Social Prescribing Link Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

Principal Accountabilities:

To undertake holistic assessments, in the GP surgery or at home if the patient is housebound, and co-design health and wellbeing plans with individual service users, identifying support needs to ensure maximum engagement in improving health and wellbeing through face to face and virtual contacts as appropriate

To provide service users with continuity and a coordinated experience of care, remaining point of contact throughout the individuals social prescription.

To establish and maintain effective liaison and build relationships with stakeholders including health, voluntary, social and education resources, attending relevant meetings as necessary in Trafford or Greater Manchester

To work in partnership with voluntary and community organisations to build a comprehensive and up to date database of local resources

Develop high-quality support materials including wellbeing packs and advice materials tailored for different audiences and utilise existing resources in wider community to support the role

Produce tangible examples of best practice which can be highlighted/shared

Work closely with VCSE and health partners to ensure social prescribing is integrated in all future planning

Develop GPs and primary care health teams knowledge on how to identify patients suitable for social prescribing service referral

Maintain comprehensive data collation/ evaluation to provide quarterly outcome focused reports detailing the progress of the service

Report updates to Altrincham Healthcare Alliance PCNs monthly meeting

Maintain records of your work and adhere to confidentiality, information sharing protocols and provide monitoring information as required

Ensure you have an understanding (appropriate to your role) of, and comply with safeguarding procedures to protect the welfare of children and vulnerable adults

Comply with PCN practices Health and Safety Policy, Data Protection Policy and to protect the health, safety and welfare of yourself and others

Work flexibly as required by the service and take part in Altrincham Health Alliance PCN and relevant organisations meetings and events to promote, support and celebrate the work of the service

Work with the existing Social Prescribing Link Workers in AHA PCN in a collaborative role to ensure a consistent, high level of service is being delivered effectively to patients

Develop full integration of social prescribing service within the community

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 3, Advanced level, or equivalent qualifications or working towards
• Demonstrable commitment to professional personal development

Desirable

• Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience

Personal qualities and attributes

Essential

• Ability to actively listen, empathise with people and provide person-centred support in a non-judgemental way
• Ability to provide a culturally sensitive service - supporting people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
• Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from diverse communities
• Ability to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence
• Motivating others to reach their potential
• Ability to communicate effectively and clearly verbally and in writing - with all people, their families, carers, community groups, partner agencies, stakeholders
• Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
• Have a strong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other health professionals/agencies. Be aware of when the persons needs are beyond the scope of the link worker role eg. when there is a mental health requirement needing a qualified practitioner
• Able to work from an asset-based approach building on existing community and personal assets
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships and promote collaborative practice with all colleagues
• Commitment to collaborative working with all local agencies (including VCSE organisations and community groups) Able to work with others to reduce hierarchies and find creative solutions to community issues
• Can demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and ability to work well under pressure
• Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative (including when under pressure and meeting deadlines)
• High level of written and verbal communications skills
• Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or on own initiative. Self-motivated.
• Proven ability to mentor/guide/advise and lead others to ensure their development
• Understanding the needs of small volunteer-led community groups and an ability to support their development
• Able to provide motivational coaching to support peoples behaviour change
• Knowledge of, and ability to work to, policies and procedures including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance and health and safety
• Proven ability of problem-solving, creativity and demonstrating support
• Professional, motivated, innovator able to present, communicate and engage all audiences

Skills and knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of personalised care approach
• Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities, individuals, their families and carers
• Knowledge of community development approaches
• Understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion
• Knowledge of IT systems, including ability to use word processing skills, email and internet to create plans and reports (eg.Word, Powerpoint, Excel)
• Knowledge of VCSE and community services in the locality

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working directly in a community development context, adult health and social care, learning support or public health/health improvement for more than one year (including unpaid work)
• Experience of supporting people, their families and carers in a related role (including unpaid work)
• Experience of supporting people with their mental health, with in a paid or unpaid or informal capacity
• Experience of working with the VCSE sector in paid or unpaid capacity including with volunteers or small groups
• Experience of data collation and collection and using tools to measure the impact of services
• Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations
• Experience of overseeing/mentoring/managing staff and being responsible for their development
• Experience of producing and implementing co-ordinated plans of work and delivering successful outcomes which have benefitted patients
• Experience of developing strong relationships with new groups and maximising collaborative working opportunities

Other

Essential

• Meets DBS reference standards and criminal reference checks
• Willingness to work flexible hours when required to meet work demands
• Access to own transport and an ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis including to visit people in their own homes

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Altrincham Healthcare Alliance PCN

Address

Lloyd House

7 Lloyd Street

Altrincham

Cheshire

WA14 2DD

Employer's website

https://www.altrinchamhealthcarealliance.co.uk/EN/index.aspx#Home--0--0-- (Opens in a new tab)