Family Outreach Officer - Clinic Based

You’ll spend 3.5 days each week on-site across Royal London Hospital and St Mary’s in Central London, based in the Paediatric Ophthalmology Department; with the flexibility to work from home for the remainder of the week. The working hours for this role are Monday to Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm.

Central to this role is working closely with Ophthalmologists and clinical staff as part of a team offering high-quality advice and guidance to families during a critical stage of their diagnostic journey, requiring empathy, strong situational awareness, and demonstrable experience. This role will require you to adhere to values, policies and procedures of both Barts Health NHS Trust and Guide Dogs.

As a Family Outreach Officer at Guide Dogs, you’ll be responsible for providing information, advice and guidance service to parents, carers and families of Children and Young People with a vision impairment and to refer families appropriately, empowering them to access support and services that will assist them to realise their required outcomes. This is done through a combined service offer of virtual and in-person conversations.

• Provide high-quality information, advice and guidance to families of children and young people, via phone, digital platforms and in person within the Paediatric Ophthalmology Department.
• Manage a caseload, supporting families at key stages including around initial diagnosis, and signposting to relevant services where appropriate; to include, Health, Education, Welfare and Social Care.
• Deliver person-centred support, gathering information to develop outcome-focused action plans.
• Build and maintain strong knowledge of SEND legislation, processes and available services to effectively support families.
• Work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to ensure co-ordinated care and support, facilitating smooth communication across services.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in line with service standards and reporting requirements.
• Support outreach activity, including attending community or clinical settings and contributing to events or workshops where required.
• Complete necessary paperwork for registration and refer families to relevant Guide Dog Services, as well as statutory and voluntary agencies for further support.
• Assist families with external funding applications.
• Raise awareness of Guide Dogs Services and activities, ensuring families know about the full range of support available.

About you: You’re a compassionate, empathetic and highly motivated professional, with a strong commitment to improving outcomes for children, young people and their families. You are inspired by Guide Dogs’ mission to support people with sight loss to live the life they choose, and passionate about empowering families of children and young people with vision impairment to feel confident, informed and supported throughout their journey.

• Ability to build professional, person-centred relationships with families across face-to-face, phone and digital channels.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage a range of audiences.
• Effective organisational, time management and planning skills, including managing a varied workload.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, using initiative when required.
• Experience of working empathetically and sensitively with families and young people.
• Competent in using IT systems, including Microsoft Office and databases, with an understanding of data protection (GDPR).

26 days annual leave. After three years of continuous employment, this increases to 28 days plus bank holidays. Real Living Wage Employer Flex pot - equal to a proportion of your annual salary to use on our wide variety of flexible benefits. The option to buy and sell annual leave. Discounts and cash-back scheme. Excellent pension scheme (We will match your pension contributions plus 2% up to a maximum of 9% employer contribution). And lots more!