Patient Support and Advocacy Officer

Job Title: Patient Support & Advocacy Officer (2 vacancies)

Location: Home based with travel to renal units around Greater London

Hours: Full time opportunity 35 hours pw Monday to Friday | Part time opportunity 25 hours pw Monday to Friday

(must be sufficiently flexible to work irregular hours as demanded by the requirements of the post)

Role purpose
To 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 the main renal unit and satellite dialysis units across your designated area, and regular travel and attendance is expected across all sites.

You will be expected to deliver Kidney Care UK’s Patient Support & Advocacy Service across the region, raise awareness of the service and the charity and build strong relationships with kidney patients, professionals and other kidney stakeholder groups in the region.

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 other services
• 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
• Essential skills, experience and knowledge
• Experience of working within advocacy, social work or health and social care sector
• Excellent PC skills including Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Ability to capture and record data in a central database
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally to a wide range of people
• Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to listen
• Experience of assessing individuals needs accurately and sensitively
• Ability to deal professionally, calmly, and sympathetically with people affected by kidney disease
• Ability to travel independently throughout the area

Employee Benefits

Pension | Flexible working | Retail discounts | Generous annual leave | Cycle 2 work scheme | Employee Assistant Programme | Health cash plan | Family leave