Discharge Co-Ordinator - Fixed Term Contract

Job Title: Discharge Co-Ordinator Department: Nursing AdministrationReports to: Assistant Director of Nursing Patient FlowDate: 2025 Beacon Hospital’s Mission is to provide exceptional patient care in an environment where quality, respect, caring and compassion are at the centre of all we do.  Overall Purpose of JobThe post holder will use clinical expertise, leadership and management skills to ensure service provision and timely discharge from hospital. Discharge co-ordination is fundamental to creating essential capacity across the hospital in order to manage patient flow through the hospital effectively. The primary role of the Discharge Co-ordinator will be one of clinical and professional leadership and development in the nursing team including patient lounge direct report and oversight. The Discharge Co-ordinator will develop strong relationships with all members of the multidisciplinary team to coordinate safe and timely discharge from hospital. Principal duties and responsibilities applicable to the service: Discharge Planning:Be responsible for the assessment of patients and their circumstances and plan their transition from the acute hospital environment to an appropriate post hospital setting to meet the patient needs. The role will incorporate daily rounding to all Inpatient areas liaising with CNM2’s/ Clinical Co-Ordinators re: Identifying discharges and discussing appropriate plans of care. Estimate discharge date for all patients in all units.Co-ordination and Chair weekly Complex discharge meetings and Multidisciplinary team meetings as planned ensuring relevant record keeping and communication with senior management.Collaborate with patients, family, carers and other staff in treatment / care planning and in the provision of support and advice on discharge planning beginning this process at time of admission. Provides any further clarification necessary for patients and families at time of discharge.Participate in teams as appropriate, communicating and working in co-operation with other team members.Actively participate in dry rounds, multi-disciplinary team, patient pathway and family meetings.Communicate verbally and / or in writing results of assessments, treatment / care programmes and recommendations to the team and relevant others in accordance with service policy. Oversight of length of stay re: Inpatient stay. Work collaboratively with MDT to ensure a Lean discharge process, i.e., expediting tests, scan’s etc.Coordinate the transition of care to other healthcare facilities for those patient requiring tertiary/convalescence and long term care.Analyse clinical information and makes recommendations regarding appropriateness of care, keeping in mind the patient’s holistic needs and limitations.Builds collaborative relationships with community colleagues (OT, Physio, Public Health Nurses, nursing homes for long term care/convalescence) in order to facilitate timely discharge from hospital.Actively participates in educating ward staff regarding all aspects of discharge planning and care coordination.Attend MDT Service Planning and Review Meetings in collaboration with the individual speciality and the commercial office for the Allied Services. Patient Lounge:Developing the role of the Patient Lounge within the Beacon Hospital to include daily/ weekly productivity reports. The Patient Lounge enables the efficient discharge of inpatients and assisting with patient flow throughout the hospital. This unit may also provide transitional accommodation for patients awaiting admission to the hospital. Development of patient lounge staff to include delegation of discharge role in your absence.Coordinate the daily activity of the discharge lounge to ensure patients transition of care from ward to discharge lounge is efficient.Maintain nursing records in accordance with local service and professional standards.Collaborating with the Discharge Team/MDT to ensure a high standard of care is provided to patients from all specialties and that the patient discharge form hospital is streamline to include all relevant documents, information and follow up care planning.Personal and professional:Assist in observing and ensuring implementation and adherence to established policies and procedures e.g., health and safety, infection control, GDPR and confidentiality in all work practicesHave a working knowledge of the Joint Commission International Standards (JCI) Standards as they apply to the role.Engage in continuing professional development by keeping up to date with evidence-based practice and research, new developments in nursing management, education and practice and to attend staff study days as deemed appropriate.Provide a high level of professional and clinical leadership.Provide supervision and assist in the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes of staff.Engage in performance review processes including personal development planning as appropriate.Provide the necessary co-ordination and deployment of nursing and support staff in designated area(s) of responsibility, ensuring that skill mix takes account of fluctuating workloads and ensuring maximisation of available resources.Assess and monitor trends through collection and analysis of activity and data and keeping the Bed Manager and Senior Nursing Management informed of changing work patterns. Promote a culture that values diversity and respect in the workplace.Assist in maintaining the necessary clinical and administrative records and reporting arrangements / contribute to quality assurance by assisting in data collection.Assist in providing staff leadership and motivation, which is conducive to good staff relations and work performance.Ensure that service users and others are treated with dignity and respect.In consultation with the senior nursing management team and other disciplines, implement and assess quality management programmes.Participate in clinical audit as required and have creative ideas to lead and implement change as appropriateEngage in IT developments as they apply to service user and service administration Person SpecificationQualificationsGraduate of an accredited Bachelor’s of Nursing Science degree program.Be registered in the Relevant Division of the Register of Nurses maintained by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann) or be entitled to be so registered Experience§ A minimum of 5 years RN experience in an acute hospital setting.§ A minimum of 2 year management experience.§ Have the clinical, managerial and administrative capacity to properly discharge the functions of the role.Job Specific Competencies and Knowledge·          Demonstrate the ability to lead on clinical practice and service quality. ·          Demonstrate promotion of evidence-based decision making.·          Demonstrate practitioner competence and professionalism.·          Demonstrate the ability to plan and organise effectively.·          Demonstrate the ability to build and lead a team.·          Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills including the ability to build and maintain relationships.·          Demonstrate strong communication and influencing skills.·          Demonstrate initiative and innovation in the delivery of service.·          Demonstrate resilience and composure.·          Demonstrate openness to change.·          Demonstrate integrity and ethical stance.·          Demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development.·          Demonstrate the ability to relate nursing research to nursing practice.·          Demonstrate an awareness of HR policies and procedures including disciplinary procedures.·          Demonstrate an awareness of relevant legislation and policy e.g. health and safety, infection prevention and control ·          Demonstrate an awareness of current and emerging nursing strategies and policy in relation to the clinical / designated area.·          Demonstrate a willingness to develop IT skills relevant to the role.Personal Competencies§ Must be willing to engage in on-going professional development and provide evidence of same.§ Demonstrate leadership and competence in nursing practice.§ Effective communication skills are essential. § Deliver an efficient and effective quality nursing care within his or her Scope of Practice.All posts in Beacon Hospital require a high level of flexibility to ensure the delivery of an effective and efficient service. Therefore, the post holder will be required to demonstrate flexibility as and when required by their manager or hospital management.