Patient Support Worker NHS Lothian

Working locally and nationally, Visibility Scotland affects positive change and improves outcomes for vision-impaired people of all ages. We want to empower and encourage children and adults to focus on what they can do, not what they cannot.

Visibility Scotland is recruiting a Patient Support Worker based in NHS Lothian, with occasional cover at St John’s Hospital and NHS GGC locations.

Visibility Scotland’s Patient Support Service offers tailored practical and emotional support to patients attending hospital eye clinic appointments and supports anyone affected by vision impairment. It bridges clinic support and community support.

The Patient Support Worker role provides emotional support, information, advice, and strategies while listening and responding to individuals with vision impairment.

The ideal candidate will be approachable, engaging, and confident in dealing with emerging situations. 

The role offers the rewarding opportunity to positively impact the lives of people with vision impairment through warmth, empathy, and non-judgmental listening. 

You will enjoy building effective relationships with NHS staff and other professionals. As an excellent communicator, you will be comfortable supporting people facing emotional and practical difficulties due to their vision impairment. 

Resilience, organisation, flexibility, and a confident outlook are essential qualities for the role. 

Patient Contact

• Provide one-to-one patient support (drop-in, telephone or virtual) 

• Deliver specialist advice and access to information for patients, the family and/or caregivers  

• To actively listen to and support people attending hospital eye departments, patients admitted to hospital and present with vision impairment and over the telephone

• To provide emotional support, impartial information, guidance, and practical support to people of all ages, their families, and carers

• Signpost and refer people to services 
• Demonstrate accessible technology, aids and equipment

Administration

• Processing referrals and Certificates of Visual Impairment 

• Updating client records and successfully managing cases on Visibility Scotland’s CRM 

• Responding to queries from external organisations and clinicians

• Following the referral process between Visibility Scotland and Sight Scotland 

• Liaising with admin staff at NHS sites

Team and partnership working

• To build effective relationships with hospital staff, Sight Scotland, social work staff and other appropriate agencies.

• To travel between hospital sites to cover planned and unplanned patient support worker absences as required.

• To deliver awareness-raising talks to various audiences (community-based and professional)
• Work closely with the Low Vision Clinic to support patients collaboratively.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a friendly, motivated and ambitious organisation. 

You will find the job description, equal opportunities form and details on how to apply on our website. Click the Apply button to be taken there.