Harlow Active Physical Health and Wellbeing Project Coordinator

Job description

Job responsibilities

About the Role

We are seeking to recruit a qualified Health and Wellbeing Coach with experience in project work to join our Primary Care Networks in Harlow.

The role focuses on promoting health initiatives and encouraging increased physical activity across our local population.

Background

Harlow is a growing town with its own district council. The population at the 2021 census was 93,300, an increase of nearly 14% from 2011. Several major housing developments are planned, most notably at Latton Bush in the south of the town, and to the east centred on Gilston Village. Life expectancy in Harlow is below the national average at 78.6 years compared to the national average of 79.4 years. It ranks second lowest in Essex for both men and women. There is also a significant disparity in life expectancy between the most and least deprived areas (equating to 7.1 years difference for men and 3.5 years for women). [1] A key objective of the current health and wellbeing strategy is to promote independence and healthy lifestyles at every stage of life for Harlow residents.

Project Overview

This role is part of a Sport-England-funded Partnership project coordinated via Active Essex within West Essex Health and Care Partnership. The project aims to integrate physical health programmes, community projects and health services to improve patient outcomes and overall wellbeing.

Working directly with Harlows two Primary Care Networks (PCNs), the role will bridge primary care services with community based activities focused on physical health.

Key Responsibilities

In addition to contributing to the programme on a project basis, this is a patient facing role.

Engage directly with individuals, gaining insight to how people activate and manage their physical health and the barriers they face in accessing support.

Be enrolled in, currently undertaking or have completed health coaching training accredited by the Personalised Care Institute, as outlined in the NHS England Workforce Development Framework. This includes training or apprenticeships leading to a Level 3 occupational standard, delivered by a training provider listed by the Personalised Care Institute.

Adhere to scope of practice and professional standards outlined in the workforce Development framework for health and wellbeing coaches

Demonstrate empathy and strong communication skills to build a rapport with the patients, understand the biopsychosocial context in which they live and collaboratively develop personalised plans. This includes identifying and addressing barriers to engagement with health professionals and physical health services.

Maintain professional communication both within and across organisations.

Main duties of the role

This role combines patient facing responsibilities with project development and implementation supporting both individual health outcomes and the wider population health initiatives.

Deliver personalised problem-solving support through one-to-one coaching relationships with patients. The post holder will manage a caseload effectively, prioritising according to the health and wellbeing needs of the local population. This requires a non-judgemental, person-centred approach with strong communication and negotiation skills.

Utilise I.T systems and multidisciplinary team (MDT) channels to identify patients that would benefit most from health coaching.

Provide tailored support to individuals, families, and carers, empowering them to take an active role in managing their health and wellbeing. This includes:

Coaching and motivating patients over multiple sessions to identify needs, set goals and achieve outcomes aligned with their personalised care plans

Offering interventions such as self-management, education and peer support

Refer patients back to appropriate health professionals within the PCNs when necessary and appropriate.

Project development / implementation

Engage meaningfully with residents and local communities to understand care needs and co-design of culturally appropriate solutions.

Collaborate across both PCNs to support initiatives that improve population health through physical activity and local health projects.

Support primary care teams in promoting better physical and mental wellbeing by connecting individuals with local services and resources.

Work closely with Social Prescribing Link Workers to identify individuals who may benefit from additional support but are not yet ready for full social prescribing interventions.

Works closely with the senior team and partners to understand, interpret and promote the utilisation of local population health management data to identify opportunities for projects to improve outcomes for defined populations

Be responsible for decisions made during their duties, seeking guidance and escalating issues where appropriate

Act as the day-to-day contact for partners and PCN staff for defined areas of work.

Lead specific projects in collaboration with stakeholder organisations to support increased physical activity and improved health outcomes.

Utilise project management tools and outcome measures to plan, monitor, and report on progress. Proactively escalate risks and support the implementation of solutions to improve.

Health and wellbeing promotion and prevention

Increase Physical activity (e.g. Find your Active)

West Essex Healthcare Partnership Prevention priorities (e.g. obesity, mental wellbeing, cardiovascular disease and frailty)

Supporting responsibilities

To deliver these responsibilities, the post holder will:

Support patients in setting and achieving personally meaningful goals.

Encourage personal choice and positive risk taking while promoting accountability and proactive illness prevention.

Work in partnership with social prescribing teams to connect patients to community-based activities which support them to take increased control of their health and wellbeing

Increase patient motivation and confidence to adopt healthy behaviours and engage in shared decision making

Use health coaching skills to enhance patients knowledge, skills, and confidence to manage their health and wellbeing, whilst increasing their ability to access and utilise community support offers

Wider responsibilities of a Health and Wellbeing Coach:

Develop collaborative relationships with health, social care, and community and voluntary sector partners to holistically support patients and reduce health inequalities

Understand and align with the broader infrastructure and goals of the West Essex Health and Care Partnership to improve outcomes.

Provide education and expertise to PCN staff, enhancing their understanding of personalised care and behavioural approaches..

Participate in formal individual and group coaching supervision with a qualified supervisor

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Ability to assess clinical situations effectively and use own initiative and apply an appropriate treatment intervention accordingly.
• Experience of developing and working closely with other internal and external agencies.
• Integration of theory and practise to demonstrate creative problem-solving ideas.
• Able to adapt communication skills according to the audience.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Committed, positive individual with can-do attitude, capable of working collaboratively with a wide range of professionals
• Ability to empathise with clients, carers and families and colleagues, ensuring that effective communication is achieved and maintained.
• Negotiation skills with external stakeholders
• Ability to prioritise workload.
• Ability to deal with stressful situations.
• Ability to motivate patients
• Ability to travel independently between sites within Harlow locality

Desirable

• Demonstrates active lifestyle

Qualifications

Essential

• Good standard of general education including GCSE English Language and Mathematics
• Be enrolled in, currently undertaking or have completed health coaching training accredited by the Personalised Care Institute, as outlined in the NHS England Workforce Development Framework. This includes training or apprenticeships leading to a Level 3 occupational standard, delivered by a training provider listed by the Personalised Care Institute.
• Health and Wellbeing Coach
• In-depth knowledge of working with people with varying health conditions
• An awareness of how sport can impact a client holistically

Desirable

• Project Management

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

Stellar Healthcare LTD

Address

Florence Nightingale Health Centre

Church Langley Way

Harlow

Essex

CM17 9TG

Employer's website

http://www.stellarhealthcare.net (Opens in a new tab)