Job summary
Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to non-medical 'link workers' who give time, focus on 'what matters to me' and take a holistic approach, connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support. Link workers support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all local partners.
Social prescribing can help to strengthen community resilience and personal resilience, and reduces health inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity, by increasing people's active involvement with their local 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.
Main duties of the job
Take referrals from a wide range of agencies, working with GP practices within primary care networks, pharmacies, 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.
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 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 person needs is beyond the scope of the link worker role -- e.g. when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner.
About us
We have been working with other local NHS Trusts to create a new organisation, bringing together all community, mental health and learning disability services from across Hampshire and Isle of Wight. Subject to approvals, the aim is for the new Trust to be formed by the end of 2024.
Project Fusion is the name for the programme to create the new combined NHS Foundation Trust. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust will be bringing the services into a single organisation will result in more consistent care, more equitable access to services irrespective of postcode, and a more sustainable workforce and services. The new organisation will operate locally to ensure services can best meet the needs of different communities.
The new Trust will be comprised of all the services currently provided by Solent NHS Trust and Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, the community, mental health and learning disability services provided by Isle of Wight NHS Trust and child and adolescent mental health services delivered in parts of Hampshire by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Colleagues will transfer to the new organisation under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) -- known as TUPE on the day the trust is formed. TUPE is a legal process to ensure you transfer out of one organisation and into another, maintaining the terms and conditions of your employment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Promote social prescribing, it's role in self-management, and the wider determinants of health.
Build relationships with key staff in GP practices within the local Primary Care Network (PCN).
Be proactive in developing strong links with all local agencies to encourage referrals.
Work in partnership with local agencies to raise awareness of social prescribing.
Provide referral agencies with regular updates including training for their staff.
Seek regular feedback about the quality of service and impact of social prescribing on referral agencies.
Meet people on a one-to-one basis, making home visits where appropriate.
Be a friendly source of information about wellbeing and prevention approaches.
Help people identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing.
Help people maintain or regain independence through living skills, adaptations, enablement approaches and simple safeguards.
Work with individuals to co-produce a simple personalised support plan.
Where appropriate physically introduce people to community groups, activities and statutory services.
Support community groups and VCSE organisations to receive referrals.
Work collectively with all local partners to ensure community groups are strong and sustainable.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Promote social prescribing, it's role in self-management, and the wider determinants of health.
Build relationships with key staff in GP practices within the local Primary Care Network (PCN).
Be proactive in developing strong links with all local agencies to encourage referrals.
Work in partnership with local agencies to raise awareness of social prescribing.
Provide referral agencies with regular updates including training for their staff.
Seek regular feedback about the quality of service and impact of social prescribing on referral agencies.
Meet people on a one-to-one basis, making home visits where appropriate.
Be a friendly source of information about wellbeing and prevention approaches.
Help people identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing.
Help people maintain or regain independence through living skills, adaptations, enablement approaches and simple safeguards.
Work with individuals to co-produce a simple personalised support plan.
Where appropriate physically introduce people to community groups, activities and statutory services.
Support community groups and VCSE organisations to receive referrals.
Work collectively with all local partners to ensure community groups are strong and sustainable.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 Health Trainer qualification or other relevant professional academic qualification.
- Educated to degree level or related discipline.
Desirable
- Training in delivering psychological interventions.
Experience
Desirable
- Experience of project management in a healthcare or voluntary setting.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Understanding the importance and process of helping patients and service users to develop their knowledge, skills and confidence in managing their own health and the range of models and tools available.
- Understanding how to apply health coaching in independent and group settings.
- Able to work within a biopsychosocial model using a range of tools and techniques to enable and support people.
- Demonstrable skills in supporting behaviour change.
- Excellent group and 1:1 facilitation skills including conflict resolution.
- Skilled in active and reflective listening.
- Ability to work with minimal supervision and act decisively asking for help when needed.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to work with a range of clinical and non-clinical colleagues as part of a team.
- Ability to work independently and with a high degree of motivation.
- Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines.
- Ability to define, collate, analyse and interpret data.
- Ability to use databases and information technology including MS Office.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 Health Trainer qualification or other relevant professional academic qualification.
- Educated to degree level or related discipline.
Desirable
- Training in delivering psychological interventions.
Experience
Desirable
- Experience of project management in a healthcare or voluntary setting.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Understanding the importance and process of helping patients and service users to develop their knowledge, skills and confidence in managing their own health and the range of models and tools available.
- Understanding how to apply health coaching in independent and group settings.
- Able to work within a biopsychosocial model using a range of tools and techniques to enable and support people.
- Demonstrable skills in supporting behaviour change.
- Excellent group and 1:1 facilitation skills including conflict resolution.
- Skilled in active and reflective listening.
- Ability to work with minimal supervision and act decisively asking for help when needed.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Ability to work with a range of clinical and non-clinical colleagues as part of a team.
- Ability to work independently and with a high degree of motivation.
- Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines.
- Ability to define, collate, analyse and interpret data.
- Ability to use databases and information technology including MS Office.
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.
