Job summary
Are you looking for an exciting new
challenge where you can make a genuine difference to people's lives?
If you are a self-motivated and
enthusiastic people-person whose passion is to support and empower
individuals to take control of their health and wellbeing, you could be just
what we are looking for.
Social prescribing empowers people to
take control of their own health and wellbeing by focussing on 'what matters to
me', and taking a holistic approach to an individual's health and wellbeing.
Social prescribers also connect people to groups and services for practical and emotional support whilst offering their own focused group sessions.
We are looking for someone with
relevant qualifications and skills to work with practice
staff, helping patients by addressing their needs in a non-medical way. The successful candidate will work
across Tiverton PCN, covering Tiverton, Bampton and Witheridge, supporting people who:
- have long-term conditions
- need help making healthy lifestyle changes
- are
lonely or isolated, and/or
- have complex social needs which affect their
wellbeing.
Main duties of the job
The main areas of responsibility for
this role are to:
- Provide personalised care to patients across
Tiverton PCN and improve wellbeing by supporting patients to access: a) Employment,
education, training and volunteering b) Housing, benefits
and financial support advice c) Healthy living
and weight loss support d) Therapy and
support groups e) Social, hobbies
and interest groups
- Work within practices to assess and allocate
referrals from a wide range of agencies, including GP practices and voluntary
sector organisations.
- Manage your own caseload of patients.
- Support the PCN service specifications as detailed
in the PCN DES contract.
- Promote the service and educate relevant
parties.
About us
Amicus Health is the employing
organisation for this post, but the successful candidate will work across Tiverton
Primary Care Network.
Tiverton Primary Care Network (PCN) is
made up of Amicus Health and Castle Place Practice. PCNs are a new way of
working that enables health and other services to work together to provide
better access for patients.
Across our six sites, Tiverton PCN
has a variety of clinicians including GPs, nurses, clinical pharmacists, paramedics
and physiotherapists.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The PCN Social Prescriber will:
- Take referrals from a wide range of organisations
including 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 (list not exhaustive).
- 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 focussing on what matters to them.
- Take a holistic approach, based on the
persons 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.
- To manage and prioritise 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.
- Draw on and increase the strengths and
capacities of local communities, enabling local VCSE organisations and
community groups to receive social prescribing referrals. Ensure they are
supported, have basic safeguarding processes for vulnerable individuals and can
provide opportunities for the person to develop friendships, a sense of
belonging, and build knowledge, skills and confidence.
- Work together with all local partners to
collectively ensure that local VCSE organisations and community groups are
sustainable and that community assets are nurtured, by making them aware of
small grants or micro-commissioning if available, including providing support
to set up new community groups and services, where gaps are identified in local
provision.
- Support the implementation of the PCN service
specifications and other PCN priorities working closely with the PCN Manager and Clinical Directors.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The PCN Social Prescriber will:
- Take referrals from a wide range of organisations
including 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 (list not exhaustive).
- 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 focussing on what matters to them.
- Take a holistic approach, based on the
persons 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.
- To manage and prioritise 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.
- Draw on and increase the strengths and
capacities of local communities, enabling local VCSE organisations and
community groups to receive social prescribing referrals. Ensure they are
supported, have basic safeguarding processes for vulnerable individuals and can
provide opportunities for the person to develop friendships, a sense of
belonging, and build knowledge, skills and confidence.
- Work together with all local partners to
collectively ensure that local VCSE organisations and community groups are
sustainable and that community assets are nurtured, by making them aware of
small grants or micro-commissioning if available, including providing support
to set up new community groups and services, where gaps are identified in local
provision.
- Support the implementation of the PCN service
specifications and other PCN priorities working closely with the PCN Manager and Clinical Directors.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Level 3 qualification or equivalent
- Training in motivational coaching/interviewing or equivalent experience
Experience
Essential
- Experience of supporting individuals, their carers and families.
- 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 data collection and measuring the impact of services.
- 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 with their mental health, either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacity.
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Understanding of the wider determinants of health including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities, individuals their families and carers.
- Good working knowledge of IT systems, including ability to use Microsoft Office, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports.
- Motivational interviewing and coaching skills.
Desirable
- Local knowledge of VCSE and community services in the Tiverton area.
- Knowledge of the NHS, including primary care.
- Knowledge of the personalised care approach.
- Knowledge of Health and Social Care subjects such as healthy eating, sexual health, care navigation, smoking cessation, social welfare, and benefits advice.
Personal attributes
Essential
- Ability to actively listen, empathise with people and provide person-centred support in a non-judgemental and culturally sensitive way.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with individuals, their families, carers, community groups, partner agencies and stakeholders.
- Ability to identify, assess and manage risk when working with individuals.
- Ability to maintain effective working relationships and to promote collaborative practice with all colleagues.
- 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.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Level 3 qualification or equivalent
- Training in motivational coaching/interviewing or equivalent experience
Experience
Essential
- Experience of supporting individuals, their carers and families.
- 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 data collection and measuring the impact of services.
- 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 with their mental health, either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacity.
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Understanding of the wider determinants of health including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities, individuals their families and carers.
- Good working knowledge of IT systems, including ability to use Microsoft Office, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports.
- Motivational interviewing and coaching skills.
Desirable
- Local knowledge of VCSE and community services in the Tiverton area.
- Knowledge of the NHS, including primary care.
- Knowledge of the personalised care approach.
- Knowledge of Health and Social Care subjects such as healthy eating, sexual health, care navigation, smoking cessation, social welfare, and benefits advice.
Personal attributes
Essential
- Ability to actively listen, empathise with people and provide person-centred support in a non-judgemental and culturally sensitive way.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with individuals, their families, carers, community groups, partner agencies and stakeholders.
- Ability to identify, assess and manage risk when working with individuals.
- Ability to maintain effective working relationships and to promote collaborative practice with all colleagues.
- 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.
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.
