Peer Volunteer Support Lead (Hackney)

ABOUT THE HEPATITIS C TRUST

The Hepatitis C Trust is a charity dedicated to eliminating hepatitis C in the UK by 2030. We champion the right of every person at risk of hepatitis C in the UK to receive effective testing, treatment and care.

We achieve this by empowering people with lived experience, influencing policy and practice, and working with healthcare and treatment services to deliver support and raise awareness about hepatitis C.

The Hepatitis C Trust was founded in 2001 by four people who met while looking for ways to manage their condition. At that time, there was no effective treatment for hepatitis C and there was no central source for reliable information about the virus.

Determined to do something, these founders formed the UK’s first and only dedicated hepatitis C charity. More than 20 years later, The Hepatitis C Trust has become the leading voice for people affected by hepatitis C in the UK.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Hepatitis C Trust (HCT) is a national charity that supports people who may find it difficult to access healthcare. We work with people affected by hepatitis C, people who use substances, and other communities who experience health inequalities.

HCT uses lived experience to help people access health and support services. Our peer workers and volunteers provide education, harm reduction advice, blood-borne virus (BBV) testing, needle and syringe provision (NSP), and support individuals to access treatment and care.

As the Peer Volunteer Support Lead, under the guidance of the Project Manager, you will be responsible for the recruitment, development, and coordination of volunteer peers for the Harm Reduction hub in Hackney.

The role ensures that high-quality supervision, training, and development are delivered to volunteer peers, underpinned by the Hep C Trust peer volunteer programme.

You will collaborate closely with the Project Manager, local substance use services, health services, and external organisations. The role includes occasional out-of-hours outreach via a mobile van, working directly with sex-working communities and individuals with multiple complex needs.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ROLE

Peer Volunteer Support

• Lead the proactive, innovative, and diverse recruitment of lived experience peers by advertising across volunteer, public sector, drug and alcohol, hostel, and homeless services in Hackney.
• Ensure all volunteer peers are fully inducted and trained to the highest standard using the framework of the HCT Volunteer training programme.
• Conduct initial onboarding documentation, manage regular supervisions, maintain close contact, and systematically support peer volunteer wellbeing.
• Actively assess and identify ongoing training or support needs among peer volunteers.
• Work in close partnership with the Volunteer Department.
• Ensure all volunteers thoroughly understand and strictly adhere to HCT organizational policies, including Equal Opportunities, Confidentiality, GDPR, Health and Safety, and Risk Assessments.

Service Delivery

• Prepare and equip volunteer peers to support all core elements of the service, including the Ambassador programme.
• Support and deliver needle and syringe provision.
• Support naloxone distribution and harm reduction advice.
• Promote and support hepatitis C and other BBV testing.
• Assist people with accessing treatment, healthcare and other support.
• Conduct outreach work on foot and through mobile van sessions when needed.

Partnership Working

• Build, foster, and maintain professional working relationships with local drug and alcohol services, hostels, pharmacies, and street outreach teams.
• Collaborate seamlessly with NHS and clinical teams to ensure client pathways into testing, treatment, and ongoing care are barrier-free.
• Work collaboratively with the regional Hepatitis Operational Delivery Network (ODN) to champion effective patient pathways.
• Educate and advocate among partner organisations regarding the specific needs, systemic stigmas, and barriers faced by individuals who use substances.

Education and Health Promotion

• Identify emerging training gaps and professional development opportunities for peer networks.
• Promote and strategically market the HCT volunteer training programme across Hackney.

Data, Monitoring and Reporting

• Maintain accurate records of all volunteer actions, NSP engagement, and peer-led interventions.
• Utilise specific HCT database frameworks to monitor, measure, and evaluate local hub activity output.
• Contribute high-quality data to stakeholder reports, formal audits, and impact evaluations.
• Ensure all gathered client and asset information is held securely, respecting strict confidentiality protocols.

Professional Development & General

• Actively participate in regular line management, team check-ins, clinical supervision, and annual appraisals.
• Commit to continuous professional development, expanding clinical knowledge of hepatitis C, harm reduction trends, and IT/data workflows.
• Ensure absolute protection of sensitive data in strict adherence with GDPR, adult safeguarding frameworks, and health and safety law.
• Undergo a mandatory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

Essential Skills & Abilities

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proven ability to build deep trust, rapport, and work effectively with people who use substances and highly marginalized populations.
• Strong self-motivation with the ability to work independently, manage your own schedule, and exercise initiative.
• Good organisational, administrative, and data entry competencies.
• Capable of balancing competing priorities and managing operational tasks calmly under pressure.
• Strong technical literacy with basic IT systems and data management software.
• A profound, non-judgmental commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and reducing health inequalities.

Essential Experience

• Experience supporting vulnerable individuals with multi-layered complex needs (e.g., substance use, housing insecurity, mental health challenges). This includes personal lived experience or professional background.
• Proven experience directly managing, supervising, mentoring, or leading volunteers or peers.
• Experience designing, delivering, or coordinating training, educational workshops, or group sessions.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with external multi-agency partners or services.
• Hands-on experience delivering or supporting frontline harm reduction initiatives.

Desirable Experience, Skills & Knowledge

• Working knowledge of Blood-Borne Viruses (Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV).
• Practical experience conducting community street outreach or working in mobile clinical environments.
• Experience compiling data for formal stakeholder reports or service evaluations.
• Experience working in partnership with the NHS, local authority substance use teams, or statutory health networks.
• Personal, lived experience of hepatitis C or navigating substance use recovery (highly valued).
• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent qualification in Health and Social Care, Information, Advice or Guidance (IAG), or related discipline.
• A full, clean UK driving licence.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

TO APPLY, PLEASE UPLOAD YOUR (up-to-date) CV AFTER CAREFUL REVIEW, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AN APPLICATION FORM TO INCLUDE EXAMPLES OF HOW YOU MEET EACH OF THE ESSENTIALS AND DESIRABLE CRITERIA ON THE PERSON SPECIFICATION. 

PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOUR CV CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION 

1. Personal Profile (Ensure this section is tailored to the specific role you are applying for).
2. Employment History (List in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent role).
3. Education, Training, and Qualifications (List in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent, and including secondary school education).

Location: North East London (Mainly Hackney & City of London)

Salary: £28,860 – £29,500 pro rata (plus travel contributions and other benefits)

Contract: 12-month fixed term contract (with possible extension)