Job summary
Working as a Social Prescribing Link Worker within the Bulwell and Top Valley PCN in Nottingham offers the unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of our community members by addressing their health and wellbeing. In this role, you'll empower individuals to take control of their health, focusing on "what matters to me" and connecting them to local community groups and services that provide practical and emotional support.
You will play a pivotal role in building personal and community resilience, helping to reduce health inequalities within Bulwell and Top Valley by tackling wider determinants of health such as debt, housing issues, and social isolation. Your work will support those with long-term conditions, mental health challenges, and complex social needs, making a real difference in improving their quality of life.
** This role is hosted by one of the 5 Practices within the Primary Care Network, however, the Social Prescribing team works with the patients of all 5 practices **
Main duties of the job
Responsibilities:
1.Assessment and Support:
Conduct holistic assessments of patients' needs, strengths, and preferences.
Work collaboratively with patients to develop personalized social prescribing plans.
Provide ongoing support, guidance, and motivation to individuals in achieving their health and well-being goals.
2.Community Resource Navigation:
Identify and maintain an up-to-date knowledge of local community resources, activities, and services.
Liaise with community organisations, voluntary groups, and support agencies to establish effective referral pathways.
Signpost patients to appropriate services, activities, and programs that align with their needs and interests.
3.Collaboration and Networking:
Build and maintain strong working relationships with primary care professionals, including GPs, nurses, and allied health professionals.
Collaborate with PCN team members to ensure a coordinated approach to patient care and support.
Foster partnerships with community organisations, social services, and other stakeholders to enhance social prescribing provision.
4.Record Keeping and Evaluation:
Maintain accurate and confidential records of patient interactions and interventions.
Regularly update patient records in compliance with data protection regulations and PCN guidelines.
Contribute to the evaluation and monitoring of the social prescribing program, providing feedback and suggesting improvements.
About us
Rise Park Surgery is proud to be the lead employer within our Primary Care Network (PCN) a collaboration of 5 GP Practices that makes the Bulwell and Top Valley PCN, offering a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative working environment. We are committed to delivering high-quality primary care services and improving the health and wellbeing of our local community.
As part of our team, you'll work alongside dedicated healthcare professionals who are passionate about making a real difference. This role offers the chance to use your skills and expertise to positively impact individuals and families, while being supported in your own professional development.
Join us at Rise Park Surgery and become part of a forward-thinking personalised care team where your contribution truly matters.
If you are interested in applying for this role please send your CV and a personal statement detailing how you meet the person specification to alex.taylor19@nhs.net.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to link workers who give time, focus on what matters to me and take a holistic approach to an individuals health and wellbeing, connecting people to diverse community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support. Link workers also support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all local diverse partners.
Social prescribing link workers will work as a key part of the primary care network (PCN) multi-disciplinary team. Social prescribing can help PCNs to strengthen community and personal resilience, reduce health inequalities (in relation to timely access and outcomes) and wellbeing inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing, and physical inactivity, by increasing peoples active involvement with their local diverse 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.
Social prescribing is a way of engaging patients in primary care with a resource which provides support within the local community. In addition it provides GPs with a non-medical referral option that can align to existing treatments to improve health and wellbeing. People want to be able to access information and support in a setting that is convenient and familiar to them, delivered by people they trust. The Social Prescribing Link Worker will offer support in a clinic environment based within general practice as well at various locations within the community including the patients home. The role will provide information and support to patients in addition to becoming the link between the patient, GP and other service providers. The role will require managing and prioritising your own caseload, in accordance with the needs, priorities and any urgent support required by individuals.
Please see attached documents for full Job Description and Person Specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to link workers who give time, focus on what matters to me and take a holistic approach to an individuals health and wellbeing, connecting people to diverse community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support. Link workers also support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all local diverse partners.
Social prescribing link workers will work as a key part of the primary care network (PCN) multi-disciplinary team. Social prescribing can help PCNs to strengthen community and personal resilience, reduce health inequalities (in relation to timely access and outcomes) and wellbeing inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing, and physical inactivity, by increasing peoples active involvement with their local diverse 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.
Social prescribing is a way of engaging patients in primary care with a resource which provides support within the local community. In addition it provides GPs with a non-medical referral option that can align to existing treatments to improve health and wellbeing. People want to be able to access information and support in a setting that is convenient and familiar to them, delivered by people they trust. The Social Prescribing Link Worker will offer support in a clinic environment based within general practice as well at various locations within the community including the patients home. The role will provide information and support to patients in addition to becoming the link between the patient, GP and other service providers. The role will require managing and prioritising your own caseload, in accordance with the needs, priorities and any urgent support required by individuals.
Please see attached documents for full Job Description and Person Specification.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Understands, and contributes to, the workplace vision.
- Understands the implications of national priorities for the team and/or service.
- Understands how to use resources effectively.
- Knows and follows professional and organisational policies/procedures relating to performance management.
- Understand, and conforms to, relevant standards of practice.
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ Level 3, advanced level or equivalent qualifications or working towards or relevant work experience
Desirable
- Level 3 Certificate in Social Prescribing
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to lead a team and provide support to other social prescribing team members of differing abilities.
- Ability to adapt and lead change to conflicting priorities.
- Ability to implement appropriate governance.
- Ability to improve quality within limitations of service.
- Ability to review progress yearly and develop clear plans to achieve results within priorities set by others.
- Ability to identify and resolve risk management issues according to policy/protocol.
- Proficient in all areas of Microsoft Office.
- Ability to manage workload and work on own initiative to achieve set goals.
- Ability to write personalised plans and conduct surveys and conduct service evaluation processes.
- Highly motivated.
- 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.
Experience
Essential
- 5-years experience (minimum of 5 years) of working within a health, care, wellbeing service either in the NHS, VCSE or statutory sectors.
Desirable
- Previous experience of leading or managing a team.
Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential
- Understands, and contributes to, the workplace vision.
- Understands the implications of national priorities for the team and/or service.
- Understands how to use resources effectively.
- Knows and follows professional and organisational policies/procedures relating to performance management.
- Understand, and conforms to, relevant standards of practice.
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ Level 3, advanced level or equivalent qualifications or working towards or relevant work experience
Desirable
- Level 3 Certificate in Social Prescribing
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to lead a team and provide support to other social prescribing team members of differing abilities.
- Ability to adapt and lead change to conflicting priorities.
- Ability to implement appropriate governance.
- Ability to improve quality within limitations of service.
- Ability to review progress yearly and develop clear plans to achieve results within priorities set by others.
- Ability to identify and resolve risk management issues according to policy/protocol.
- Proficient in all areas of Microsoft Office.
- Ability to manage workload and work on own initiative to achieve set goals.
- Ability to write personalised plans and conduct surveys and conduct service evaluation processes.
- Highly motivated.
- 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.
Experience
Essential
- 5-years experience (minimum of 5 years) of working within a health, care, wellbeing service either in the NHS, VCSE or statutory sectors.
Desirable
- Previous experience of leading or managing a team.
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.