PCN Social Prescriber

Job description

Job responsibilities

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 well-being.

As a Social Prescriber Link Worker, you will empower people to take control of their health and well-being through identifying the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, being unemployed, loneliness and caring responsibilities. You will process referrals to other non-medical link workers and connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.

Principal Accountabilities

Take referrals from GP practices within the NLSPCN, providing digital or practice-based consultations with patients (and possibly carers etc) and occasional community-based appointments. i.e. home visits, and community service events.

Provide personalised support to individuals, their families and carers to take control of their well-being, live independently and improve their health outcomes.

Develop relationships by giving people time to focus on what matters to them. 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 well-being, introducing or reconnecting people to community groups and statutory services.

Liaise and communicate with patients, carers, advocates, health and social care professionals, voluntary sectors and stake-holders involved in the well-being of your caseload and communities.

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 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.

Seek regular feedback about the quality of service and the impact of social prescribing.

This Job Description describes the main purpose and key responsibilities and accountabilities of the post. The post holder may be required to undertake any additional duties or responsibilities as may reasonably be required.

To reflect changing needs and priorities, some elements of this post may be subject to change and where required, any appropriate communication or consultation with the post holder will be undertaken prior to making any changes.

Person Specification

Transport

Essential

• Must be able to travel between practices sites

Qualifications

Essential

• A good standard of general education, including English and Maths to GCSE level A* to C
• NVQ Level 3, Advanced level or equivalent qualifications or working towards

Desirable

• Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience

Experience

Essential

• Experience working directly in a community development context, adult health and social care, learning support or public health/health improvement (including unpaid work)
• Experience in supporting people, their families and carers in a related role (including unpaid work)
• Experience in supporting people with their mental health, either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacity
• Experience working with the VCSE sector (in a paid or unpaid capacity), including with volunteers and small community groups

Desirable

• Experience with social prescribing models.
• Knowledge of GP systems (e.g. SystmOne/EMIS)
• Experience in data collection and using tools to measure the impact of services
• Experience in partnership/collaborative working and building relationships across a variety of organisations
• Experience working in a multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience working with voluntary organisations including volunteers.
• Experience in producing individual care plans.
• Experience in managing a caseload.
• Experience in supporting people in a paid or unpaid capacity.

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively in written and oral forms to develop and maintain constructive relationships with individuals.
• Able to engage with individuals, identify their service needs and review the quality of service provision.
• An ability to manage conflicting priorities and one's own time with a minimum of supervision to meet agreed deadlines.
• Influencing and decision-making skills.
• Ability to assess risk, anticipate difficulties and successfully address them.
• Demonstrate a commitment to respecting and valuing patients' perspectives and choices.
• Motivated to work towards creating a safe, open and trusting environment.
• Awareness of the issues around working with vulnerable groups and the boundaries of professional relationships.
• Extensive experience of using Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer for a range of different purposes.

Desirable

• Local knowledge of VCSE and community services in the locality
• Knowledge of how the NHS works, including primary care

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

Ancora Medical Practice

Address

291 Ashby Road

Scunthorpe

DN16 2AB

Employer's website

https://ancoramedicalpractice.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)