Social Prescriber Link Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

Working with GP practices within one of the primary care networks, taking referrals from GPs, pharmacies, multi-disciplinary teams, hospital discharge teams, allied health professionals and other agencies. 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 person needs is beyond the scope of the SPLW role – e.g. when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner.

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 people time and focus on ‘what matters to me’. Take a holistic approach, based on the person’s priorities and the wider determinants of health. Co-produce a personalised support plan to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or reconnecting people to 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 individual.

Work in partnership with key staff in GP practices within the local Primary Care Network (PCN) to deliver their priorities, attending relevant meetings, becoming part of the wider network team, giving information and feedback on social prescribing. As a member of the local Community Navigator team you will attend regular team meetings to give feedback on the service, raise issues and receive briefings and updates from team members.

- Accept referrals for people with health conditions (including common mental health conditions, obesity, diabetes, respiratory conditions, mobility issues and sensory impairment) who wish to benefit from community support, focusing on people who are isolated. This includes self-referrals and online enquiries.

- Proactively contact, engage and inspire people to take part, assessing their needs and offering a personalised approach to include face to face meetings, home visits, telephone support as required.

- 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. Set goals and develop plans with people to help them take control of their health and wellbeing.

- Work with people in a supportive, holistic way (using a Motivational Interview approach) to address practical and psychological barriers, such as lack of transport, low confidence and social isolation, to co-produce a solution.

- Using the Charity Log CRM system and directory, support people to choose appropriate community activities to support their wellbeing, such as exercise groups, self-help groups, debt advice, community gardening; and Haringey Circle.

- Maintain regular, supportive contact to address issues as they arise and ensure people progress and achieve their goals.

- Ensure all necessary data and information about patients, users and volunteers is recorded accurately and confidentially on the CRM database with awareness of information governance best practice.

- Use recognised tools with patients to track improvements in their health and wellbeing, such as Warwick Edinburgh scale and Work with GP practices to review data on GP appointments and hospital admissions to track statistical improvements at practices.

- Engage with Patient Participation Groups, existing community groups, patients and staff to promote volunteer opportunities.

- Work closely with the locality Community Navigator team to benefit from the co-ordination of activities and link in with the wider service offer.

- Help to identify opportunities and activities in the local area which people could benefit from, such as local community groups, make contact, engage them in the service and register them on the CRM directory (with support from colleagues).

- Achieve demanding targets for numbers of people engaged and supported and produce monthly monitoring reports as required.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• - Background in health / social care or working with vulnerable / isolated people.
• - Experience of working in an urban multi-cultural area.

Experience

Essential

• - To be non-judgmental and to take a positive approach to all people.
• - Able to follow processes and systems when accepting referrals, assessing people, developing action plans and following up.
• - Excellent communication skills, able to negotiate, build relationships, advocate for people and inspire others.
• - To be sensitive to the needs of individuals and communities that are perceived as hard-to-reach.
• - The ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of stakeholders, including good social interaction and listening skills.
• - Driven, target focused and highly motivated.
• - Resilient and confident, able to work in a busy environment (GP practice) with colleagues under pressure and champion the service to health professionals.
• - Outgoing, energetic and passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of others.
• - Good IT skills and experience of using a database or CRM system.
• - Good knowledge of information governance and ability to maintain confidentiality at all times, within any statutory guidance on safeguarding.
• - Able to work autonomously and be a self-starter.
• - Able to take decisions and use professional expertise, but within a structured framework and existing systems and policies.
• - Effective team player who contributes to the success of others.

Desirable

• - Experience of motivating, empowering, supporting people to achieve goals.
• - Experience of working with volunteers.
• - Fluent in a second language.

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

Public Voice CIC

Address

Tottenham Town Hall

Town Hall Approach Road

London

N15 4RX

Employer's website

https://publicvoice.london/about/ (Opens in a new tab)