Job responsibilities
Purpose of the
role
To play a pivotal role in the delivery of high
quality primary health care within the Primary Care Network
To support the PCN in achieving the DES
Specification
To work closely with PCN Practices and the Multidisciplinary
teams
Empower people to take control of their health
and wellbeing, focus on what matters to me and take a holistic approach,
connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and
emotional support. To support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable
and help people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all
local partners.
Help to strengthen community resilience and
personal resilience and reduce health inequalities by addressing the wider
determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity, 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 impact on wellbeing.
To support delivery of the Comprehensive Model
of Personalised Care.
Key duties and
responsibilities
They will take referrals from the networks
members and referrals from a wide range of agencies. These agencies include but are not limited to: the networks members,
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
They will:
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 them;
take a holistic approach, based on the persons
priorities, and the wider determinants of health;
co-produce a simple personalised care and
support plan to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or reconnecting
people to community groups and statutory services; and
evaluate the individual impact of a persons
wellness progress.
The role
will require social prescribing link workers to manage and prioritise their own
caseload, in accordance with the needs, priorities and any urgent support
required by individuals on the caseload. Where required and as appropriate, the
social prescribing link workers will refer people back to other health
professionals within the network.
Social
prescribing link workers will draw on and increase the strengths and capacities
of local communities, enabling local VCSE organisations and community groups to
receive social prescribing referrals. They will ensure those organisations and
groups 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.
Social prescribing link workers will 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.
Social prescribing link workers will have a role
in educating non-clinical and clinical staff within the network on what other
services and support are available within the community and how and when
patients can access them. This may include verbal or written advice and
guidance.
Safeguarding
Have basic safeguarding process in place for
vulnerable individuals.
Provide opportunities for the patient to develop
friendships and a sense of belonging, as well as to build knowledge, skills and
confidence.
Health and Safety
The post holder will assist in promoting and maintaining
their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice
Health & Safety Policy, to include:
Using personal security systems within the
workplace according to practice guidelines.
Identify the risks involved in work activities
and undertaking such activities in a way that manage those risks.
Making effective use of training to update
knowledge and skills
Using appropriate infection control procedures,
maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards.
Reporting potential risks identified
Equality and
Diversity
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and
rights of patients, carers and colleagues to include:
Acting in a way that recognises the importance
of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice
procedure and policies and current legislation.
Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and
beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.