Spotlight on Justine, Patient Flow Lead

Since starting the position of Patient Flow Lead, Justine has had a huge impact on the people we support and their support teams. 

What is the role of a Patient Flow Lead? 

The Patient Flow Lead is responsible for assessing and arranging admissions to our Independent Hospitals, ensuring that discharges are planned early to reduce delays. 

The role also involves supporting the Business Development Team by identifying new opportunities for people with complex needs who may not have an identified next placement. A key part of the role is to explore step-down opportunities from our hospitals into AFG community settings, as well as building and maintaining strong relationships both internally and externally. 

What does an average day look like for you? 

No two days are the same. I spend much of my time travelling across the North West and beyond, meeting patients and carrying out assessments to see if they are ready for level 1 rehab. Once a patient is identified, I liaise with the relevant teams to support their admission. I also attend internal and external bed management meetings with ICBs, NHS Trusts, and local authorities. Internally, I support the Business Development Team by identifying patients who may be ready for discharge but lack accommodation. I also spend time educating colleagues about the new Patient Flow Lead role and highlighting opportunities for people to be supported within the AFG footprint. 

Another part of my role is identifying the right pathway for patients; we have several different pathways depending on people’s needs. These include a 12-month rehabilitation and recovery pathway, an 8-week community transition pathway, and an 8-week acute diversion and respite pathway, which currently supports four patients. 

One area I’m particularly proud of is the 6-month local citizen return pathway. Over the past year, we’ve supported around seven people through this, helping them move from out-of-area placements back closer to home. For people with complex mental health needs, being placed far away can disrupt recovery, separate them from their families, and make it harder to access local services. That’s why we have worked closely with ICB commissioners to develop this localised rehabilitation pathway. It offers a flexible six-month admission that allows people to rebuild their lives in a familiar environment, while also supporting better discharge planning and more effective long-term outcomes. 

What has been your proudest moment so far? 

Several moments stand out: achieving full bed occupancy across our Independent Hospitals this year, supporting timely discharges for people previously classed as delayed, helping individuals move into their own homes from hospital, and enabling people to step down from more restrictive environments into less restrictive ones. 

How does your role impact the people we support? 

My role helps ensure people can move out of restrictive environments into our hospitals in a timely way. It also means that once they are ready to leave, they can be discharged without unnecessary delay. Importantly, it opens up opportunities for people to live in their own homes or within community settings — options that may not have been available to them before. For people with complex needs, it also creates alternatives to care homes and supports them to live more independently in the community. 

 What’s one thing people might not know or expect about your job? 

The role goes far beyond admissions. As a Patient Flow Lead, I also support discharges, step-downs into AFG community settings, and sometimes transfers back up the pathway when someone becomes acutely unwell. I help identify people with complex needs who may benefit from living in their own homes with tailored support, and I work hard to maintain and build relationships both within AFG and across the wider health and social care system. 

Learn how we can help you

Do you have a question about our Learning Disability or Mental Health Services?

Get in touch