Senior Patient Flow Coordinator

NHS; Ashton; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a dedicated professional to assist with bed management and patient flow on acute wards. The ideal candidate should have solid experience in mental health services, excellent communication skills, and proficiency in NHS systems. Responsibilities include overseeing admission processes, ensuring timely discharges, and collaborating with a multi-disciplinary team to support patient care efficiently. This role offers opportunities for impactful work in a supportive environment.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement

Flexible working opportunities

Access to Continued Professional Development

Health and Wellbeing activities

Staff discounts across retail, leisure and travel

Qualifications

• Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of risk assessment and management processes.
• Understanding of current mental health legislation.

Responsibilities

• Support the Clinical Lead with bed management and patient flow.
• Oversee admission processes and ensure timely discharges.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to maintain accurate bed tracking.

Skills

Solid experience in working with individuals in crisis

Comprehensive mental health and risk assessment skills

Excellent communication skills

Proficiency in NHS computer systems

Ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams

Education

Diploma or ongoing CPD

Job description

The purpose of this post is to support the Clinical Lead and Inpatient Service managers with the overall capacity and flow on the general adult and older people acute wards across the Trust.

The post holder will assist in the operational management of beds within acute services and will work as a key player in the bed management service.

The post holder will be required to attend service meetings to support capacity and flow, sourcing NHS placements and coordinating assessment and funding for such placements.

The post holder will be the main source and support the Bed Managers in redirection of admissions in accordance with assessment of need through the identification of the appropriate care setting such as PICU, forensic services or alternatives to admission.

The post holder will work closely with the clinical multi-disciplinary team to ensure good communication between staff, patient and their relatives in regards to admission and discharge.

The post holder will oversee and work with the Bed Managers to ensure accurate bed states with real time patient tracking expected to be maintained, as well as managing the bed capacity and provide availability for future admission planning.

The post holder will oversee the data collection for monthly statistics, including OAPS and DTOCs and will have a good degree of computer literacy in the use of NHS database systems.

Main duties of the job

Participate and assist in establishing an effective system for bed management of beds to ensure efficient patient capacity and flow.

Oversee all requests for emergency admissions, discussing alternatives to admissions where appropriate to ensure timely response.

Minimise incidence of bed crises, using knowledge of impending discharges and extended periods of leave.

Actively be involved in the delayed discharge process and assist the MDT to facilitate timely discharge and escalating cases as appropriate.

Contribute to the development of systems and processes that will support live bed states. Promote and foster supportive relationships with key stakeholders.

Develop and maintain processes for effective bed management which will include accessing funding and placement for securing non‑NHS beds.

Proactive in ascertaining the Trust's position regarding bed management resources.

Liaise with appropriate teams and services in the management of interface issues.

Immediate problem solving and decision making, to enable both short and long term planning within the Bed Management service.

Oversee and monitor the recording of non‑contracted activity.

Ensure accurate and timely recording of bed management information.

Support bed management and patient flow.

Identify and escalate blockages within the system.

About us

We are proud to provide high quality mental health and learning disability services, both inpatient and in the community across five boroughs of Greater Manchester – Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Tameside and Glossop.

Our vision is for a happier and more hopeful life for everyone in our communities and our staff work hard to deliver the very best care for the people who use our services. #PennineCarePeople and do everything we can to make sure we're a great place to work.

All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership are encouraged to apply for this post. We would also encourage applications from individuals with a lived experience of mental illness, either individually or as a carer.

If you come and work for us we will offer a range of benefits and opportunities, including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement for Agenda for Change and Medical and Dental staff.
• Flexible working opportunities to support your work/life balance.
• Access to Continued Professional Development.
• Involvement in improvement and research activities.
• Health and Wellbeing activities and access to an excellent staff wellbeing service.
• Access to staff discounts across retail, leisure and travel.

Person Specification

• Diploma or working toward completion, evidence of ongoing CPD.
• Solid experience in working with individuals who present with mental health services in crisis and have symptoms of acute mental illness. Experience of working in multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Ability to act as mentor, counsellor, educator and advocate to patients, staff and relatives. Acute hospital service provision. Admissions, transfers and discharge procedures and implementations. Knowledge of risk assessment / management processes. Knowledge and understanding of current mental health legislation, safeguarding and child protection legislation, including DOLS. Understanding of confidentiality issues and data protection issues. Comprehensive understanding of the Discharge Standards, CCG Liaison, Specialist Services Liaison. Understanding of the principles of capacity management and bed management procedures. Auditing / data collection. Research skills and ability to evidence current / proposal practice. Understanding of funding process for placements. Working knowledge of Delayed Discharge Criteria and Barriers to Discharge. Understanding of S117 process.
• Skills and abilities: Comprehensive mental health and risk assessment skills. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. Good analytical skills. Ability to demonstrate working knowledge of the Mental Health Act and CPA process. Comprehensive and proficient IT skills including NHS computer systems. Ability to form productive working relationships with service users, carers, multi‑disciplinary staff and all relevant stakeholders. Good organisation and ability to have 24 hour responsibility for the clinical area and nursing team. Presentation skills. Application Form. Interview prioritisation skills. An effective communicator with the wards, consultants and service managers. Ability to delegate appropriately. Ability to manage budgets and resources. Ability to induct any staff member to the area with confidence. To establish and maintain close working links with Social Services, CMHT and other secondary care providers. To liaise with other Boroughs regarding patient transfer and be proactive in the transfer of these clients. To facilitate effective communication between all grades of staff on all aspects of bed management. Experience of working across professional / organisational boundaries.
• Have wide experience in all aspects of Mental Health Nursing. Involvement in operational policy development. Involvement in performance reviews for all staff and formulating full clinical training profile. Organisational, managerial and motivational ability.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.