Social Prescriber

Job description

Job responsibilities

Responsible to: PCN's Head of Operations

Accountable to: Clinical Directors

Base:Chelmsford City Health PCN Limited GP Practices

Salary: depends on experience and equivalent to AfC Band 5

Hours: negotiable

JOB SUMMARY:

The post holder will work across four Chelmsford practices (Baddow Village, Beauchamp House, Stock, and Whitley House Surgeries) collectively known as Chelmsford City Health Primary Care Network (PCN).

The Chelmsford City Health practices are separate practices that have formed a network in order to benefit from shared resources and to be able to offer healthcare services at scale to its population. Two of the practices are dispensing practices and all four are training practices. You will be joining an enthusiastic team of clinicians and administrators and will be well supported with on-going professional development (training support, CPD and peer support).

PURPOSE:

The Social Prescriber will work as part of the PCN's Health & Well-being Hub and provide personalised support to individuals enabling them to improve their health and wellbeing, to live more independently and to ensure they are able to access resources within their local communities. The approach will be person-centred, with a focus on strengthening both community and personal resilience.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES:

To support and assist people referred to the social prescribing service, understanding their priorities and co-producing personal support plans which will enable them to live more independently and improve their health and wellbeing. To develop relationships with key statutory, voluntary and community organisations to raise awareness of social prescribing.

Key Duties

To take referrals from agencies and individuals across the GP practices within the primary care network.

To make contact with people on a one-to-one basis to understand their priorities and how these can be helped by social prescribing.

To work with the person to produce individual support plans to reflect their health and wellbeing needs - based on their priorities, interests, values, cultural and religious/faith needs.

To support people who have undergone recentbereavement or who are experiencing housing or employment issues.

To carry out home visits, if required, and/or visit patients in a community setting.

To assist carers/guardians with relatives who have dementia or who have special educational needs.

To identify groups, activities and services which could help them to improve their own health and wellbeing.

Where appropriate, to introduce people to community groups and statutory services, ensuring they feel valued and respected.

Where people may be eligible for a personal health budget, to help them explore this option as a way of providing funded, personalised support.

To manage and prioritise referrals according to the needs of the patients.

As required, seek advice and support from either the duty doctor (if urgent) or the patient's usual GP where there are concerns around the patient's mental health, domestic violence or abuse.

To forge links with a wide range of statutory, voluntary sector and neighbourhood groups to understand the existing resources and assets which are available within the local community.

To develop supportive relationships with local statutory, voluntary sector, community and neighbourhood groups in order to make timely, appropriate and supported referrals for people.

To work with commissioners and local partners to identify unmet needs within the community and gaps in community provision.

To encourage people, their families and carers to provide peer support and to encourage the setting up of new community groups.

To encourage people to explore volunteering opportunities within the local community.

To work with the GP practices within the network to ensure the social prescribing referral codes are inputted into the clinical system, adhering to data protection legislation and data sharing agreements with the Integrated Care Board (ICB).

To encourage people, their families and carers to provide feedback and to share their stories about the impact of social prescribing on their lives and to develop effective ways of recording this information.

As required, to attend meetings with a named lead to identify personal and professional development needs.

To work as part of the healthcare team across the Primary Care Network to seek feedback and to continually improve the service.

To contribute to the development of policies and plans relating to equality, diversity and health inequalities.

To attend any meetings which are relevant to the further development of the social prescribing service.

General

To uphold the aims and values of the organisation.

To contribute to the ongoing development of the service and to best practice.

To work within organisational policies and procedures.

To maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health.

All employees have a duty and responsibility for their own health and safety and the health of safety of colleagues, patients and the general public.

All employees have a responsibility to prevent abuse and neglect and report concerns.

All employees have a responsibility and a legal obligation to ensure that information processed for both patients and staff is kept accurate, confidential, secure and in line with current Data Protection legislation and Security and Confidentiality Policies.

Undertake not to abuse their official position for personal gain, to seek advantage of further private business or other interests in the course of their official duties.

This list is not exhaustive and other duties may be required to be undertaken to meet the needs of the organisation.

Person Specification

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Intermediate IT skills Word, Outlook, Excel.
• Experience of research and data collection using tools to measure the impact of services.
• Ability to identify, assess and manage risk.
• Ability to work flexibly within a team situation or on own initiative.
• Ability to work from a strengths-based approach.
• Having a positive attitude to people from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload.
• Demonstrate ability to manage your own health and wellbeing .
• Access to own transport and willingness to travel across the locality.

Desirable

• Familiar with the PCN's Clinical system - System1.
• Ability to research and identify appropriate community resources.
• Knowledge of links between physical health and mental health.

Experience

Essential

• Direct experience of working with people in a community development setting, adult health and social care, learning support, counselling or public health context.
• Experience of partnership/collaborative working.
• Experience of supporting people with their mental health, either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacity.
• Experience of individual needs assessment.
• Experience of data collection and using tools to measure the impact of services.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a GP practice.
• Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience.

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualification and/or experience in the healthcare, social care or counselling sectors
• Demonstrate commitment to professional and personal development

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

Chelmsford City Health Primary Care Network Limited

Address

Beauchamp House Surgery

37 Baddow Road

Chelmsford

CM2 0DB