Patient Support & Advocacy Officer (Edinburgh & East Scotland)

Job title: Patient Support & Advocacy Officer
Reporting to: Regional Project Manager
Location: Edinburgh & East Scotland. Based at home, situated in the region to regularly travel to assigned renal units.
Hours: Full or Part time hours up to 35 hour per week. Must be sufficiently flexible to work irregular hours as demanded by the requirements of the post.
Contract: fixed term post until the end of May 2026
Salary: £28,000 pa FTE

An opportunity to provides practical, emotional, and financial support for anyone affected by chronic kidney disease.
You will engage with kidney patients, their families, and carers as a source of information, support, and advocacy, in order to improve care and wellbeing outcomes for patients.

This may be in the hospital or other care setting, on the phone, online or face-to-face in a mutually acceptable public place.
The role will cover (as part of a team) some of the main renal unit and satellite dialysis units across Dundee, Perth, Kirkcaldy, Lothian, Borders & Lanarkshire, and regular travel and attendance is expected to some sites.

We are recruiting for Full or Part time hours up to 35 hour per week to cover these areas – please advise in your application how many hours per week you are seeking and your preferred working pattern (35 hour is full time).

Responsibilities
• With support, establish the Kidney Care UK Patient Support & Advocacy Service in the region so patients, their families, carers and professionals to access independent support on social, financial, health advocacy and wellbeing
• Be responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the Patient Support & Advocacy Service across the region and the effective management of a caseload. This involves regular attendance at renal clinics in the region, building relationships with health and care professionals and being available for patients in the renal unit, on the phone or online, or to meet at a mutually convenient public location
• To support patients to build the skills and confidence needed to positively navigate the challenges presented by health, social care, benefits, and financial support pathways, and to overcome barriers and promote independence
• To support patients to connect with services to ensure that they are engaged in shared decision making and that their voice is central to shaping the care and support they receive
• To raise awareness of Kidney Care UK and the benefits of the Patient Support & Advocacy Service amongst kidney patients, their families, carers, and professionals across the region
• To be a primary source of, or gateway to, local information and access to:
◌ Kidney Care UK Money & Energy Advice services, supporting income maximisation
◌ Kidney Care UK Patient Grants programme, raising awareness of the programme and supporting applications
◌ Kidney Care UK Counselling Service and other appropriate services to meet patients emotional and psychological needs
◌ Reliable and accurate patient information relating to kidney disease, patient pathways, models of care, and patient choice
◌ Benefits and finances, including employment, housing, and grants from charities including Kidney Care UK benefits and welfare service

To provide insight on patients’ concerns and unmet needs to inform Kidney Care UK research, campaigns, and new service development activity
• To maintain patient records to allow effective reporting on key performance indicators about patient activity and service outputs
• Identify and create relationships with key services and professionals across the region, to ensure patients, their families, and carers can easily access the Patient Support & Advocacy Service
• To work in a way that respects the personal, social, cultural, and spiritual needs of the individual and maintains the confidentiality of information they may have shared with you