Location
Whittington Hospital, Islington

Hours
Full Time (hours not specified)

Salary
£34,186 per annum

About the Role
The Flow Coordinator role is designed to support the Trust in developing safe and efficient discharge processes and reducing patient length of stay in the acute setting. You will lead the discharge of patients on allocated ward(s) who are clinically ready to leave hospital, ensuring patient flow is maintained. Your focus will be on facilitating discharge actions and supporting seamless ward processes from admission to discharge.

You will act as the primary point of contact for discharge matters, liaising with the Multidisciplinary Team, EIM team, Site Team, and other key staff groups on designated wards. You will be knowledgeable about all aspects of the hospital discharge process including internal and external referral pathways, relevant legislation, policies, and guidance such as Home First, Choice Policy, and the Homelessness pathway.

Key responsibilities include attending daily board rounds to support ward flow and discharge planning up to 48 hours in advance, managing data input into clinical systems to track discharge activity, and reviewing patients daily to prepare for discharge by completing the TICKED checklist. You will ensure all necessary speciality reviews, diagnostics, and investigations are requested and reported within expected timeframes, actively following up on any delays.

You will coordinate with the EIM team, care agencies, and other services to confirm care arrangements prior to discharge, communicating these clearly to patients, families, and relevant parties. Escalation of any discharge delays or issues to appropriate managers and teams is a critical part of the role to prevent disruption to patient flow.

Collaboration with Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Social Services, community teams, and other professionals is essential to ensure continuity of discharge planning. You will report to the ward manager and work closely with the EIM team to maintain momentum throughout the discharge process, constructively challenging delays where appropriate.

Effective communication is vital; you will maintain patient confidentiality, act as a first point of assistance for discharge enquiries, and support early communication between hospital staff, patients, and families. You will help patients and relatives complete relevant documentation and liaise with clinical and non-clinical staff to expedite discharge actions. The role requires strong negotiation, tact, diplomacy, assertiveness, and empathy to manage difficult conversations and resolve conflicts related to discharge arrangements.

Organisationally, you will follow policies and procedures, work flexibly to cover colleagues as needed, plan and prioritise your workload efficiently, and participate in case conferences and family meetings. You will liaise routinely with Pharmacy regarding discharge medications and facilitate patient transport bookings. Supporting the induction of new staff and maintaining accurate records on Careflow and Patient Flow systems are also part of the role.

Personal development is encouraged through accountability, participation in training, appraisal, and continuous learning to meet the knowledge and skill requirements of the role.

Health, safety, and security responsibilities include maintaining a safe working environment, reporting risks, working within professional limitations, and adhering to infection control protocols.

You will be expected to contribute to service improvement by identifying bottlenecks, proposing changes, and complying with Trust policies. The role requires adherence to equality and diversity principles, respecting individual rights, beliefs, and preferences.

The job description is not exhaustive and flexibility is required to undertake additional tasks that support patient discharge as requested by internal or external stakeholders.

Experience
Experience in a healthcare or discharge coordination environment is desirable but not explicitly stated. The role requires the ability to manage complex discharge processes and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams.

About you
- Strong communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to manage difficult conversations with empathy and assertiveness
- Organised and able to prioritise a changing workload
- Able to work flexibly and support colleagues as needed
- Proactive and able to identify and resolve issues to maintain patient flow
- Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and following information governance
- Ability to use IT systems effectively for data recording and communication
- Willingness to participate in personal development and training
- Respectful of equality, diversity, and individual patient needs

Qualifications
Specific qualifications are not detailed; however, the role requires participation in statutory and mandatory training and ongoing professional development as agreed with the line manager.