There is growing recognition that young people with long term conditions such as kidney disease need specific support. Young adults diagnosed with kidney disease have additional challenges and can often find it difficult to manage their condition and the life changes it brings. Those diagnosed in childhood may struggle to cope with the challenges of adolescence whilst transferring to adult services. Without adequate support, this can lead to poor engagement with services and non-concordance with treatment with serious long-term consequences to health.

Working closely with the wider Renal Health and Counselling Psychology service, the key roles of the post-holder will be to assist in providing targeted, individualised practical & emotional support, and education to a population of young adults (aged 18-30) at the Royal Free Hospital with chronic kidney disease secondary to a number of renal and urological-related conditions. There is also a significant focus on working with young adults who have received a kidney transplant and have begun dialysis treatment. The support and education provided will help to enable and empower this heterogeneous group of patients to increase and manage responsibility for their kidney disease and its management.

Main duties of the job

Work in tandem with the other part-time Young Adult Worker to support the medical and psychology staff by facilitating patients' hospital appointment attendance

Be in attendance in clinic to support the Consultant Nephrologist and clinical nurses

Work as part of the multidisciplinary team to support young adults with renal disease and other interrelated aspects of their condition

Liaise with other national teams supporting young adults with other long term conditions, to share good practice and facilitate joint working where appropriate

Liaise with agencies outside of the hospitals providing support to young adults e.g. social workers, education providers & welfare rights agencies

Undertake appropriate level 2 counselling and emotional support for young adults in distress

Resume the Young Adult remote support and information groups via Zoom

Receive regular clinical supervision

About us

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's biggest and most innovative trusts. Across three main hospitals, our dedicated army of staff care for over 1.6million patients, treat more than 200,000 in A& E, deliver over 8,000 babies and carry out more than 17million tests.

Our size, scale and influence offer you unrivalled career opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to working that works around your lifestyle. From flexible hours and generous benefits, to next level training, we make it easier to take your career to the top.

For more information please follow linkhttps://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached documents for the full details of the job description and the person specification.

Person Specification

Royal Free World Class Values

Essential

• Demonstrate ability to meet the Trust Values

Education

Essential

• Degree-level qualification in social work, youth work or another relevant field

Desirable

• Post-graduate or additional professional qualifications (e.g. counselling diploma)

Experience

Essential

• A minimum of two years' professional experience working with young people
• Ability to engage with and advocate for young people
• Working in multi-agency/multidisciplinary teams
• Working with young people ideally in a hospital/clinical/medical setting

Desirable

• Working with individuals with kidney disease and kidney failure
• Working with individuals with long-term health conditions

Skills & Aptitudes

Essential

• Good organisational skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively independently and as part of several teams
• Ability to plan and manage own workload
• Good IT systems literacy including accurate database record-keeping and use of social media platforms
• A reflective practitioner
• Good understanding of safeguarding

Desirable

• Ability to facilitate remote patient groups
• Understanding of social benefits system

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Strong commitment to young people and an understanding of the factors affecting their lives
• Patient, respectful and flexible
• Able to work creatively yet within professional boundaries

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Free Hospital

Pond Street

London

NW3 2QG

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

391-RFL-6840857