Employer University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site UHD Town Bournemouth/Poole Salary £24,625 - £25,674 pa pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 13/07/2025 23:59
band 3
As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.
We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £250m estates programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.
In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.
We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.
We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.
At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.
As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.
We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.
Job overview
Are you a compassionate, motivated individual who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment? Join our team as a Healthcare Support Worker in the Discharge Lounge, where you'll play a vital role in helping patients transition safely from hospital to home.
This is a unique and rewarding opportunity to support patients during one of the most important parts of their care journey—discharge. You’ll assist with personal care, mobility, basic observations, and emotional reassurance, ensuring each patient is comfortable, informed, and ready for the next step.
Working closely with nurses, doctors, therapists, and discharge coordinators, you’ll be part of a supportive, multidisciplinary team dedicated to improving patient flow and enhancing the discharge experience. Strong communication skills, compassion, and the ability to work efficiently under pressure are key in this role.
Your day-to-day will be varied and meaningful—supporting patients, coordinating with transport, updating records, and ensuring each discharge is smooth and safe.
If you're looking for a role where your care truly makes a difference and no two days are the same, we’d love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
-Liaise with Doctors, Therapy Services, and Social Services, CHC team, Housing and
any other appropriate members of the Multidisciplinary team to provide a proactive
and continuous process of discharge planning.
-To maintain accurate electronic and paper documentation in relation to discharge
and discharge planning.
-To escalate delays in patients discharges timely and appropriately to the Ward
Manager, Matron and discharge team.
-To assist the registered nurse by undertaking activities relevant to ensure the safe
and timely discharge of patients i.e. ensure IDS completed TTOs are ordered and
transport arranged.
Working for our organisation
Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues.
UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme.
This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have about this at interview.
Please note if the role or service is relocated as part of a planned move, employees will not be eligible for excess mileage reimbursement. Travel from the postholder's home to the new work base will be considered a normal commute. Any other changes not related to this relocation will be managed according to the relevant Trust or National terms and conditions.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Join our dynamic and compassionate team as a Healthcare Support Worker in the Discharge Lounge, where you will play a vital role in supporting patients as they prepare to leave hospital care. This fast-paced unit is essential in ensuring safe, timely, and smooth discharges, helping to improve patient flow and enhance the overall hospital experience.
You will work closely with nurses, doctors, therapists, discharge coordinators, and transport teams, providing hands-on care to patients who are medically fit for discharge. Your responsibilities will include assisting with personal care, mobility, vital signs, and offering reassurance and support to patients and families during the discharge process.
Strong communication and teamwork skills are essential, as you'll be a key link between wards, patients, families, and external services. The ability to remain calm, organised, and compassionate in a busy environment will help ensure every patient leaves our care with dignity and confidence.
This is a rewarding opportunity for someone who is caring, proactive, and committed to making a real difference every day.
Person specification
Qualifications
* NVQ Level 3 in Care (or willingness to undertake this).
Knowledge
other requirements specific to the role
* Flexibility/adaptability to be able to work across both Bournemouth and Poole sites. Ability to work shifts..
Personal Attributes
* A positive approach to caring for people of all ages. An insight into complex care/social needs. Sensitivity to the needs of others. Patience and consideration. Ability to exchange factual information accurately
Experience
* Ability to work as part of a team.
* Ability to work in a demanding environment.
* Effective communication skills both written and verbal / nonverbal.
* Ability to demonstrate initiative and prioritise work efficiently.
Please note:
Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.
This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.
COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.
Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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