Integrated Discharge Team Leader

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.

As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit.

Job overview

Working Full Time: 37.5 hours per week

We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity within the Integrated Discharge Team for a Band 7 Team Manager.

We are looking for someone with a strong clinical background and leadership experience to lead a team of nurses who specialize in assessing and planning the discharge of patients with complex needs.

The successful candidate will serve as the operational lead in discharge planning across all areas of the trust, ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, responsive, and effective nursing service.

Additionally, the role requires leadership expertise in change management, operational delivery, and a proven track record in service development.

Previous applicants need not apply.

1. To lead and manage the Integrated Discharge Team on a day to day basis, providing clinical leadership, support and guidance.
2. To support members of the team with facilitating discharge plans where there is a dispute with an individual case.
3. To assume responsibility for the most complex cases, including leading on the assessment of homeless patients ensuring that statutory responsibilities have been met.
4. To assume clinical responsibility for Intermediate Care placements made by the integrated discharge team and to deal with any issues that arising from these placements.
5. To ensure discharge pathways, red to green initiative and estimated discharge dates are embedded across the trust.
6. Maintains patient records appropriately and records relevant information.
7. To work with the appropriate managers to ensure the agreed Hospital Discharge Policy is effectively implemented and reviewed, identifying potential initiatives to promote greater integration between hospital, community and social services.
8. To act as the designated clinical link for the Trust in relation to NHS Fully Funded Continuing Care.

Working for our organisation

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Trust employs over 6258 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 407,000. This includes 357,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.

The Trust is a busy district general hospital and in 2022/2023, there were more than 503,342 patient attendances (inpatient, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery. This is an increase of nearly 10,000 compared to the previous year when there were 494,387 patient attendances.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £27.50 (standard) or £55.50 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Person specification

Qualifications

• RN Degree/Diploma or Degree
• NMC Registered
• Recognised teaching/assessing qualification
• 998/997/mentorship
• Continuous Professional Development Portfolio

• Management Qualification or equivalent

Experience

• Speciality knowledge and experience
• Relevant post registration clinical experience
• Experience of initiation and implementation of change
• Experience of financial management
• Experience of management

• Leadership programme

Skills

• Supports high clinical standards
• Strong patient advocate
• Able to make decisions under pressure
• Able to act autonomously
• Ability to manage conflict
• Able to manage own workload and coordinate that of others
• Ability to communicate at every level and effectively and sensitively in difficult situations
• Ability to motivate staff
• Ability to support other members of the team with their professional development
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance
• IT skills
• Effective interpersonal and organisational skills

• Presentation skills

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

If the role is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Enhanced DBS check applications that are submitted with omitted or incorrect information will be withdrawn. In the event errors are identified on your original application, a new application will need to be submitted and you will be required to pay the DBS application fee again.

The cost of the DBS application will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

Overseas Candidates

The Department of Health and Social Care has released a new publication to support overseas candidates looking to work in health and care in the UK.

The new guidance provides information on the recruitment process that candidates should expect when applying for work in the UK. Please follow the below link: Applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Overseas candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship can determine the likelihood of obtaining a CoS for the post by assessing their circumstances against criteria specified on the Visas and immigration - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Overseas candidates are responsible for their travel expenses.

Adult dependent's (over 18 years old) will also be subject to this requirement.