Sussex Liver Surveillance Peer Support Lead at The Hepatitis C Trust

Hepatitis C Trust is a patient-led organisation, and you will be working in an environment where the patient/service user/client is placed at the centre of all that you do. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a new project, within an existing team, across the Sussex area.

The Liver Surveillance Peer Support Lead will work closely with the Peer Programme Manager at The Hepatitis C Trust, as well as the Project Manager and clinical teams at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, to develop and deliver peer support for patients with cirrhosis or at risk of liver cancer. This will also require close liaison with other local district hospitals across Sussex as the programme expands.

The postholder will help coordinate work between hospital services, community providers, and The Hepatitis C Trust’s peer programme to keep patients engaged in care. They will work alongside the nurse specialist overseeing surveillance, contributing to hospital tracking systems that monitor patient progress using the HCC registry.

The postholder will maintain regular contact with patients, help address barriers to attendance, and support continuity of care. They will also work with the existing team of Sussex peers and volunteers to integrate peer support into the liver surveillance pathway, drawing on additional volunteer involvement to meet specific needs.

Key Responsibilities:
• To support the delivery of the Liver Cancer Surveillance Service across Sussex.
• To deliver one to one ‘buddy’ support for patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.
• To ensure that people with liver cirrhosis are offered referral and support to attend specialist liver cancer surveillance services.
• Work alongside the clinical nurse specialist to support surveillance tracking and contribute to coordinated monitoring and care planning.
• Work closely with clinical teams across the network to help identify patients who need support, contribute to tracking systems, and share updates on engagement and progress.
• Work closely with the Hepatitis C Trust’s peer team, including the Peer Programme Manager, and Peer Support Leads, to ensure collaboration across peer activities and to address any issues arising from the peer and ‘buddy’ programme.
• Liaise with the liver cancer surveillance navigators to coordinate the attendance of people with liver cirrhosis at liver cancer surveillance scans.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with services that support people at risk of liver disease, such as drug and alcohol services, homelessness support organisations, outreach providers, and adult social care teams.
• Liaise with support providers to coordinate peer led training and awareness sessions on liver health and help generate opportunities for scanning and testing events.

• To develop expertise in and act as a source of specialist advice to both statutory and voluntary sector organisations working with people affected by liver cirrhosis and HCV, particularly those within the substance misuse and alcohol support field.
• To network widely with relevant external agencies, drug & alcohol service providers and other multi-agency networks to raise awareness of liver health, HCV, and the Hepatitis C Trust’s peer services, and prompt improved responses to the specific needs of people affected by hepatitis C & liver cirrhosis.
• Deliver education on liver health & hepatitis C to anyone deemed at risk of liver cirrhosis.
• Strengthen partnerships with hepatology teams and clinics across the network to support care coordination and continuity for patients.