Job summary
- Main area
- Community Health Services
- Grade
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 448-LCA-8362989
- Employer
- East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust (Cambridgeshire)
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Luton and Dunstable Hospital - Integrated Discharge Team
- Town
- Luton
- Salary
- £39,959 - £48,117 per annum, pro-rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 28/10/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 05/11/2026
Employer heading
Liaison Sister/Charge Nurse
Band 6
East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust delivers expert healthcare in people’s homes, community hospitals and local settings across the East of England.
Our nurses, therapists, clinicians, support teams and partners work together to provide coordinated care that supports independence, recovery and wellbeing. We believe people are best cared for close to home, in the communities where they live and belong.
By combining professional expertise with strong local relationships, we help people stay well, feel supported and access the right care at the right time. Expert healthcare, close to home, trusted by our communities.
Different ideas, experiences and backgrounds make us stronger and more creative and applications from all walks of life are welcomed. Our processes ensure that all applicants are treated fairly at every stage of the recruitment process.
East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust is committed to creating a modern and inclusive work environment. We actively promote flexible working opportunities where possible to meet the needs and wishes of our workforce and maintain and improve their wellbeing. We also offer flexible working patterns and we would encourage you to discuss this with the recruiting manager before or during the application process if this would interest you.
We welcome applications from people who share our values and can help us deliver outstanding care in our local community.
Before applying for this vacancy, please make sure you’re familiar with ongoing GOV.uk sponsorship eligibility criteria which will impact the organisations ability to provide sponsorship, whether this is currently or in the future.
Please note, our selection processes are in place to ensure we recruit candidates with the right values and skills. Please be advised that the use of AI in applications is monitored. We remain watchful of candidates who misuse these tools to generate an application that doesn’t accurately reflect their skills.
Please note all new starters will be subject to a 6 month probationary period.
Job overview
This is a unique opportunity for an experienced Band 6 sister/charge nurse to gain further knowledge in integrated working and discharge planning.
The Integrated Discharge Team, based at the Luton & Dunstable Hospital, has an excellent reputation for playing a vital role in facilitating safe and effective management of complex discharges, covering the hospital 7 days a week. We have a well-rounded knowledge of community services available which means we can support clinical staff in creating appropriate referrals and ideally shortening length of stay.
We are an enthusiastic ‘can do’ team who enjoy new challenges and opportunities to develop our knowledge and skills. We work closely together and pride ourselves in being incredibly supportive of each other.
'If we receive a high number of applications we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any point after 20.10.2026'.
Main duties of the job
To work in partnership with a range of multi-disciplinary and organisational teams within both the hospital and community settings. To ensure safe discharge for End-of-life patients and those requiring Dept of Health Fast Track Funding.
To facilitate clear and effective communication between patients, relatives, carers, and professional colleagues to ensure seamless patient care. Ability to provide and receive sensitive patient medical information.
To enable patients and their families/carers to participate in their discharge planning, encouraging independence and choice.
To prescribe need for equipment in order to promote patient safety and enable staff to provide safe and effective care in the community setting.
To manage GP Liaison service by receiving telephone calls from referrers, taking a basic triage, and signposting to appropriate service.
To practice clinical supervision for team members with regular 1:1 sessions with delegated members of the team.
To recognise difficulties that may arise associated with cross boundary working in relation to complex patient needs and the various pathways available.
Working for our organisation
Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, we are proud to provide high quality innovative services across most of the east of England that enable people to receive care closer to home and live healthier lives.
There’s one reason why our services are outstanding – and that’s our amazing staff who, for the seventh year running, rated us incredibly highly in the national staff survey.
If you share our passion for innovative and high-quality care delivery, then please submit your application and join us on our exciting journey as a leading-edge specialist community provider. All are welcome to apply and our promise to you is a culture which prioritises staff engagement and development.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
To work in partnership with a range of multi-disciplinary and organisational teams within both the hospital and community settings. To ensure safe discharge for End-of-life patients and those requiring Dept of Health Fast Track Funding.
To facilitate clear and effective communication between patients, relatives, carers, and professional colleagues to ensure seamless patient care. Ability to provide and receive sensitive patient medical information.
To enable patients and their families/carers to participate in their discharge planning, encouraging independence and choice.
To prescribe need for equipment in order to promote patient safety and enable staff to provide safe and effective care in the community setting.
To manage GP Liaison service by receiving telephone calls from referrers, taking a basic triage, and signposting to appropriate service.
To practice clinical supervision for team members with regular 1:1 sessions with delegated members of the team.
To recognise difficulties that may arise associated with cross boundary working in relation to complex patient needs and the various pathways available.
Communication:
Ability to communicate with patients and families, including sensitive discussions regarding End-of-Life preferred place of care and death.
Able to work closely with the Acute Trust and all Local Authorities/ Community Health Services and ICBs.
Providing evidence based clinical information in order to request funding for care provision, ensuring accurate records are kept for each patient engagement through documentation.
Ability to manage efficient telephone conversations to receive referrals and signpost onwards to appropriate teams.
Ensuring Community Nurse teams receive timely referrals from the Acute Trust, checked for accuracy.
Budgetary Responsibility:
To assess, prescribe and order appropriate equipment for discharge within delegated delivery and order limits.
To understand the complexities of both health and social care funding entitlements which impacts when advising patients and families.
Human Resources:
Maintaining own professional development and requirement to take part in appraisal.
To attend meetings as required by EEC and the Acute Trust.
To support with staff supervision.
Act as a support to facilitate the training and education of new staff.
Promote understanding of role to different involved staff groups.
Research and Development:
Responsibility for identifying and developing a range of clinical knowledge appropriate to role.
To ensure awareness of any changing policies, guidelines or procedures associated with role.
To be aware of relevant legislation related to role.
Clinical and Practice Governance:
Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
Any data that is taken or shared must be in line with Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies.
Adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes.
Adhere to infection control policies and procedures.
Current registration with NMC, and responsibility to maintain own professional registration.
Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by EEC.
Participate in clinical audits and assist in the maintenance of accurate and timely data i.e patient records to enable the service to be monitored, reviewed, and developed.
Provide patients and their families/carers with contact information and what they should expect from the team.
Participate in clinical supervision on a regular basis.
Participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team.
General:
Awareness of East of England Health and Care Services NHS Trust Equal Opportunities Policy.
Awareness of responsibility of all employees to maintain a safe and healthy environment for patients, visitors, and staff.
Adhere to the code of conduct on confidentiality in accordance with the Data Protection Act (1998), and to adhere to the trust’s own policies and procedures in the performance of their duties.
Take responsibility for own actions and work unsupervised.
Person specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential criteria
- Registered General Nurse (NMC registered)
Desirable criteria
- Professional Qualification in Palliative Care/Community Care
Experience
Essential criteria
- Post-registration experience in community or hospital
- Nursing patients with a wide range of conditions including terminal illness and physical disabilities
- Experience of holistic assessment and care planning.
- Experience of multi-disciplinary working.
- IT skills - Experience in use of Microsoft Word, emails.
- NMC Code of Conduct and Implication on Practice.
- Experience managing multiple phone calls.
Desirable criteria
- Awareness of managing budgets/resources
- Knowledge of social care pathways
- Use of Excel
- Knowledge of current developments in the NHS e.g.: Integrated Care Board (ICB), Clinical Governance
- Knowledge of DoH Continuing Health Care process – Fast Track
- Knowledge of research-based practice (NICE guidelines).
- Use of System One.
- Use of Medequip equipment ordering system.
- Experience of peer supervision.
- Experience Triaging.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to manage a caseload independently.
- Ability to initiate and adapt to change.
- Work well within a team setting.
- Excellent communication skills in person, via telephone and via written communication including emails.
- Contribute to problem solving.
- Clear concise record keeping.
- Holistic assessments and care planning.
- Ability to multitask.
Desirable criteria
- Leadership skills (ie Chrysalis).
- Evidence based shared learning.
- Teaching and presentation skills.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Elizabeth Thompson
- Job title
- Team Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01582 497355
- Additional information
Additionally, you can contact Team Lead Emma Mitchinson at [email protected].
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