Job summary
Are you a people person? Are you passionate about health and wellbeing?
We are looking for six enthusiastic Social Prescribing Link Workers (SPLWs) to join the North Southwark Primary Care Network (PCN).
As a SPLW, you will be working in partnership with our GP practices across North Southwark supporting individuals to take better control of their health and wellbeing.
Referrals to SPLWs may include one of many reasons, including people living with inactive lifestyles, long term conditions, social isolation, mental health, debt, poor housing and those struggling with daily routine.
You will identify what matters to the person and help them navigate opportunities and access services. You will ensure holistic personalised care, set goals, and find solutions to enable positive change and self-management
Main duties of the job
You will have an information/advice (third sector), social care or health background, be computer literate, an excellent communicator and able to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Experience of person-centred care and of working with volunteers is desirable.
It is important that you promote a culture that values, protects and uses information for the success of the organisation and benefit of people it serves.
The ability to work confidently and effectively in a diverse and sometimes challenging environment is essential.
You will have a passion for working with people, energy, initiative, flexibility, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
About us
The post is based in North Southwark and travel across the locality will be required.
In return, we offer a competitive salary, pension and a comprehensive induction and training program
Job description
Job responsibilities
Purpose of the role
Social prescribing link workers will be a key member of the primary care network (PCN) multidisciplinary team providing dedicated support and advice. They will act as a bridge between the PCN and the community and help individuals access social prescribing.
Social prescribing will help our PCN to strengthen community and personal resilience and reduce health and wellbeing inequalities. It helps to addresses the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity increasing peoples active involvement within their local communities. It particularly works for people with long term conditions, mental health issues, those who are lonely or isolated, or have complex social needs affecting their wellbeing. Through personalised support plans, goals and motivational interviewing techniques, Social Prescribing Link Workers can help facilitate a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.
Please refer to the attached job description for full duties
Job description
Job responsibilities
Purpose of the role
Social prescribing link workers will be a key member of the primary care network (PCN) multidisciplinary team providing dedicated support and advice. They will act as a bridge between the PCN and the community and help individuals access social prescribing.
Social prescribing will help our PCN to strengthen community and personal resilience and reduce health and wellbeing inequalities. It helps to addresses the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity increasing peoples active involvement within their local communities. It particularly works for people with long term conditions, mental health issues, those who are lonely or isolated, or have complex social needs affecting their wellbeing. Through personalised support plans, goals and motivational interviewing techniques, Social Prescribing Link Workers can help facilitate a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.
Please refer to the attached job description for full duties
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to minimum of NVQ Level 3, advanced Level or equivalent qualifications or working towards.
- Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal development of themselves and colleagues.
Desirable
- Training in motivational coaching and interviewing, or equivalent experience.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working closely with a wide range of stakeholders across organisations and sectors, especially with NHS/ healthcare professionals.
- Knowledge and/or experience of working with a variety of social issues, e.g. housing, benefits, carers, etc.
- Experience of signposting to other organisations sensibly and practically, to ensure that patients are navigated through the system.
Desirable
- At least 2 years experience of providing one to one support to vulnerable people, including those with physical and mental health issues (including unpaid work).
- Experience of delivering lifestyle changes interventions
- Experience of using personalised care plans, setting goals and objectives.
- Experience of working in an open, community setting/ environment including in outreach venues, in a highly flexible manner (including unpaid roles).
- Experience of leading and developing service improvements with complex scope and tight timescales with minimal guidance.
- Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations.
- Experience of data collection and providing monitoring information to assess the impact of services and assist staff development.
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Self-starter - comfortable working autonomously in the community and feeding back to the necessary organisations, as appropriate.
- Ability to problem-solve when researching the best potential options for support/services.
- Ability to work well in a team working with a variety of different service providers across the neighbourhood to contribute to social prescribing goals support and coaching other volunteers/navigators.
- Able to establish positive boundaries with patients.
- Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities.
- Knowledge of community development approaches.
- Knowledge of IT systems including ability to use word processing tools, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
- Willingness to work flexible hours when required, to meet work demands.
- Ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis, including visiting people in their own homes.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the personalised care approaches.
- Knowledge of VCS and community services in north Southwark.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to minimum of NVQ Level 3, advanced Level or equivalent qualifications or working towards.
- Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal development of themselves and colleagues.
Desirable
- Training in motivational coaching and interviewing, or equivalent experience.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working closely with a wide range of stakeholders across organisations and sectors, especially with NHS/ healthcare professionals.
- Knowledge and/or experience of working with a variety of social issues, e.g. housing, benefits, carers, etc.
- Experience of signposting to other organisations sensibly and practically, to ensure that patients are navigated through the system.
Desirable
- At least 2 years experience of providing one to one support to vulnerable people, including those with physical and mental health issues (including unpaid work).
- Experience of delivering lifestyle changes interventions
- Experience of using personalised care plans, setting goals and objectives.
- Experience of working in an open, community setting/ environment including in outreach venues, in a highly flexible manner (including unpaid roles).
- Experience of leading and developing service improvements with complex scope and tight timescales with minimal guidance.
- Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations.
- Experience of data collection and providing monitoring information to assess the impact of services and assist staff development.
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Self-starter - comfortable working autonomously in the community and feeding back to the necessary organisations, as appropriate.
- Ability to problem-solve when researching the best potential options for support/services.
- Ability to work well in a team working with a variety of different service providers across the neighbourhood to contribute to social prescribing goals support and coaching other volunteers/navigators.
- Able to establish positive boundaries with patients.
- Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities.
- Knowledge of community development approaches.
- Knowledge of IT systems including ability to use word processing tools, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
- Willingness to work flexible hours when required, to meet work demands.
- Ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis, including visiting people in their own homes.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the personalised care approaches.
- Knowledge of VCS and community services in north Southwark.
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.