Delegates appropriately, setting clear and achievable targets and monitoring against required outcomes
* Enables staff to meet their personal development objectives and apply their knowledge and skills
* Able to deal effectively with challenging or sensitive staff issues
* Develops constructive relationships and networks within the organisation and outside
IT
* Ability to use IT databases
* Computer literate, proven ability to use Word, Excel and e‑mail
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.
St Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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