Social Prescribing Link Worker

Job responsibilities

Role Purpose:

To support the practice in delivering excellent care by actively supporting patients to take control of their own health and well-being.

Provide personalised support

Take referrals from within the practice and the wider PCN partners for individuals who would benefit from social prescribing support.

Provide personalised support to individuals, their families and carers to take control of their health and wellbeing, live independently and improve their health access and outcomes

Co-produce Personalised Care and Support Plans to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or reconnecting people to appropriate community groups and statutory services.

Help people identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, being unemployed, loneliness and caring responsibilities, those who need support with low level mental health needs and long-term health conditions

Help people maintain or regain independence through living skills, adaptations, enablement approaches and simple safeguards

Where appropriate, physically introduce people to culturally appropriate community groups, activities and statutory services, ensuring they are comfortable, feel valued and respected

Where people may be eligible for a personal health budget, help them to explore this option as a way of providing funded, personalised support to be independent, including helping people to gain skills for meaningful employment, where appropriate

Work closely with the practice Care Coordinators, Health & Wellbeing Coaches, GPs and wider clinical team to provide holistic, joined up support for patients

Seek advice and support from your GP supervisor and/or identified individual(s) to discuss patient-related concerns (e.g. abuse, domestic violence and support with mental health), referring the patient back to the GP or other suitable health professional if required

Development Activity

Promote social prescribing and the practices wider proactive care services both internally and externally

Develop strong links with local health agencies and the voluntary and community sector and work collaboratively for the benefit of our local community.

Support the Social Prescribing Team Leader to develop projects aimed at addressing local health inequalities.

Develop a rolling system of targeted health and wellness campaigns including both national campaigns and locally identified priorities.

Educate non-clinical and clinical staff within the PCN s on what other services are available within the community and how and when patients can access them.

Encourage people who have been connected to community support through social prescribing to volunteer and give their time freely to others, building their skills and confidence and strengthening community resilience.

Support the Social Prescribing Team Leader to develop a team of volunteers, start new groups and find creative community solutions to local issues.

Reporting

Work sensitively with people, their families and carers to capture key information, enabling tracking of the impact of social prescribing on their health and wellbeing.

Produce case studies showing the impact of social prescribing.

Work closely with staff across the practice to ensure that the social prescribing referral codes are inputted into clinical systems.

Maintain effective records of activity and produce reports as required.

Provide agreed performance/activity data.

This job description is intended to provide an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities only. There may be other duties required of the post-holder commensurate with the position. This description will be open to regular review and may be amended to take into account development within the Practice. All members of staff should be prepared to take on additional duties or relinquish existing duties in order to maintain the efficient running of the Practice.

This job description is intended as a basic guide to the scope and responsibilities of the post and is not exhaustive. It will be subject to regular review and amendment as necessary in consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Have a proactive, positive, can do approach
• Able to understand and prioritise the needs of patients
• Comfortable working in a team and providing a strong role model
• Able to demonstrate the principles of equality and inclusion in all aspects of this role
• Ability to listen, empathise with people and provide person-centred support in a non judgemental way
• Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
• Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential
• Able to gain the confidence of others
• Able and willing to work across all HH sites
• Able and willing to homework as required by the practice
• Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required (including holiday cover)
• Able to demonstrate alignment with the values of the practice

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 3, Advanced level or equivalent qualifications or working towards
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Educated to degree level
• Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in community development, adult health and social care, learning support or public health/health improvement
• Experience of supporting people, their families and carers in a professional capacity
• Experience of working with voluntary, community or social enterprise sector
• Experience of working with volunteers and community groups
• Experience of data collection and providing monitoring information to assess the impact of services
• Experience of partnership working and of building relationships across a range of ...