Discharge Coordinator Dryden Admin | London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust

The role of the Discharge Co-Ordinator is to support the wards in providing a high-quality patient focused experience by providing a high level of flexible and reliable administration and operational support in regard to discharge. To assist the ward nurses and doctors in maintaining discharge records and in ensuring discharge processes are appropriate, safe and acted upon in a timely manner.

The discharge coordinator will ensure a smooth discharge pathway from hospital to community, optimizing effective bed utilization by ensuring the timely completion of all stages of the discharge plan. S/he compiles, agrees and forwards the regular reporting of DTOC (Delayed Transfer of Care) to Senior Trust Managers, plus ad-hoc reports as required, and leads for the hospital in the daily DTOC teleconference as required by senior management.

This role will support the ward nursing and therapy teams in maintaining key relationships, including senior staff, doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, patients, visitors, Social Services, Primary Care, CCG (Continuing Care group), Immigration, housing and IMCA (Independent Mental Capacity Advocate).

Promote a smooth discharge process by concentrating on tasks which directly support and assist the multidisciplinary team with regards to safe and timely discharge of patients. This will include completing discharge planning documentation, communicating with external agencies such as Social Services, patient’s families and carers, arranging appropriate transport and liaising with all members of the Multidisciplinary Team including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapist, Dietitian, Clinical Psychologist and Doctor.

Where appropriate provide access to patient homes to outside agencies, accompany patients to their own homes, or accompany patients to appointments with outside agencies.

Monitor and chase multidisciplinary team members and external agencies to promote timely and safe discharge to provide optimum and appropriate bed usage and reduce length of stay, and in addition manage more complex discharge issues.

London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWH) cares for the people of Brent, Ealing, Harrow and beyond.

Our team of more than 8,200 clinical and support staff serve a diverse population of almost one million people.

We run major acute services at:
• Northwick Park Hospital: home to one of the busiest emergency departments (A&E) in the country. The hospital provides a full range of services including the country’s top-rated hyper-acute stroke unit and one of only three hyper-acute rehabilitation units in the UK
• St Mark’s Hospital: an internationally renowned specialist centre for bowel disease
• Ealing Hospital: a busy district general hospital providing a range of clinical services, as well as 24/7 emergency department and urgent care centre, and specialist care at Meadow House Hospice
• Central Middlesex Hospital: our planned care site, hosting a range of surgical and outpatient services and collocated with an urgent care centre.

We are a university teaching NHS trust, in recognition of the important role we play in training clinicians of the future and bringing the benefits of research to the public.

1. Liaise internally with multidisciplinary team, senior members of staff, ward staff and Allied Health Professionals. Liaise externally with Social Services, Primary Care Services, General Practitioners, Housing, Homeless Persons Unit, Department of Health, Borders Agency and Office of the Public Guardian.

2. Promote a smooth discharge process by concentrating on tasks which directly support and assist the multidisciplinary team with regards to safe and timely discharge of patients. This will include completing discharge planning documentation, communicating with external agencies such as Social Services, patient’s families and carers, arranging appropriate transport and liaising with all members of the Multidisciplinary Team including occupational therapy, physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapist, Dietitian, Clinical Psychologist and Doctor.

3. Where appropriate provide access to patient homes to outside agencies, accompany patients to their own homes, or accompany patients to appointments with outside agencies.

4. Monitor and chase multidisciplinary team members and external agencies to promote timely and safe discharge to provide optimum and appropriate bed usage and reduce length of stay, and in addition manage more complex discharge issues.

5. Answer queries in relation to discharge arrangements or issues from patients, relatives or carers, referring to qualified staff as required.

6. Prepare weekly SitReps (Situation Reports) to enable accurate reporting of DTOC to the Department of Health.

7. Provide excellent administration to include data collection into an Excel database and participate in daily London North West Sector Conference call.

8. Take responsibility for the issue of Discharge Notifications to Social Services to ensure reimbursement guidelines are observed.

9. Identify and implement Eviction Policy in conjunction with Senior Management.

10. Arrange family meetings and where appropriate participate and minute in regard to discharge planning.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

11. Liaise with agencies such as Housing, Borders & Immigration Agency and Social Services ensuring confidentiality is maintained and information is shared in a sensitive, empathic and responsible manner.

12. Deal with enquiries from Trust staff, patient, relatives and the general public concerning discharge and transfer of patients.

13. Identify priorities and raise any areas of concern to appropriate staff or agency.

Level of clinical responsibility

· Ensure that patients and their relatives with complex transfer/discharge needs and their carers understand and agree to the proposed clinical, social and environmental care package.

· To seek guidance from multidisciplinary team and liaise with colleagues and relevant agencies ensuring the patient with complex care needs is transferred to an appropriate safe environment and the agreed package of care is implemented.

· Ascertain entitlement to ambulance service and where appropriate book transport taking patient transfer, mobility and any bariatric needs into account. Assist patient/family to arrange out of area private transport as required ensuring the transfer is appropriate and safe for the patient.

Leadership and staff management responsibility

· To be responsible for supporting with the discharge process and implementing effective safe discharge plans with multi-disciplinary teams and outside agencies. Ensure multidisciplinary team and outside agencies work collaboratively to provide safe and effective discharge planning.

· Take the lead in coordinating the multidisciplinary team to complete Continuing Care Assessments as appropriate ensuring all areas are completed fully in a timely manner and consistent throughout. Ensure submission to relevant CCG.

· To work on own initiative as part of the wider team to ensure progress of work throughout the discharge process.

Financial responsibility

· Understand and ensure effective bed utilization to reduce delayed transfers of care.

Service Development and Improvement

• Support change for patient benefit and support staff during the process of change within the team and Trust such as government objectives and recommendations.

• Identify and inform the manager of any unmet needs and service shortfall and work in a practical way to maintain and improve the standards of the discharge process.

Responsibility for dealing with difficult situations

• Support and enhance the day-to-day smooth functioning of the team and be able to prioritize workload. Act promptly and effectively to meet the regular unpredictable situations that may occur within this role. Know when to seek assistance from managers.

Any other aspect of the role

• Provide advocacy for patients and carers during the discharge planning process.

• Build and maintain a working partnership with Social Services, and ensure implementation of the governments Reimbursement Policies and other services.

Work in an integrated manner with other agencies such as CCG and Social Services

This advert closes on Thursday 11 Jun 2026