Job summary
This job is working in the Woodsley & Holt Park areas of Leeds covering: Horsforth, Cookridge, Headingley, Kirkstall, Burley Park, Hyde Park, Woodhouse, Hawksworth, Abbey Grange.We are looking for 2 Social
Prescribing Link Workers to join our established team working alongside our
practice and PCN staff. Our PCN staff currently include Social Prescribing Link
Workers, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Care Co-Ordinators (with different
specialisms working with frailty and specific long term health conditions), Health
and Wellbeing Coaches, Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, Dieticians and Mental
Health Practitioners.
Main duties of the job
The Leeds Social Prescribing model aims to improve physical, mental, and
social health and wellbeing, through a holistic approach to improving quality
of life and confidence in self-management and supporting independence. We work with our local population to improve
the way the needs of local populations are met. This will be both on a 1:1 basis and where
appropriate through the development of group work.The post holder will work closely
with GP practices in our Network, taking referrals to support individuals to
build independence and personal resilience, enabling self management of their
health and wellbeing tailored to individual need. They will also take a lead in supporting
administrative staff to develop their signposting skills raising awareness of
the different services on offer locally.You will be part of our Health and
Wellbeing team which is currently developing to meet the health inequalities in
our area.
About us
We work closely with other PCN team members, our Primary Care Mental Health team and local third sector organisations to provide services to meet the wider needs of our patients.You will need to work independently to develop and promote the service while working alongside our existing Social Prescribing Link Workers. You will be required to work flexibly across our practices and in community venues.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 essential that you understand when it is appropriate or necessary to refer patients back to other health professionals/agencies. Recognising when patient needs are beyond the scope of the Link Worker role e.g., when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner.You will be a key link between our PCN services and our practice team, and referrals could include supporting patients to access the most appropriate service within our PCN as well as externally.You will provide support and guidance to cover the following areas of our assessment, so it is key you have a knowledge of these areas; housing, finances, social isolation and networks, emotional well-being, employment, volunteering, and hobbies and keeping healthy.You must be able to hold face to face sessions with patients with a focus on making positive steps forward for them through signposting, onward referrals, and support.
Job description
Job responsibilities
MAIN TASKS
- To promote the service within GP practices, developing close working relationships with the teams within practices and the Primary Care Network
- To provide a triage assessment with patients and assess their need for the service and the best appropriate action
- To appropriately risk assess patients to minimise harm and identify harm reduction where this is needed
- To complete referrals and signpost to specialist support quickly and effectively where necessary
- To provide a number of sessions with patients with a goal to moving them into appropriate services
- To work with a caseload of individuals to facilitate access to recommended community-based interventions and programmes of activity that benefit health and wellbeing. To support individuals into provision within agreed timeframes.
- To enable patients to manage their own mental & emotional health by using coping strategies and challenging unhelpful behaviour patterns
- To identify any barriers to people accessing services and activities and work with individuals to overcome these.
- To build networks with local community resources such as activities and services that may have an impact on health and wellbeing and support individuals to access these.
- To develop collaborative action plans with individuals which promote choice and complement any medical treatment or advice
- To identify any barriers to people accessing services and activities and work with individuals to overcome these
- To use a range of techniques and interventions to support people, including those with long term conditions, to self-manage their health and encourage behavioural and lifestyle change
- To provide short term interventions to individuals to sustain them while waiting to access appropriate specialist provision
- To facilitate access to recommended community-based interventions and programmes of activity that benefit health and wellbeing
- To support administrative staff to develop their signposting skills, to ensure patients are directed to the most appropriate service
- To monitor and record contacts and outcomes within SystmOne
- To ensure that client records and other information systems are completed accurately and within agreed timescales.
- To build networks with local community resources such as activities and services that may have an impact on mental health and wellbeing and support individuals to access these
- To develop multi-agency working across communities and voluntary and statutory organisations to improve health and address health inequality
Job description
Job responsibilities
MAIN TASKS
- To promote the service within GP practices, developing close working relationships with the teams within practices and the Primary Care Network
- To provide a triage assessment with patients and assess their need for the service and the best appropriate action
- To appropriately risk assess patients to minimise harm and identify harm reduction where this is needed
- To complete referrals and signpost to specialist support quickly and effectively where necessary
- To provide a number of sessions with patients with a goal to moving them into appropriate services
- To work with a caseload of individuals to facilitate access to recommended community-based interventions and programmes of activity that benefit health and wellbeing. To support individuals into provision within agreed timeframes.
- To enable patients to manage their own mental & emotional health by using coping strategies and challenging unhelpful behaviour patterns
- To identify any barriers to people accessing services and activities and work with individuals to overcome these.
- To build networks with local community resources such as activities and services that may have an impact on health and wellbeing and support individuals to access these.
- To develop collaborative action plans with individuals which promote choice and complement any medical treatment or advice
- To identify any barriers to people accessing services and activities and work with individuals to overcome these
- To use a range of techniques and interventions to support people, including those with long term conditions, to self-manage their health and encourage behavioural and lifestyle change
- To provide short term interventions to individuals to sustain them while waiting to access appropriate specialist provision
- To facilitate access to recommended community-based interventions and programmes of activity that benefit health and wellbeing
- To support administrative staff to develop their signposting skills, to ensure patients are directed to the most appropriate service
- To monitor and record contacts and outcomes within SystmOne
- To ensure that client records and other information systems are completed accurately and within agreed timescales.
- To build networks with local community resources such as activities and services that may have an impact on mental health and wellbeing and support individuals to access these
- To develop multi-agency working across communities and voluntary and statutory organisations to improve health and address health inequality
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Level 3 qualification in appropriate training or apprenticeships.
- Practical knowledge of local services.
- Excellent listening and communication skills.
- Experience of working with people with mental health issues.
- Empathy.
- Emotional resilience.
- Non-judgmental approach to your work.
- Willingness to work as part of team.
- Good IT and record keeping skills.
- Willingness to undertake training and develop skills.
- Ability to demonstrate personal accountability, professional
- integrity, emotional resilience, and work well under pressure.
- Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on their own initiative,
- including when under pressure and meeting service expectations.
- Punctual, organised, and reliable.
- Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or on
- their own initiative.
Desirable
- Experience of working with people with complex needs.
- Experience of completing assessments and patient centred action
- planning.
- Experience of completing risk assessments.
- Experience of using SystmOne and/or EMIS.
- Previous experience of similar work within health or voluntary
- organisations.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Level 3 qualification in appropriate training or apprenticeships.
- Practical knowledge of local services.
- Excellent listening and communication skills.
- Experience of working with people with mental health issues.
- Empathy.
- Emotional resilience.
- Non-judgmental approach to your work.
- Willingness to work as part of team.
- Good IT and record keeping skills.
- Willingness to undertake training and develop skills.
- Ability to demonstrate personal accountability, professional
- integrity, emotional resilience, and work well under pressure.
- Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on their own initiative,
- including when under pressure and meeting service expectations.
- Punctual, organised, and reliable.
- Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or on
- their own initiative.
Desirable
- Experience of working with people with complex needs.
- Experience of completing assessments and patient centred action
- planning.
- Experience of completing risk assessments.
- Experience of using SystmOne and/or EMIS.
- Previous experience of similar work within health or voluntary
- organisations.
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).
