I originally started off working weekends in a Dementia care home when I was 17 and at college. Then I went to a Residential Home in Southbourne, and I was a senior Healthcare Assistant there, so it was quite a lot of responsibility. In 2012 I came to the Trust as a Healthcare Assistant and then the Discharge Key Worker at the time was going on maternity leave and I covered her for 6 months. I then carried on the role. I was in the Omissions Unit from 2012 to 2018, then I joined ward 5, the elderly care ward. This was a complex ward with long stay elderly patients, and I was helping these patients to go home or go into a care home setting. I love it, I’ve been doing it a long time and I feel like I now have a lot of knowledge, particularly the different pathways and understanding the different health needs for the patients.
Why did you decide to become a Discharge Co-ordinator?
To make sure that people have a choice to go home or go into a correct care setting and make sure they follow their pathway and live the life they wanted to live, not just be stuck in a hospital bed. I enjoy working closely with the team and local authorities.
What do you love about the role?
I love the achievement of getting the patient home rather than them staying in an acute hospital, and making sure they have the correct package to be safe at home.
What would make a good Discharge Co-ordinator?
Good communication skills, having the knowledge of some of the background settings within social services, and what type of care there is out there in the community. Having an understanding of everybody’s different health needs, a bit of a background of health and social care and being able to find out what they need to carry on their lifestyle at home.
What are the main skills for the role?
Have people skills, understanding people’s different abilities, liaising with social services, understanding the different discharge pathways and being a good communicator.
How would you describe a typical day in the role?
Not every day is the same!
Do you have advice for someone thinking of applying to become a Discharge Co-ordinator?
My advice for someone thinking of becoming a Discharge Co-ordinator is to do your research before you apply for the job. Perhaps shadow a couple of people first before applying so you understand the role, and it would be better to have some experience in the healthcare setting before you apply.
‘I originally started off working weekends in a Dementia care home when I was 17 and at college. Then I went to a Residential Home in Southbourne, and I was a senior Healthcare Assistant there, so it was quite a lot of responsibility. In 2012 I came to the Trust as a Healthcare Assistant and then the Discharge Key Worker at the time was going on maternity leave and I covered her for 6 months. I then carried on the role. I was in the Omissions Unit from 2012 to 2018, then I joined ward 5, the elderly care ward. This was a complex ward with long stay elderly patients, and I was helping these patients to go home or go into a care home setting. I love it, I’ve been doing it a long time and I feel like I now have a lot of knowledge, particularly including the different pathways and understanding the different health needs for the patients.’
Why did you decide to become a Discharge Co-ordinator?
To make sure that people have a choice to go home or go into a correct care setting and make sure they follow their pathway and live the life they wanted to live, not just be stuck in a hospital bed. I enjoy working closely with the team and local authorities.
What do you love about the role?
I love the achievement of getting the patient home rather than them staying in an acute hospital, and making sure they have the correct package to be safe at home.
What would make a good Discharge Co-ordinator?
Good communication skills, having the knowledge of some of the background settings within social services, and what type of care there is out there in the community. Having an understanding of everybody’s different health needs, a bit of a background of health and social care and being able to find out what they need to carry on their lifestyle at home.
What are the main skills for the role?
Have people skills, understanding people’s different abilities, liaising with social services, understanding the different discharge pathways and being a good communicator.
How would you describe a typical day in the role?
Not every day is the same!
Do you have advice for someone thinking of applying to become a Discharge Co-ordinator?
My advice for someone thinking of becoming a Discharge Co-ordinator is to do your research before you apply for the job. Perhaps shadow a couple of people first before applying so you understand the role, and it would be better to have some experience in the healthcare setting before you apply.