Job summary
North Care Network is seeking an enthusiastic and committed Social Prescribing Link Worker to join our vibrant and welcoming PCN.
Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to a non-medical link worker who take a holistic approach, connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.
Social prescribing can help to strengthen community and personal resilience and reduce health inequalities by signposting patients to services who can help with debt, poor housing and physical inactivity. It particularly works for patients with long-term conditions, mental health issues, for those who are lonely, isolated, or have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.
Main duties of the job
The main duties of a Social Prescribing Link Worker include:
Manage a list of patients referred from the PCN practices as well as those who have self-referred.
As a key member of the PCN team, you will provide personalised support to individuals, their families and carers to take control of their health and wellbeing, live independently and improve their health outcomes. You will develop trusting relationships with patients by focusing on what matters to them. Using a holistic approach, based on the persons priorities and health concerns. Working with members of the wider team, you will develop:
A simple personalised care and support plan to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or reconnecting people to community groups, VCSE organisations and statutory services.
Build positive relationships that promote a two-way referral process with statutory services, charities and community groups.
By developing strong links with local agencies.
Seek advice and support from the GPs and a wider team to discuss patient-related concerns, referring the patient back to the GP or other suitable health professional if required.
Adhere to organisational policies and procedures within the PCN, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety.
About us
North Care Network is a forward-thinking Primary Care Network based in North Lincolnshire, with a registered patient population of 33,884 across the 3 member practices. Our multidisciplinary teams are committed to improving outcomes for our patients by providing high quality care and all 3 of our members practices are rated good by CQC.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Purpose of the role
Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to link workers who give time, focus on what matters to me and take a holistic approach to an individuals health and wellbeing, connecting people to diverse community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support. Link workers also support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all local diverse partners.
Social prescribing link workers will work as a key part of the primary care network (PCN) multi-disciplinary team. Social prescribing can help PCNs to strengthen community and personal resilience, reduce health inequalities (in relation to timely access and outcomes) and wellbeing inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity, by increasing peoples active involvement with their local diverse communities. It particularly works for people with long term conditions (including support for mental health), for people who are lonely or isolated, or have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.
Key Responsibilities
Working with direct supervision by a GP, take referrals from a wide range of agencies, including the PCNs GP practices and wider multi-disciplinary teams, hospital discharge teams, allied health professionals, fire service, police, job centres, social care services, housing associations, and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations (list not exhaustive).
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, as a key member of the PCN multi-disciplinary team. Develop trusting relationships by giving people time and focus on what matters to me. Take a holistic approach, based on the persons priorities and the wider determinants of health. Co-produce a simple personalised care and support plan to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or reconnecting people to appropriate community groups and statutory services. The role will require managing and prioritising your own caseload, in accordance with the needs, priorities and any urgent support required by individuals on the caseload. It is vital that you have a strong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other health professionals/agencies, when what the persons needs are beyond the scope of the link worker role e.g. when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner.
Work with a diverse range of people and communities, to draw on and increase the strengths and capacities of local communities, enabling local VCSE organisations and community groups (including faith groups) to receive social prescribing referrals.
Alongside other members of the PCN multi-disciplinary team, work collaboratively with all local diverse partners to contribute towards supporting the local VCSE organisations and community groups to become sustainable and that community assets are nurtured, through sharing intelligence regarding any gaps or problems identified in local provision with commissioners and local authorities.
Social prescribing link workers will have a role in educating non-clinical and clinical staff within their PCN multi-disciplinary teams on what other services are available within the community and how and when patients can access them. This may include verbal or written advice and guidance.
Please see job description and person specification documents attached to this advert for more detail, including an indication of the tasks you will be performing and a list of essential and desirable criteria.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Purpose of the role
Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to link workers who give time, focus on what matters to me and take a holistic approach to an individuals health and wellbeing, connecting people to diverse community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support. Link workers also support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all local diverse partners.
Social prescribing link workers will work as a key part of the primary care network (PCN) multi-disciplinary team. Social prescribing can help PCNs to strengthen community and personal resilience, reduce health inequalities (in relation to timely access and outcomes) and wellbeing inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity, by increasing peoples active involvement with their local diverse communities. It particularly works for people with long term conditions (including support for mental health), for people who are lonely or isolated, or have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.
Key Responsibilities
Working with direct supervision by a GP, take referrals from a wide range of agencies, including the PCNs GP practices and wider multi-disciplinary teams, hospital discharge teams, allied health professionals, fire service, police, job centres, social care services, housing associations, and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations (list not exhaustive).
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, as a key member of the PCN multi-disciplinary team. Develop trusting relationships by giving people time and focus on what matters to me. Take a holistic approach, based on the persons priorities and the wider determinants of health. Co-produce a simple personalised care and support plan to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or reconnecting people to appropriate community groups and statutory services. The role will require managing and prioritising your own caseload, in accordance with the needs, priorities and any urgent support required by individuals on the caseload. It is vital that you have a strong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other health professionals/agencies, when what the persons needs are beyond the scope of the link worker role e.g. when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner.
Work with a diverse range of people and communities, to draw on and increase the strengths and capacities of local communities, enabling local VCSE organisations and community groups (including faith groups) to receive social prescribing referrals.
Alongside other members of the PCN multi-disciplinary team, work collaboratively with all local diverse partners to contribute towards supporting the local VCSE organisations and community groups to become sustainable and that community assets are nurtured, through sharing intelligence regarding any gaps or problems identified in local provision with commissioners and local authorities.
Social prescribing link workers will have a role in educating non-clinical and clinical staff within their PCN multi-disciplinary teams on what other services are available within the community and how and when patients can access them. This may include verbal or written advice and guidance.
Please see job description and person specification documents attached to this advert for more detail, including an indication of the tasks you will be performing and a list of essential and desirable criteria.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Has completed the NHS England and online learning programme for Social Prescribing Links Workers.
Desirable
- Is enrolled in, undertaking or qualified from appropriate training including training or apprenticeships to obtain a level three occupational standard, as set out in the Workforce Development Framework for Social Prescribing Link Workers.
Experience
Essential
- Ability to listen, empathise with people.
- Experience of working with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
- Knowledge of IT systems, including ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports
- Knowledge of clinical systems used in the primary care setting.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Has completed the NHS England and online learning programme for Social Prescribing Links Workers.
Desirable
- Is enrolled in, undertaking or qualified from appropriate training including training or apprenticeships to obtain a level three occupational standard, as set out in the Workforce Development Framework for Social Prescribing Link Workers.
Experience
Essential
- Ability to listen, empathise with people.
- Experience of working with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
- Knowledge of IT systems, including ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports
- Knowledge of clinical systems used in the primary care setting.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
