Discharge Practitioner: Sponsorship Available

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

The Discharge Practitioner is a key operational and patient-facing role within the integrated Flow Optimisation function. The role sits with the integrated Bed Flow and Discharge service to strengthen operational coordination, discharge ownership, and system-wide flow.

The postholder will work closely alongside Senior Discharge Practitioners, Bed Flow Teams, Delegated Commissioning, Housing Support Leads, inpatient multidisciplinary teams, Home Treatment Teams (HTT), Community Mental Health Recovery Services (CMHRS), and Local Authorities to proactively progress discharge pathways and reduce delays.

The role will provide day-to-day coordination of discharge activity across allocated wards within Silverwood and Farnham Road Hospital while supporting Senior Discharge Practitioners with oversight and progression of contracted and out-of-area beds. A strong visible ward presence and in-person working are core expectations of the role to ensure real-time engagement with ward teams, timely escalation of issues, and active progression of discharge plans.

The postholder will support patients with complex discharge pathways, clinically ready for discharge (CRFD) status, and long length of stay (LLoS), ensuring barriers are identified early and actions are progressed promptly. The postholder will be primarily hospital based at either Farnham Road Hospital or Silverwood and will provide support across inpatient wards, contracted beds, and discharge pathways as required.

Main duties of the job

The Discharge Practitioner will support the coordination and progression of safe, timely and effective discharge pathways across allocated inpatient wards, taking ownership of actions required to progress discharge plans from admission through to discharge. The postholder will work closely with inpatient MDTs, Bed Flow, Senior Discharge Practitioners, HTT, CMHRS, Housing Support Leads, Delegated Commissioning, Local Authorities and external providers to identify and resolve barriers to discharge. They will maintain oversight of patients who are Clinically Ready for Discharge (CRFD), have a Long Length of Stay (LLoS), or have complex discharge needs, escalating delays appropriately. Duties include attending ward rounds, MDT and discharge meetings; coordinating referrals and community follow-up; supporting 72-hour follow-up arrangements; undertaking home visits where appropriate; maintaining accurate SystmOne records; tracking discharge actions and expected discharge dates; supporting contracted and out-of-area placements; and contributing to service improvement, audits and operational escalation processes.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to degree level, Level 5 qualification in a health or social care related subject, or equivalent experience oOR Level 3 qualification in Health and Social Care or related subject with significant relevant experience
  • Evidence of continued professional development

Experience

Essential

  • Experience within mental health inpatient, crisis, or community services
  • Experience within a patient-facing role
  • Experience supporting discharge planning or care coordination
  • Experience working within multidisciplinary teams
  • Experience communicating with internal and external agencies
  • Experience managing competing priorities within a busy environment

Desirable

  • Experience within discharge coordination or patient flow services
  • Experience of working with housing services, Local Authorities, or community providers
  • Experience using SystmOne EPR
  • Experience supporting patients with complex discharge pathways

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Closing Date: 30 October 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.