Patient Support Officer - North East or South West England

Location: Home-based within designated area with travel as required

Hours: Full-time 35 hours per week, occasional evening and / or weekend
work will be required

Salary: £29,345

Contract: Fixed term post until 31 May 2028, with possible extension

About Kidney Care UK

Since 1975, Kidney Care UK has been at the forefront of supporting people with kidney disease. From our early days when we campaigned to introduce donor cards in the UK, we have worked hard to support and represent the interests of everyone affected by kidney disease.

About the Patient Support Service

The Patient Support Service provides practical, emotional and financial support for anyone affected by chronic kidney disease. Whatever the need presented, we empower people living with CKD and their families and carers to understand their options and make informed choices to positively navigate their experience of CKD. We’ll walk alongside them for as long as they need us to.

About the role

Our regional Patient Support Officers play a key role in establishing Kidney Care UK in their designated region and enabling patients, their families, carers and professionals to access independent support on social, financial, health advocacy and wellbeing.

You will proactively engage with kidney patients and their families as a source of advice, information, and support to improve care and wellbeing outcomes for kidney patients. You will seek to inform and empower individuals, providing the tools and knowledge to enable confident self-management and be the regional face of Kidney Care UK patient support services, raise awareness of the service and the Charity and build strong relationships with kidney patients, the renal units, Kidney Patient Associations (KPAs), health professionals and other kidney stakeholder groups in the region.

You will be responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the Patient Support 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.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Liaise with and support patients and their carers face to face and by telephone to provide information, advice and support on a range of personal, emotional and practical matters.
  • Through regular visits to renal units in your designated area, establish and maintain a presence to enable patients' easy access to Kidney Care UK support services.
  • Promote and attend local health information events to raise awareness of Kidney Care UK and the benefits of its Patient Support Service with kidney patients, their families and relevant health professionals
  • Establish and maintain strong relationships with the regional kidney community through fully engaging with KPAs, health professionals and relevant health and community stakeholder groups.
  • Maintain accurate records to allow effective reporting on key performance indicators such as number of patients supported, type of support provided, key needs etc.

About you

You will have an empathy with our patient group and an understanding of kidney disease and the needs of people with kidney disease, their families and carers. You will be able to work independently and have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written and above all have the ability to deal professionally, calmly and sympathetically with people affected by kidney disease.

An understanding of the relevant UK benefits legislation and entitlements is essential as is having excellent IT skills, including Word, Powerpoint and Excel. You will hold an Advice and Guidance qualification or be willing to complete it within 6 months of service in the role.

The role is home based but you will need to live within the region that you are applying for and have the ability to travel independently throughout the area on a regular basis and to attend national meetings/events as required. There will also be a requirement to undertake occasional evening and weekend work and some flexibility to be able to work some irregular hours to meet the needs of our patients.

The areas are as follows:

  • North East: Newcastle Upon Tyne, Sunderland and North Cumbria. This role is part funded by the North Gas Network through the vulnerability and carbon monoxide allowance fund.
  • South West: Cornwall, Devon, Exeter and Plymouth. This role is funded by Wales and West Utilities through the vulnerability and carbon monoxide allowance fund.

Please be aware that as they are funded positions they are fixed term posts until 31 May 2028. There is a possibility of extension but no guarantee.

Safeguarding statement

Kidney Care UK is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and Adults at Risk and expect all staff and volunteers to actively support this commitment. An Enhanced DBS will be required for this role.

How to apply

Please apply on CharityJob: Patient Support Officer. Applications will close on 14 July 2026.

Application resources

Kidney Care UK is a Disability Confident Employer. We welcome and encourage applications from disabled people, particularly those with lived experience of kidney disease.

We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you indicate in your application that you have a disability (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will guarantee you an interview. Click below for more information.