Job Title: Discharge LiaisonContract: 1 Year Fixed Term ContractHours: Part time - 16 hours per weekIn this meaningful role, you will act as a key link between the hospice, patients, families, community services and other healthcare professionals. You will help plan and coordinate discharges that reflect each patients needs, preferences and wishes, ensuring they feel supported, informed and reassured throughout the process.
Main duties of the jobYou will work closely with the multidisciplinary team to develop discharge plans, communicate with external agencies, arrange support such as care packages, equipment and transport, and ensure accurate documentation is completed. You will also help identify any barriers to discharge and contribute to improving discharge pathways and patient flow.
About usAt Heart of Kent Hospice, we believe that everyone deserves compassionate, expert care when there is no cure for their illness and when they have a limited time left to live.
We are a charity and we dont charge a penny for our care. We depend on the compassion and kindness of you, the people of this community, to power our services and ensure that everyone gets the help they need.
We provide specialist care and support to adults who have a terminal illness as well as their families, friends and carers. We help people to live as fully and as well as possible for the rest of their lives and ensure that their final days are comfortable and peaceful, wherever they choose to be. We treat every individual as the unique and special person that they are. Everything we do is tailored and personalised.
Our vision is that everyone living with a terminal illness in our community will have the best quality of life. Our purpose is to enable people with a terminal illness in our community to live with comfort, independence and dignity to the end of their lives, and to support those closest to them. All our care is underpinned by our core values of compassion, integrity, respect and teamwork. These values guide our decision-making and how we conduct ourselves in our work and every one of our colleagues plays an important part in enabling us to give our patients and their families the best possible care.
If youre passionate about our cause consider joining our team.
DetailsDate posted: 06 August 2026
Pay scheme: Other
Salary: £34,592 a year
£14,759.25 based on 16 hours per week
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 1 years
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: B0118-26-0002
Job locations: Preston Hall, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 7PU, United Kingdom
Job responsibilitiesThe Band 5 Healthcare Professional (HCP/ Nurse) will support safe, timely, and patient-centred discharges from the hospice inpatient unit. Acting as a key liaison between the hospice, community services, patients, and families, the post holder will coordinate discharge planning processes to ensure continuity of care and alignment with patients preferences and end-of-life wishes.
Key ResponsibilitiesDischarge Coordination- Facilitate and coordinate the discharge process for hospice inpatients.
- Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team (MDT) to develop and implement discharge plans.
- Ensure discharges are safe, timely, and aligned with patient choice and clinical needs.
- Act as a central point of contact for discharge-related communication.
Communication & Liaison- Liaise with community healthcare teams, GPs, district nurses, care homes, and specialist services.
- Communicate effectively with patients and families regarding discharge plans, expectations, and available support.
- Coordinate with external agencies to arrange packages of care, equipment, and transport.
Patient-Centred Care- Promote dignity, respect, and compassionate care in all discharge planning.
- Ensure patients preferences, cultural needs, and end-of-life wishes are respected.
- Support patients and families emotionally during transition from inpatient care.
Clinical Support- Contribute to patient assessments related to discharge readiness.
- Ensure accurate and timely documentation of discharge plans and communications.
- Escalate any concerns regarding patient safety or discharge barriers to senior staff.
Service Improvement- Identify and report delays or barriers to discharge.
- Participate in audits, quality improvement initiatives, and service development.
- Contribute to improving discharge pathways and patient flow.
Person SpecificationKey Skills and CompetenciesEssential- Strong interpersonal and liaison skills
- Effective problem-solving and decision-making abilities
- Ability to manage sensitive situations with empathy
- Good IT and documentation skills
- Flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic clinical environment
QualificationsEssential- Registered Healthcare Professional -e.g Nurse, Allied Health Professional
- Experience working within a healthcare setting -hospital, hospice, or community.
- Understanding of discharge planning processes and multidisciplinary working.
- Excellent communication and organisational skills.
- Ability to work independently and prioritise workload effectively.
- Compassionate approach to palliative and end-of-life care.
Desirable- Experience in palliative or end-of-life care.
- Knowledge of community services and care pathways.
- Experience coordinating complex discharges.
- Training in communication skills for difficult conversations.
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.
UK RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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.Applicants must have current UK professional registration. 
