Complex Discharge Specialist Nurse

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 12 November 2026

An opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated individual to join the Complex Discharge Team at CUH as a Band 6 Specialist Support Nurse. You will work within the ward environment alongside the multidisciplinary team liaising with community partners, patients, families, and carers to plan, facilitate and optimise complex patient discharges from the hospital.

You will be part of an existing team of Specialist Support Nurses, Clinical Nurse Specialists and Discharge Co-ordinators who currently support all adult inpatient areas across CUH. You will be part of a dedicated team working together to achieve the best possible outcomes for all our patients, keeping them at the centre of what we do.

You will work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary health and social care teams within both CUH and community teams to navigate the patients across pathways to ensure a safe discharge once deemed clinically fit for discharge. The Specialist Support Nurse will elevate issues with external organisations to prevent a delayed discharge through agreed escalation process. Negotiation with staff, services and patients will be a vital part of this role to ensure the patient journey is progressed appropriately and safely.

You will support ward professionals in agreeing the pathway for discharge from hospital in accordance with agreed policies and professional guidelines and complete onwards referrals for care support across all discharge pathways.

To work within the Complex Discharge Team providing a seven-day service including weekends & bank holidays assessing patients' needs for a safe discharge. Working with health and social care teams, the post holder will agree the most appropriate pathway of care to support discharge from hospital.

To provide a proactive and continuous approach to complex discharge planning. This will involve the continual prioritisation of workload to ensure all discharge cases are managed in a timely manner.

To consider "Home First" as the preferred Discharge Pathway, evidencing clearly rationale for any provision of bed-based care.

To communicate with patients and their families/carers from admission regarding discharge planning. This will include taking patient history regarding social circumstances, establishing with the patient their wishes post-discharge and signposting and referring to relevant services.

To provide relevant and accurate information to patients and their families regarding discharge plans in a timely way enabling them to make informed decisions regarding discharge plans.

To provide sign posting information to patients and their carers regarding external services i.e. Voluntary sector

To obtain feedback from patients regarding their experience about the discharge planning process to inform the development of discharge processes and prevention of poor future discharges.

Act as an effective MDT member in managing discharges and progress the patients' journey.

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the country. It comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital. We provide accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge and regional and national specialist services. It's a great place to nurse, work and live.

You will work on a vibrant hospital campus with a friendly community feel; we have excellent facilities to practise your skills and abilities to support your career pathway and development. Our values of Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent support the delivery of outstanding care. We have a fully electronic patient record system that is improving health-care quality; this is transforming services, improving patient safety and clinical outcomes.

• Our values and reputation for outstanding care
• Opportunities to experience a range of specialities
• Career and development opportunities
• Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support team
• Research experience and opportunities
• Lovely location and quality of life
• Excellent schools/colleges and transport links (road, rail and air)

This vacancy will close at midnight on 12th November 2026.

Interviews are due to be held on 27th November 2026.

All appointments with a start date on or after 1 October 2026 will be subject to a 12‑week…