Description

Patient Flow Lead, 35 hours per week, permanent, field based 2 days a week within the northwest of England

Alternative Futures Group is the North West's largest Mental Health and Learning Disability charity.

With a strong track record over 30 years, we work and through our to provide a wide range of innovative and bespoke care services.

We have a vision to create a world where people control their lives. Here at AFG, we pride ourselves on helping the people we support to design, develop and 'own' the support they receive by planning this with them; we support people to make informed choices and increase their own independence; and we support people to maintain their own health, wellbeing and living environment. These principles are really important to us.

As a 'values based' employer, the people that work for us genuinely care about the people they support, and we are seeking likeminded people to join our AFG family. If you are passionate about working in Health and Social Care and have a real desire to make a positive difference to the lives of the people we support then we would love to hear from you.

At AFG we also recognise the contribution and value that our staff make. We would not be able to provide the life changing support that we do without people like you

In return for your contribution we will support you throughout your career and we provide a wide range of employee benefits, career development and lifestyle support services to ensure that you too feel supported, fulfilled and valued from day one of your employment with us.

Job Title: Patient Flow Lead

Reports to: Director of Operations - Independent Hospitals

Job Purpose

Alternative Futures Group has an ambition to be the leading third sector provider of inpatient and specialist community mental health services over the next 3 years.

The Patient Flow Lead will assist the Director of Operations - Independent Hospitals to deliver this ambition by ensuring that we manage the flow of people into, and out of, our mental health hospital and specialist community services in a safe and timely manner. Thus, maximising our financial performance and operational effectiveness by positively impacting more lives.

In doing so we will ensure that we:

• Are a trusted partner in ICB provider collaboratives shaping strategy and delivery of specialist mental health services.
• Deliver flexible service models that are responsive to commissioner need and reduce pressure on NHS and Local Authority partners.
• Provide sector-leading levels of quality, safety, outcomes and value for individuals, commissioners and society.
• Meet our growth targets through the expansion of current sites and the development of new hospital and specialist community schemes in existing and new geographies.

The Patient Flow Lead provides the central resource to manage flow into / out of the hospitals as part of our specialist pathway model.

Dimensions

• Overall responsibility for coordinating the referral, assessment, admission and discharge process across the Mental Health division consisting of 6 independent hospitals, 2 specialist community supported living schemes and step-down outreach support currently.
• No direct line management responsibility.
• Liaison with AFG referral leads covering community services to minimise voids as part of the pathway model.
• Liaison with external clinicians, commissioners and bed managers to promote current AFG vacancies and opportunities to maximise occupancy (particularly around vacant spot beds).

Principal Accountabilities

• To support the Director of Operations - Independent Hospitals in developing, implementing, managing and improving the systems, policies and processes relating to patient flow , assessment, admission and discharge.
• Work closely with registered managers and clinical MDTs to facilitate safe, effective and timely admissions, discharges and transfers into, out of and across the Mental Health Division and wider organisation to maximise occupancy and positively impact more lives.
• Develop, monitor and report on patient flow KPIs to identify areas for improvement and unmet need to support AFG's growth ambitions.
• Act as a link between external stakeholders (clinicians, commissioners, bed managers, etc) and AFG registered managers to manage timescales, expectations and minimise negative outcomes.
• Escalate any unresolved concerns to the Director of Operations - Independent Hospitals .
• Review and improve where necessary AFG documentation around the patient flow process.
• Ensure fair and equitable access to AFG mental health services for all individuals based on clinical need.
• Work with Service Development to identify opportunities for innovative new service and support models which enhance the strategic ambitions of the mental health division and organisation
• To develop and nurture relationships with NHS and LA colleagues as a trusted partner for mental health inpatient and community services by being responsive to need and effectively managing the patient flow process.
• Ensure that external stakeholders are routinely aware of current and forthcoming occupancy vacancies and generate interest in voids, focusing particularly on spot bed vacancies in the independent hospitals.
• Support the Director of Operations - Independent Hospitals on the delivery of priorities from AFG's Strategy and Annual Business Plan.
• Support the Director of Operations - Independent Hospitals in the provision of advice and guidance to the Executive and Board on all mental health matters within AFG and the wider health and social care sector.
• Support the design and implementation of the organisation's new digital care management system in respect of patient flow.
• Ensure the integrity and accuracy of patient flow KPIs provided to the organisation for the purpose of assurance and decision making.

Person Specification - Patient Flow Lead

Experience

• At least 2 years' clinical or operational experience working in an adult mental health field.
• Demonstrable experience of completing mental health assessments for the purpose of admission and discharge planning in a hospital environment.
• Experience of clinical risk assessment and management.
• Experience of working within a creative and innovative environment and using a range of reporting tools and evidence to inform and improve practice and performance.
• Experience of CQC regulatory compliance framework and maintaining high standards of quality and safety.

Skills and Knowledge

• Excellent problem solver.
• Highly resilient and able to work at a pace and manage competing priorities.
• Agile thinker able to take decisions.
• Highly numerate and excellent analytical skills.
• Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written) to both clinical and non-clinical individuals internally and externally.
• High degree of IT literacy.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Ability to support clinical and operational colleagues with all aspects of the referral, assessment, admission, and discharge planning processes across the Mental Health Division.
• An understanding of contemporary, evidence-based, and best practice models of mental health support, treatment and therapy in community and inpatient settings.
• An understanding of all relevant health and social care legislation and regulatory frameworks
• Fluent on the policy context of the health and care sector

Qualifications & Training

• Educated to NVQ Level 4 or equivalent.

Other

• Car driver with full license.
• Ability to travel across the Northwest and wider as required.
• Expectation to be in services at least 1 day per week.

This role is field based 2 days a week and involves travel within the north west of England - a driver with the use of a vehicle is therefore required.

This role is Band II as per our structure.