Job summary
We are seeking to appoint a Junior Social Prescribing Link Worker, based in multiple GP practices across Newcastle, to help support patients to access local services helping them meet their non-medical needs. Junior Social Prescribers play a crucial role in helping people to get the right support at the right time. Support offered by the Social Prescribing Service may include support with things such as the management of long-term conditions, housing and benefit needs, social isolation, and any other practical or social support necessary.
The successful candidate will have a genuine interest in improving patient outcomes, will be able to work independently under pressure without direct supervision and will be calm and professional when supporting patients.
The Junior Social Prescriber role is to support patients with advice either in house, or to signpost patients for advice from community and voluntary sector services.
This post is Full Time, and is a 12 month fixed term contract subject to funding continuation.
We ask that applicants are open to working overtime when necessary and must have a professional approach to work. The successful applicant will be confident, assertive and have excellent communication skills.
All training will be provided to fully equip the job-holder with the necessary skills for the role.
Main duties of the job
Our Junior Social Prescribing Link Workers help and support patients by signposting them to sources of support in the community. This may include, help with finance, housing, lifestyle, mobility, social and general advice. We work with more than 100 health, social care, and voluntary sector partners to provide this service.
The main duties of the role are the following:
1. Manage your own patient caseload
2.Receive and self-manage ongoing referrals into the service
3. Deliver high quality support to patients in a timely fashion
4. Signpost patients to relevant services and support them to access these services
5. Maintain accurate data recording within GP clinical systems
6. Attend team meetings and network independently with voluntary and community sector services.
About us
Newcastle GP Services (NGPS) is the GP federation for Newcastle-upon-Tyne. We are a member organisation for 27 out of the 28 general practices in Newcastle. Our role is to support them to provide excellent clinical care and a positive patient experience.
Were a skilled team of non-clinicians and clinicians with significant experience working in healthcare. We help practices work at scale across Newcastle, providing targeted and effective patient care and innovative methods of working to improve quality and efficiency.
You can find out more about NGPS and the services we offer on our website here:https://newcastle-gp-services.co.uk/
Job description
Job responsibilities
Most people at some point in their life may benefit from navigation through encounters with different health services, agencies and professionals, across an often-confusing seascape of health, social and community care. Effective navigation is a key element of delivering coordinated, person-centered care and support.
Junior Social Prescribing Link Workers can play a crucial role in helping people to get the right support, at the right time to help manage a wide range of needs. This may include support with long-term conditions, social and welfare needs which may be supported in-house or signposting to a range of statutory and voluntary sector services.
Please see the attached Job Description for more information about the role and your duties and responsibilities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Most people at some point in their life may benefit from navigation through encounters with different health services, agencies and professionals, across an often-confusing seascape of health, social and community care. Effective navigation is a key element of delivering coordinated, person-centered care and support.
Junior Social Prescribing Link Workers can play a crucial role in helping people to get the right support, at the right time to help manage a wide range of needs. This may include support with long-term conditions, social and welfare needs which may be supported in-house or signposting to a range of statutory and voluntary sector services.
Please see the attached Job Description for more information about the role and your duties and responsibilities.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to GCSE Grade C or above or equivalent experience, with evidence of effective numeracy and literacy skills. Competent of Microsoft office and outlook email inbox Evidence of a commitment to continuing professional development
Desirable
- Counselling qualifications Mental health first aid Social Prescribing Accreditation Adult safeguarding
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with a range of service users from diverse backgrounds Experience of delivering support in a person-centred way to service users by asking 'what matters most' to them. Experience of successful communication with service users to deliver clear messages and support. Experience of handling confidential information and an up-to-date knowledge of Data Protection legislation Experience of working independently and self-managing a complex caseload, while also being able engage well with a team. Experience of networking with other service providers and sharing knowledge and skills city wide
Desirable
- Previous work in Social Prescribing or health improvement services Previous experience supporting vulnerable adults
Qualities
Essential
- Personable, approachable and non-judgemental. Empathetic, patient, supportive and caring. Determined and motivated to support patients' wellbeing. Clear and concise in communication with patients Trustworthy, reliable and professional. Hardworking and disciplined. Commitment to continuous performance improvement. Self-motivated and confident able to work with minimal direction.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a proven ability to communicate with impact. Ability to work flexibly into whichever working location is deemed most appropriate. Excellent time management and organisational skills. Ability to network and build collaborative relationships with other service providers. IT and computer literate, including Microsoft office applications. Ability to use initiative and judgement. Ability to keep accurate and timely records from which funders can measure service outcomes. A solutions focused approach to problem solving when it comes to person centred care. Ability to look after your own mental health and wellbeing while dealing with complex patients and ask for help and support from your line manager when you need it.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to GCSE Grade C or above or equivalent experience, with evidence of effective numeracy and literacy skills. Competent of Microsoft office and outlook email inbox Evidence of a commitment to continuing professional development
Desirable
- Counselling qualifications Mental health first aid Social Prescribing Accreditation Adult safeguarding
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with a range of service users from diverse backgrounds Experience of delivering support in a person-centred way to service users by asking 'what matters most' to them. Experience of successful communication with service users to deliver clear messages and support. Experience of handling confidential information and an up-to-date knowledge of Data Protection legislation Experience of working independently and self-managing a complex caseload, while also being able engage well with a team. Experience of networking with other service providers and sharing knowledge and skills city wide
Desirable
- Previous work in Social Prescribing or health improvement services Previous experience supporting vulnerable adults
Qualities
Essential
- Personable, approachable and non-judgemental. Empathetic, patient, supportive and caring. Determined and motivated to support patients' wellbeing. Clear and concise in communication with patients Trustworthy, reliable and professional. Hardworking and disciplined. Commitment to continuous performance improvement. Self-motivated and confident able to work with minimal direction.
Skills
Essential
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a proven ability to communicate with impact. Ability to work flexibly into whichever working location is deemed most appropriate. Excellent time management and organisational skills. Ability to network and build collaborative relationships with other service providers. IT and computer literate, including Microsoft office applications. Ability to use initiative and judgement. Ability to keep accurate and timely records from which funders can measure service outcomes. A solutions focused approach to problem solving when it comes to person centred care. Ability to look after your own mental health and wellbeing while dealing with complex patients and ask for help and support from your line manager when you need it.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
