Job Description
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and highly motivated mental health professional to join the Redbridge Mental Health & Wellness Team as a Band 7 Bed Flow Lead.
This pivotal role will support the effective flow of service users across community and inpatient mental health services, ensuring individuals receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Working within the Mental Health & Wellness Team, the post holder will focus on preventing unnecessary admissions, facilitating timely discharge from inpatient services, reducing delayed transfers of care, and supporting service users to remain safely within their communities wherever possible.
The Bed Flow Lead will work closely with inpatient wards, crisis services, community teams, social care, housing providers and wider system partners to coordinate complex pathways, remove barriers to discharge and ensure seamless transitions of care. The role requires strong leadership, excellent partnership working skills and a commitment to delivering recovery-focused, person-centred care.
Main Duties of the Job
- Lead and coordinate patient flow between inpatient, crisis and community mental health services.
- Act as the key liaison between inpatient wards and the Redbridge Mental Health & Wellness Team to support timely discharge planning and prevent avoidable admissions.
- Monitor and track service users awaiting admission, transfer or discharge, escalating risks and delays appropriately.
- Coordinate complex discharge pathways involving health, social care, housing and voluntary sector partners.
- Support the identification and implementation of alternatives to admission where clinically appropriate.
- Attend and contribute to bed management, discharge planning and system flow meetings.
- Work proactively with care coordinators and multidisciplinary teams to ensure robust discharge and contingency plans are in place.
- Analyse patient flow data and identify trends, risks and opportunities for service improvement.
- Support the reduction of out-of-area placements and unnecessary inpatient length of stay.
- Lead quality improvement initiatives focused on patient flow, discharge planning and pathway effectiveness.
- Provide professional advice, leadership and support to clinical teams regarding patient flow and discharge processes.
About the Team
The Redbridge Mental Health & Wellness Team provides specialist community mental health services for adults with severe and enduring mental health needs. The service is committed to delivering recovery-focused, trauma-informed and person-centred care, enabling people to achieve their goals and live independently within their communities.
The team comprises nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, support workers, peer support workers and administrators working collaboratively to provide integrated care and support.
What We Are Looking For
We are seeking a proactive and solution-focused individual who is passionate about improving patient outcomes and ensuring people receive care in the least restrictive environment possible. You will be confident working across organisational boundaries, building strong relationships with partners, and driving improvements that support timely access to care and effective discharge planning.
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Band 6 looking to progress into a leadership role or an existing Band 7 seeking to further develop their operational and system leadership skills within community mental health services.
Shortlisting Criteria
- Professional registration with NMC, HCPC or Social Work England.
- Significant experience within mental health services.
- Experience of care coordination, discharge planning or patient pathway management.
- Evidence of working effectively across multidisciplinary and multi-agency teams.
- Knowledge of mental health legislation and risk management.
- Demonstrable leadership, problem-solving and communication skills.
- Commitment to recovery, social inclusion and person-centred care.
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Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop-in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.
Probationary Period
This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff).
High Cost Area Supplement – Outer London (B&D, Redbridge, Havering and Waltham Forest, CEME)
This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,714 to a maximum of £5,941 p.a. pro rata for part time).
Working for Us
Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London and Essex. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.
The Trust has award-winning equality and diversity initiatives, along with staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest significantly in your development because when you feel valued and supported, we can deliver the highest quality care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been recognised in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for five consecutive years, and hold a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Through our staff networks and training opportunities, we strive to foster a just and compassionate culture at NELFT.
