Social Prescribing Link Worker - Cancer Focused

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will:

Take referrals to support patients living with a cancer diagnosis or their carers, initial contact with patients or their carers ideally will be within 12 weeks of diagnosis.

Ensure all necessary data and information about patients is recorded accurately and entered confidentially on EMIS database or other NHS collection methods, with awareness of information governance best practice. This includes patients diagnosis is coded correctly etc.

Work in partnership with key staff in GP practices within the Malling Primary Care Network (PCN), attending relevant meetings, becoming part of the wider network team, giving information and feedback on social prescribing to ensure promotion of the service.

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

Develop trusting relationships by giving cancer patients 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 personalised support plan (action plan) to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or reconnecting people to community groups and statutory services.

Manage and prioritise advice and service own caseload, in accordance with the needs, priorities and any urgent support required by individual.

Proactively contact and engage with the local agencies to encourage referrals and to promote self-referrals from cancer patients.

Motivate, empower and encourage people to take positive action to improve their health and wellbeing, by connecting with others, attending groups, promoting self-care, volunteering, accessing advice and information and support services.

Work with people in a supportive, holistic way focussing on strength-based assessment to address practical and psychological barriers, such as lack of transport, low confidence and social isolation, to co-produce a solution.

Refer people back to other health professionals/agencies, when the person has needs beyond the scope of the link worker role e.g. when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner

Seek opportunities and activities in the local area which people could benefit from, such as local community groups, make contact, engage them in the service.

Confirm that the appropriate SNOMED codes are used on EMIS with awareness of information governance best practice.

Engage with Patient Participation Groups so they may be aware of the role and cascade information to their groups.

Work closely with partners particularly Community Navigators and One You advisors, to ensure support for patients is complimentary and people access the right service for their needs.

Any other tasks and responsibilities that may be identified as necessary as the service evolves and develops.

Proactively manage their own health, wellbeing, and resilience to ensure that they can provide consistent, quality support to people.

Demonstrate and work to the PCNs values embedding them in daily practice.

Service Development

Monitor using defined tools, the outcomes and impact of care coordination on health and wellbeing.

Actively seek feedback from people, their families and carers about the impact of care coordination.

Identify any health trends/issues and report to the Clinical Lead to enable system learning and action.

Identify opportunities and gaps in the service and provide feedback to continually improve the service and contribute to business planning.

Contribute to risk and impact assessments, monitoring and evaluations of the service.

Work with commissioners, integrated locality teams and other agencies to support and further develop the role.

General

Duty of Care: Put the interest and needs of the patients first and foremost.

Ensure that work is delivered in a timely and effective manner.

Contribute to the development of policies and plans relating to equality, diversity and reduction of health inequalities.

Contribute to the wider aims and objectives of the PCN to improve and support Primary Care.

Adhere to organisational policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, equality, diversity and inclusion training and health and safety.

Undertake continual personal and professional development, providing evidence of learning where required.

Take an active part in regular appraisals.

Equality and Diversity

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

• Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation.
• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.
• Behaving in a manner that is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Communication

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

Communicate effectively with other team members.

Communicate effectively with patients and carers.

Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

Confidentiality

All employees are required to observe the strictest confidence with regard to any patient/client information that they may have access to, or accidentally gain knowledge of, in the course of their duties.

All employees are required to observe the strictest confidence regarding any information relating to the work of the Primary Care Network and its employees. You are required not to disclose any confidential information either during or after your employment with the Primary Care Network, other than in accordance with the relevant professional codes. Failure to comply with these regulations whilst in the employment of the Primary Care Network could result in action being taken.

Data Protection

All employees must adhere to the appropriate and relevant national and local data and information governance procedures and principles on the protection and use of personal information.

Health and safety

The Primary Care Network expects all staff to have a commitment to promoting and maintaining a safe and healthy environment and be responsible for their own and others welfare.

Risk Management

You will be responsible for adopting the risk management culture and ensuring that you identify and assess all risks to your systems, processes and environment and report such risks for inclusion within the Primary Care Network risk register. You will also attend mandatory and statutory training, report all incidents / accidents, including near misses, and report unsafe occurrences.

Safeguarding

Recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns in line with local policy. Seek supervision to guide safeguarding practice.

No smoking

The Primary Care Network supports no smoking; therefore staff are not permitted to smoke whilst on duty. All staff members are expected to recognise their role as ambassadors for a healthy lifestyle. As such, staff should not smoke whilst in uniform, in NHS vehicles or on the Primary Care Network or other healthcare premises.

Rehabilitation of offenders Act 1994

Because of the nature of the work, this post is exempt from the provisions of Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1994 (Exceptions) Order 1995. Applicants for posts are not entitled to withhold information about convictions which for other purposes are spent under the provisions of the Act and in the event of employment any failure to disclose such convictions could result in disciplinary action or dismissal by the Practice. Any information given will be completely confidential and will be considered only in relation to an applicant of a position to which the order applies.

Job Description Agreement

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 this position as requested by Malling PCN. This description will be open to regular review and may be amended to consider the development of the network. 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 PCN.

Improving working Lives

You will be expected to give a commitment to apply the principles of improving working lives, and participate in any events and initiatives as and when appropriate

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualifications*
• GCSE grade A-C in Maths
• & English or skills level 2 in Maths
• & English (or equivalent)
• Skills Knowledge and Experience
• Knowledge of how the NHS works, including primary care and PCNs
• Experience of working in health, social care and other support roles in direct contact with people, families or carers (in a paid or voluntary capacity)
• Experience of working within multi-professional team environments
• Experience or training in personalised care and support planning
• Experience of providing motivational coaching to support peoples behaviour change
• Knowledge of Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults policies and processes
• Able to work without day to day supervision
• Ability to identify risk and assess / manage risk when working with individuals,
• Ability to recognise and work within limits of competence and seek advice when needed Outgoing, energetic, and positive about improving the wellbeing of others and their communityExcellent communication skills, able to negotiate, build relationships, advocate for people and inspire others Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills
• Work effectively independently and as a team member
• Able to build effective working relationship with people, families and professionals.
• Experience of data collection and using tools to measure the impact of services
• Ability to produce timely and informative reports
• Ability to manage a case load
• Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative, including when under pressure and meeting deadlines
• Ability to respond to unexpected events.
• Experience of working in the community to set up groups and activities
• Committed to the delivery of fair and equitable services
• Committed to providing high quality services that promote better outcomes for people
• Positive attitude
• Committed to collaborative working
• Good understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships
• Ability to provide a culturally sensitive service supporting people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
• DBS reference standards and criminal record checks
• Willingness to work flexible hours when required to meet work demands
• Ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis
• Ability to use Microsoft Office applications Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, EMIS and social media

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

Malling PCN

Address

Victoria Court

17-21 Ashford road

Maidstone

Kent

ME14 5DA

Employer's website

https://www.mallingpcn.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)