Discharge Practitioner

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Key Responsibilities

Discharge Coordination and Patient Flow

• Support the coordination and progression of discharge pathways across allocated inpatient wards.
• Take ownership of actions required to progress patient discharge plans from admission through to discharge.
• Work collaboratively with ward teams, community services, HTT, CMHRS, Housing Support Leads, Delegated Commissioning, and Local Authorities to support timely discharge.
• Maintain oversight of patients who are clinically ready for discharge (CRFD) and escalate delays appropriately.
• Support the identification and progression of patients with long length of stay (LLoS) and complex discharge barriers.
• Ensure discharge planning is embedded from the point of admission and remains visible throughout the patient journey.
• Attend ward rounds, discharge meetings, MDT discussions, and locality meetings to support discharge progression.
• Support the implementation of Trust discharge and patient flow processes and standard operating procedures.

Clinical and Operational Responsibilities

• Support Senior Discharge Practitioners in maintaining oversight of contracted and out-of-area placements.
• Ensure discharge actions, expected discharge dates, and escalation plans are accurately documented and progressed.
• Liaise with HTT and CMHRS teams to support safe and coordinated discharge arrangements.
• Support arrangements for 72-hour follow-up appointments and ensure follow-up plans are clearly documented.
• Support patients transitioning to community settings by coordinating referrals and follow-up actions.
• Conduct home visits where appropriate to support discharge planning, assess discharge environments, identify potential risks or barriers, and support smooth transitions from inpatient care to community settings.
• Escalate discharge barriers and operational concerns in a timely manner.
• Support implementation of actions during periods of operational escalation, including OPEL escalation processes where required.
• Manage and reconcile the Trust credit card in accordance with Trust financial policies and procedures

Communication and Partnership Working

• Establish and maintain effective communication with patients, carers, relatives, ward staff, community teams, housing providers, Local Authorities, and external agencies.
• Communicate sensitive and complex information in a professional and compassionate manner.
• Work collaboratively across organisational boundaries to support effective discharge planning and continuity of care.
• Build positive working relationships with system partners to support patient flow and timely discharge.

Information Management and Documentation

• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records within SystmOne EPR and operational reporting systems.
• Ensure discharge actions, follow-up arrangements, and escalation plans are appropriately documented.
• Support collection and reporting of discharge and flow data.
• Maintain visibility of allocated caseloads and ensure actions are tracked and progressed appropriately.

Service Improvement and Quality

• Participate in service improvement initiatives aimed at improving patient flow and reducing delays.
• Support the development of effective discharge processes and operational pathways.
• Contribute to audits, operational reviews, and quality improvement work.
• Ensure compliance with Trust policies, operational procedures, and information governance requirements.

Key Working Relationships

The postholder will work closely with:

·         Senior Discharge Practitioners

·         Bed Flow Managers and Coordinators

·         Inpatient MDTs and Ward Managers

·         Home Treatment Teams (HTT)

·         Community Mental Health Recovery Services (CMHRS)

·         Delegated Commissioning Teams

·         Housing Support Leads

·         Local Authorities and housing providers

·         External providers and partner organisations

Working Arrangements

The role is primarily hospital based, with a visible and consistent presence expected across inpatient wards and operational meetings. In-person working is a core expectation of the role to support real-time collaboration, proactive discharge management, and effective operational flow.