Job summary
The Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia community service is one of the teams working across Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham. It provides healthcare to marginalised people who may not have equitable access to health services and who, compounded by deprivation, suffer disproportionateamounts of ill health, in addition to poor physical/mental health, high rates of airborne disease (TB), high rates of blood borne viruses(hepatitis/HIV) and those with unusual haemoglobin type.The South East London Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre provides a high quality specialist nursing service to the residents of Lambeth,Southwark and Lewisham who are 'at risk' of having or have been found to have an unusual haemoglobin type. Services offered include case anddisease management; genetic counselling and follow-up as part of the antenatal and new born screening programmes well as pre-conceptualscreening; health promotion in community groups; community resource and information and awareness raising and Welfare support.
Main duties of the job
The Welfare support advisor is an integral part of the community sickle cell service. The post holder will be responsible for assisting patients,families and carers in the Lewisham borough affected by Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia in maximising welfare benefit uptake, providing housingsupport and advocacy. The role will also involve offering information, advice, guidance and support on learning, career and employmentopportunities.
Welfare support advisor will attend multi-disciplinary meetings (MDT) at University hospital Lewisham weekly via face to face / remotelyas requiredo Visit Children and adults living in Lewisham borough with Sickle cell disease or thalassaemia and undertake holistic assessments toidentify their individual social and welfare needs and seek appropriate interventions.o To advise on and assist with claims for welfare benefits and other kinds of financial support including tax credits, charitable grants andhealth with health costs
o To liaise with statutory bodies (including the Department of Work and Pensions, Inland Revenue and Local Authorities) on behalf of thepatient to progress their claims.o To act as an advocate to patients in order for them to appeal or challenge welfare benefit decisions.o To engage in active signposting of patients to appropriate agencies (e.g. Citizens Advice Bureau) for help with tribunal representation,debt advice and other issues that fall outside of the remit of the service
About us
We provide a comprehensive range of services for the 127,000 children and young people that live in Lambeth and Southwark. This includesuniversal services - health visiting, family nurse partnership, school nursing, nutrition and dietetics, and a newborn hearing screening programme.Our specialist services cover community paediatrics, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, complex needs nursing,sickle cell and audiology. As well as part of statutory services including looked after children, child protection, safeguarding, and adoption andfostering.We have two main health centres, Mary Sheridan Centre in Lambeth and Sunshine House in Southwark but we have many more across Lambethand Southwark. We also provide services in schools, community buildings, in families' homes, and occasionally in hospital. Through groupsessions and individual appointments, face-to-face and virtual, we hold over 145,000 appointments every year.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To undertake personal training in order to maintain a current working knowledge of the welfare benefits system and to develop and maintain anunderstanding of Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia conditions, symptoms and treatments.To maintain a high standard of service and give courteous reception to all patients/ families and carers.The post holder to be aware of and implement Trust policies, procedures, guidelines and participate in the development and review of newpolicies as required.To participate in benchmarking, standard setting and clinical audit.To report and document any incident or accident to a patient or a member of staff and actively implement learning from complaints and incidentswithin the team.Attend and participate in multi-professional team meetings and clinics weekly / as requiredThe post holder to communicate effectively and efficiently with all members of the multidisciplinary team regarding patient welfare support needs.Maintain up-to-date records. Ensuring that confidentiality is respected and that the standards for Record Keeping are met.The post holder is required to follow Trust policies and procedures which are regularly updated.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To undertake personal training in order to maintain a current working knowledge of the welfare benefits system and to develop and maintain anunderstanding of Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia conditions, symptoms and treatments.To maintain a high standard of service and give courteous reception to all patients/ families and carers.The post holder to be aware of and implement Trust policies, procedures, guidelines and participate in the development and review of newpolicies as required.To participate in benchmarking, standard setting and clinical audit.To report and document any incident or accident to a patient or a member of staff and actively implement learning from complaints and incidentswithin the team.Attend and participate in multi-professional team meetings and clinics weekly / as requiredThe post holder to communicate effectively and efficiently with all members of the multidisciplinary team regarding patient welfare support needs.Maintain up-to-date records. Ensuring that confidentiality is respected and that the standards for Record Keeping are met.The post holder is required to follow Trust policies and procedures which are regularly updated.
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- Educated to GCSE "A" Level or NVQ Level 3
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
- An appropriate professional qualification within the remit of welfare benefits advice
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working face to face with clients to deliver benefits advice and supporting with housing/ employment or education, building effective relationships through which issues can be identified and resolve
- Experience of using and maintaining financial records/ IT systems and producing reports
- Experience of successfully operating and negotiating with external and internal services and agencies to ensure optimum delivery of service.
Skills
Essential
- A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of social security and welfare benefits legislation and experience of administering and assessing benefits
- A thorough understanding and knowledge of housing and other legislation and the regulatory framework for housing
- Working knowledge of Disability Discrimination Act and National Welfare Reform
- Able to work as an effective team member
- Able to prioritise & meet deadlines
- Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
Desirable
- Awareness of the structure and organisation of the NHS
Person Specification
Education
Essential
- Educated to GCSE "A" Level or NVQ Level 3
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
- An appropriate professional qualification within the remit of welfare benefits advice
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working face to face with clients to deliver benefits advice and supporting with housing/ employment or education, building effective relationships through which issues can be identified and resolve
- Experience of using and maintaining financial records/ IT systems and producing reports
- Experience of successfully operating and negotiating with external and internal services and agencies to ensure optimum delivery of service.
Skills
Essential
- A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of social security and welfare benefits legislation and experience of administering and assessing benefits
- A thorough understanding and knowledge of housing and other legislation and the regulatory framework for housing
- Working knowledge of Disability Discrimination Act and National Welfare Reform
- Able to work as an effective team member
- Able to prioritise & meet deadlines
- Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
Desirable
- Awareness of the structure and organisation of the NHS
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
