Job Vacancies
Discharge Lounge Sister/Charge Nurse
NHS AfC: Band 6
- Site Operations / Patient Flow
- NHS AfC: Band 6
- Permanent
-
- Full time
- Flexible working
- 418-MED1637-JB
- Luton and Dunstable Hospital
- Luton
- £38,682 - £46,580 pa pro rota
- Yearly
- 17/10/2025 23:59
- 31/10/2025
Job overview
A new Discharge Lounge is being created in order to improve flow and support patients discharge within the hospital.
The Discharge Lounge at Luton and Dunstable Hospital plays an integral part in supporting capacity, availability and flow through the Trust.
Working closely with the Site Operations and Discharge Planning team, the Discharge Lounge Team supports Operations by freeing up bed capacity at the earliest opportunity whilst still achieving a safe and caring environment for our patients that are waiting to leave the organization.
Discharge Lounge (DL) provides an essential nurse led service in accepting patients on the day of discharge to release capacity for accommodation of acute admissions. DL supports timely and safe discharge of patients from inpatient wards, assessment units and Emergency Department.
We are looking for reliable and motivated Junior Sister/ Charge Nurse who has the energy and motivation to co-ordinate daily activities and oversee the delivery of care and drive performance for the Discharge Lounge.
The Lounge is open from Monday to Friday 08:00-20:30 for patients waiting to leave the Trust.
Main duties of the job
Day to day co-ordination of Discharge Lounge activities
To educate and promote the use of the Discharge Lounge throughout the Trust
To co-ordinate assessment of patients suitable to be transferred to the Discharge Lounge
To ensure the delivery of safe, high quality of care and excellent patient experience is maintained within the Lounge at all times
Work collaboratively with the Site Operations and Discharge Planning Teams in planning effective use of the Discharge Lounge to meet demand of capacity and flow
Work collaboratively with wards and department’s to encourage the timely transfer of patients to the Discharge Lounge
To support discharge processes ensuring that patients leave the Trust safety and efficiently
Oversee the process of medicines management for TTO’s for Discharge Lounge patients
Assist with external referrals for patients being discharged e.g. District Nurse etc.
Co-ordinate effective use of transport services for patients being discharged
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Liaise with patients and families to ensure that patients arriving at the Discharge Lounge have a clear understanding as to why they have come to the Lounge and what to expect whilst they are in the department
To communicate with relatives, with patients permission, immediate plans for patients being discharged from hospital
Liaise and promote use of external agencies to support discharge processes e.g. Red Cross
Act as a professional role model and providing effective clinical leadership
Be able to Communicate to a variety of individuals to ensure safe and successful discharges are achieved including; wards, Local authorities, Care Providers etc.
Assist with staff rostering to ensure the Discharge Lounge is safely staffed
To assist in the management of team appraisals and sickness management for the Discharge Lounge Team
Assist with the collection of data in relation to Discharge Lounge performance
To support managers with any development initiatives for the Discharge Lounge
To facilitate with audits for patient experience - responding to learning and feedback
Maintain confidentiality of information relating to patients/clients and their records
Maintain good standards of documentation ensuring clinical systems are kept up to date
Ensure prompt response of complaints and concerns and communicating feedback and learning to the Team
Ensure that all local and Trust wide policies and guidelines are complied with at all times and to participate in the production and reviewing of appropriate policies and guidelines
Contribute to staff development and clinical supervision for all staff working in the Discharge Lounge
Ensure levels of stock are maintained and that the environment is safe for both patients and staff by completing fire/health and safety checks and risk assessments under the direction of senior managers.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
Current Registered Nurse with the NMC
Desirable criteria
Mentorship / Practice Supervisor & Practice Assessor Preparation or teaching qualification or working towards
Experience
Essential criteria
Post registration experience of working in any ward setting
Experience of managing challenging situations to a positive outcome
Experience of conducting appraisals and mentoring others
Desirable criteria
Experience of managing a team and staff performance
Experience of managing staff capability, conduct and sickness absence at the early stages
Skills
Essential criteria
Competent in all aspects of medicine management
Ability to prioritise and organise workload
Excellent written and verbal communications skills
Desirable criteria
Ability to problem solve, anticipate and forward plan
Ability to work under pressure and seek help when required
Personal
Essential criteria
Team Player
A strong desire and ability to lead the department
Person specification
Experience/ Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Understanding of discharge process and importance of hospital flow
Desirable criteria
- Good range of Medical and Surgical knowledge to provide effective communication with patients on discharge
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Degree in Adult Nursing
- Currently Registered with NMC
Desirable criteria
- Mentorship / Practice Supervisor & Practice Assessor Preparation or teaching qualification or working towards
Skills
Essential criteria
- Report writing / effective documentation
- Able to communicate effectively to multi disciplinary team
- IT proficient- Good knowledge with Nerve Centre, iPM , Health Roster
Desirable criteria
- Counselling / Couching Experience
Personal Skills
Essential criteria
- Flexible and able to respond to frequent change
- Positive and motivated to contribute to service development
- Ability to remain professional and calm under emotional pressure
- Team player and willing to take ownership
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Christine Tuazon
- Job title
- Site Team Operations Manager
- Email address
- christine.tuazon@bedsft.nhs.uk.uk
- Telephone number
- 07483133196
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