Welfare, and Social Liaison Advisor

Role Overview

The role combines specialist welfare benefits advice and casework with liaison, advocacy, and coordination across statutory and voluntary services. The aim is to improve patient outcomes by supporting access to appropriate services, promoting independence, and contributing to effective discharge planning and community care. The post holder will be responsible for delivering a high‑quality welfare advice and liaison service, ensuring that patients and their families receive timely, accurate, and appropriate support.

The post holder will work as part of the integrated Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia team to provide holistic support addressing the welfare, social, and practical needs of patients and their families. They will remain up to date with legislative changes in welfare benefits and associated systems, ensuring that colleagues and service users are informed of relevant updates and implications. The post holder will contribute to service development by identifying emerging patient needs and supporting improvements in service delivery.

They will also provide support to patients and their families with bereavement advice where required, ensuring appropriate referrals are made for further intervention and specialist support when necessary.

• Work closely with the sickle cell and thalassaemia patient population to address their non‑medical, welfare, and social needs.
• Form robust relationships with voluntary sector bodies in Hackney to explore opportunities for patients to access additional services and support.
• Critically appraise the current Homerton discharge pathway to identify opportunities for improved liaison, welfare input and sign‑posting.
• Deliver a clear and accessible pathway for the referral of newly identified cases into the service.
• Carry out holistic assessments of clients' and families' needs, including welfare and financial needs, and develop a management plan in conjunction with the client or their family.
• Hold responsibility for implementing the management plan with regular reviews alongside the client or their family.
• Provide specialist welfare benefits advice, including support with applications, mandatory reconsiderations, appeals, and tribunals.
• Support service users in completing benefit forms and written documentation, particularly where they are vulnerable or have additional needs.
• Work closely with the wider MDT to ensure patients maximise access to welfare and support services.
• Always act as an advocate on behalf of clients and their families, including representing them in meetings or formal settings where appropriate.
• Provide bereavement advice and support to patients and families, referring to appropriate services when required.