Job summary
This
is a superb opportunity for a friendly, engaging, and empathetic individual to
work within General Practice to support and empower people to take control of
their health and wellbeing. Social Prescribers work 1:1 with people, focussing
on what matters to me and building a trusting relationship with the person
referred to them. They create a shared personalised support plan and connect people
to local community groups, VCSE organisations and services. The role helps
people to work on their health and wellbeing, improving health outcomes and addressing
wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical
inactivity, as well as other lifestyle issues and low-level mental health
concerns. This approach particularly helps people with long term conditions
(including support for mental health), people who are lonely or isolated, or
who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.
Interviews: Week
Commencing 22/3/21
Main duties of the job
This role is perfect for you if you enjoy working
with people, are a good listener, can think creatively and can make beneficial
connections between people and organisations. You should be proactive in
getting to know and support local community assets and should be motivated by
helping people to become active and independent members of their local
community. You should have experience of working positively with people facing
complex social and emotional challenges, and some knowledge of
solution-focussed coaching approaches. You will be working with people from
diverse cultural and social backgrounds and will need to work confidently and
effectively in a diverse, and sometimes challenging environment. A
problem-solving attitude and a natural curiosity about people and communities
are an asset. You will be a team-player, and will learn quickly and on your own
initiative. You must be confident with computers as the role will include
learning new specialist software such as GP Emis.
About us
Newham Health Collaborative Ltd (NHC) is a GP
federation representing all the GP practices within the borough of Newham,
covering over 400,000 registered patients. You will be working within one of
the Primary Care Networks (PCN) in Newham, working closely with Clinical
Directors, GPs and Practice Managers as well as other members of a
multi-disciplinary team (MDT). Newham General Practice is a vibrant, friendly
and committed community serving an equally diverse population in a borough not
without some challenges, but full of potential to grow and thrive. The role
will offer the opportunity to work in an MDT representing several organisations
including the council. Employment with us is subject to NHCs terms and
conditions, and additionally our staff can access the NHS Pension Scheme, 27
days annual leave, flexible working arrangements, and training opportunities.
We are proud to have a diverse workforce and to maintain that we welcome
applications from all sectors of the community.
Job description
Job responsibilities
A social prescriber is a link worker who empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through giving time, focussing on what matters to me and taking a holistic approach. The post holder works to connect people to community groups as well as statutory services for practical and emotional support. Social Prescribers support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all local partners.
The post holder will be deployed in a specific Primary Care Network working in partnership with the practice teams in that network to support patients and promote lifestyle changes, preventing ill-health by means of behaviour change techniques. The post requires: good understanding of social prescribing, well-being, and community services and a good understanding of; and ability to provide; motivational and behavioural techniques.
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; and by increasing peoples 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.
We recognise that existing social prescribing schemes may employ link workers on a different salary scale, however this proposed salary reflects the complexity of the situations that people present with, and the need for a significant level of multi- agency working, including supporting community groups to receive referrals.
Interviews:
Week Commencing 22/3/21
Job description
Job responsibilities
A social prescriber is a link worker who empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through giving time, focussing on what matters to me and taking a holistic approach. The post holder works to connect people to community groups as well as statutory services for practical and emotional support. Social Prescribers support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all local partners.
The post holder will be deployed in a specific Primary Care Network working in partnership with the practice teams in that network to support patients and promote lifestyle changes, preventing ill-health by means of behaviour change techniques. The post requires: good understanding of social prescribing, well-being, and community services and a good understanding of; and ability to provide; motivational and behavioural techniques.
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; and by increasing peoples 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.
We recognise that existing social prescribing schemes may employ link workers on a different salary scale, however this proposed salary reflects the complexity of the situations that people present with, and the need for a significant level of multi- agency working, including supporting community groups to receive referrals.
Interviews:
Week Commencing 22/3/21
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ Level 3, Advanced level or equivalent qualifications or working towards.
- Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal development.
Desirable
- Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working directly in a community development context, adult health and social care, learning support or public health/health improvement (including unpaid work).
- Experience of supporting people, their families and carers in a related role (including unpaid work).
- Experience of working with the VCSE sector (in a paid or unpaid capacity), including with volunteers and small community groups
- Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations.
Desirable
- Experience of supporting people with their mental health, either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacity.
- Experience of data collection and providing monitoring information to assess the impact of services.
Personal Qualities and Attributes
Essential
- Ability to listen, empathise with people and provide person- centred support in a non-judgemental way.
- Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity.
- Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from all communities.
- Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with people, their families, carers, community groups, partner agencies and 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, 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.
- Able to work from an asset-based approach, building on existing community and personal assets.
- Able to provide leadership and to finish work tasks.
- Ability to maintain effective working relationships and to 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.
- Demonstrates personal accountability, emotional resilience and works well under pressure.
- Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative, including when under pressure and meeting deadlines.
- High level of written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or on own initiative.
- Understanding of the needs of small volunteer-led community groups and ability to support their development.
- Knowledge of and ability to work to policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety.
Knowledge
Essential
- 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 skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports.
- Knowledge of motivational coaching and interview skills.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the personalised care approach.
- Knowledge of VCSE and community services in the locality
Other
Essential
- Meets DBS reference standards and has a clear criminal record, in line with the law on spent convictions.
- Willingness to work flexible hours when required to meet work demands.
- Ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis, including to visit people in their own homes.
- An ability to maintain confidentiality and trust.
- Commitment to continuing professional development.
- Positive and flexible approach to work.
- Ability to travel and work from different sites.
- Ability to travel and work from different sites.
Desirable
- Professional, calm and efficient manner.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ Level 3, Advanced level or equivalent qualifications or working towards.
- Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal development.
Desirable
- Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working directly in a community development context, adult health and social care, learning support or public health/health improvement (including unpaid work).
- Experience of supporting people, their families and carers in a related role (including unpaid work).
- Experience of working with the VCSE sector (in a paid or unpaid capacity), including with volunteers and small community groups
- Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations.
Desirable
- Experience of supporting people with their mental health, either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacity.
- Experience of data collection and providing monitoring information to assess the impact of services.
Personal Qualities and Attributes
Essential
- Ability to listen, empathise with people and provide person- centred support in a non-judgemental way.
- Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity.
- Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from all communities.
- Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential.
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with people, their families, carers, community groups, partner agencies and 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, 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.
- Able to work from an asset-based approach, building on existing community and personal assets.
- Able to provide leadership and to finish work tasks.
- Ability to maintain effective working relationships and to 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.
- Demonstrates personal accountability, emotional resilience and works well under pressure.
- Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative, including when under pressure and meeting deadlines.
- High level of written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or on own initiative.
- Understanding of the needs of small volunteer-led community groups and ability to support their development.
- Knowledge of and ability to work to policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety.
Knowledge
Essential
- 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 skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports.
- Knowledge of motivational coaching and interview skills.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the personalised care approach.
- Knowledge of VCSE and community services in the locality
Other
Essential
- Meets DBS reference standards and has a clear criminal record, in line with the law on spent convictions.
- Willingness to work flexible hours when required to meet work demands.
- Ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis, including to visit people in their own homes.
- An ability to maintain confidentiality and trust.
- Commitment to continuing professional development.
- Positive and flexible approach to work.
- Ability to travel and work from different sites.
- Ability to travel and work from different sites.
Desirable
- Professional, calm and efficient manner.
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.
