Renal Social Work Service

Whether you are newly diagnosed or have been living with a kidney condition for a long time, we recognise that it can affect all areas of a person’s life.  Employment, finances, housing, relationships and self-image are all impacted and we are here to help and support. We also offer support to all family members and carers. We help with:

• Benefits: help to work out what you may be entitled to and assistance with completing forms. We have a benefits advisor one day a week for specialist advice
• Finances: advice about bills, debt management and the possibility of getting help from renal charities, for example, towards taking a holiday
• Housing: help to apply for housing, transfer to more suitable accommodation, or getting adaptations done
• Practical help at home: provide information about the help that is available from your local Social Services Department and how to access this help
• Aids and Equipment: making referrals to Occupational Therapists in the community
• Social care: advice on and making referrals for being assessed for carer support at home
• Relatives and carers: advice about getting practical help, relief or respite for carers
• Work issues: help to understand your rights as an employee through referral to appropriate specialist agencies
• Legal issues: basic advice and information about immigration issues, power of attorney and making wills, while also referring to specialist agencies
• Treatment choice decisions: we work with the nursing team to provide information about different treatment pathways
• Peer Support Service: we can arrange for you to speak to a trained patient volunteer about their experiences of renal treatments

Our patient information leaflet explains in more detail the support we offer.