Hospital Discharge Specialist Practitioner

Job summary

This post would be suited to candidates who hold a NMC registration / Social Work England or HCPC.

The post holder will lead the management of complex discharges within RUH, ensuring safe, timely, and person-centred processes that reduce length of stay and health inequalities.

You will work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to identify vulnerabilities early, implement admission avoidance strategies, and uphold Trust values of Everyone Matters, Working Together, Making a Difference.

The role requires:

o Expertise in complex discharge management within a healthcare/NHS setting.

o Ability to lead in high-pressure environments while maintaining compassionate, inclusive care.

o Commitment to personalised care, shared decision-making, and safeguarding.

o Innovative thinking to progress decisions that meet patient, carer, and organisational needs for safe patient flow.

o Deputising for the IDS Manager within the Care Transfer Hub when required.

Main duties of the job

To lead complex community discharge meetings and track progress for discussed cases.

Drive initiatives to reduce long length of stay across the Trust.

Attend and lead ward drop-ins to minimise delays and escalate issues promptly.

Facilitate conversations to manage patient expectations in line with Trust and BSW policy.

Work with the MCA Lead and Vulnerable People Service to reduce delays in cases requiring Mental Capacity Assessments for discharge planning.

Support complex financial discussions for self-funding patients and resolve discrepancies.

Assist with assessments and reports for litigation cases in collaboration with the Trust legal team.

Implement admission avoidance strategies at the front door to prevent social admissions.

Ensure patients, families, and MDT are informed to prevent communication breakdown and improve satisfaction.

Collaborate with the Vulnerable Adults Team to ensure safe discharge planning for complex cases.

Attend High Intensity Users group to develop admission avoidance strategies.

About us

At the RUH we put people at the heart of what we do, working together as one team to make a difference for our patients, each other, and our community. No matter what your role is, we value everyone's contribution in supporting the exceptional, person-centred care we pride ourselves on.

We are proud to be in thetop 20 best hospitals to work for in the country.

We are committed to creating a compassionate and inclusive environment. This can be seen in our growing community of staff networks - celebrating successes and creating opportunities to listen and learn. We value our differences, champion kindness and civility, and truly believe that diversity makes us stronger.

A culture of learning, developing and innovating is the thread that runs throughout our whole organisation. We want to support you to thrive, taking your career to its full potential.

We value staff wellbeing, with a well-established programme of support. We believe in a holistic approach spanning all aspects of living a healthy life, including physical, emotional, spiritual and financial wellbeing. We've even got a pool!

We are committed to supporting you and hope you want to join our team. In the meantime, find out more about living and working the beautiful historic city of Bath, learn about our extensive package of staff benefits, and read about how we're providing healthcare fit for the future with the landmark Dyson Cancer Centre and our passion for research.