Social Prescriber / Social Prescribing Link Worker
Posted 13 days 11 hours ago by NHS
Permanent
Full Time
Other
Merseyside, St. Helens, United Kingdom, WA101
Job Description
Social Prescriber / Social Prescribing Link Worker As a Social Prescriber, you'll work closely with GP practices and the wider multidisciplinary team to support people whose health and wellbeing are affected by social, emotional or practical issues.
This post is available as either a Band 4 Developmental Social Prescriber or a Band 5 Social Prescriber, depending on your qualifications, experience and knowledge. If appointed at Band 4, you will receive structured support, supervision and development to build the skills and competencies required to progress to a Band 5 Social Prescriber.
You'll spend time understanding what matters most to each individual, helping them identify their goals and connecting them with local services, community groups and voluntary organisations that can improve their wellbeing.
No two days are the same. You may be supporting someone experiencing loneliness, helping a patient access housing or financial advice, connecting carers with local support, or working alongside healthcare professionals to reduce health inequalities across our communities. Throughout the role, you'll develop strong relationships with community partners and play an important part in delivering personalised, preventative care.
A full driving licence & access to a car for work purposes is required.
Main duties of the job As a Social Prescriber, you will:
We have a strong multidisciplinary team including GPs, Advanced Practitioners, Pharmacists, Care Coordinators, Health & Wellbeing Coaches, Mental Health Practitioners and Social Prescribers. Our aim is to provide proactive, preventative care that helps people remain independent and improves health outcomes.
We're looking for a compassionate, motivated individual to join our growing team as a Social Prescriber.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys working directly with people, building relationships within the local community and helping individuals access the right support at the right time.
Job responsibilities Keyresponsibilities
Working under the supervision of the wider PCN Team, take referrals from thePCNs Core Network Practices and from a wide range of agencies, includingpharmacies, wider multi-disciplinary teams, hospital discharge teams, alliedhealth professionals, fire service, police, job centres, social care services, housing associations, and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations (list not exhaustive).
Provide personalised support to individuals, their families and carers to takecontrol of their health and wellbeing, live independently and improve theirhealth access and outcomes, as a key member of the PCN multi-disciplinary team.Develop trusting relationships by giving people time and focus on what mattersto me. Take a holistic approach, based on the persons priorities and thewider determinants of health. Co-produce a simple personalised care and supportplan to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or reconnecting people toappropriate community groups and statutory services. The role will requiremanaging and prioritising your own caseload, in accordance with the needs,priorities and any urgent support required by individuals on the caseload. Itis vital that you have a strong awareness and understanding of when it isappropriate or necessary to refer people back to other healthprofessionals/agencies, when the persons needs are beyond the scope of thelink worker role e.g. when there is a mental health need requiring aqualified practitioner.
Work with a diverse range of people and communities, to draw on and increasethe strengths and capacities of local communities, enabling local VCSEorganisations and community groups to receive social prescribing referrals.
Alongside other members of the PCN multi-disciplinary team, workcollaboratively with all local diverse partners to contribute towardssupporting the local VCSE organisations and community groups to becomesustainable and that community assets are nurtured, through sharingintelligence regarding any gaps or problems identified in local provision withcommissioners and local authorities.
Social prescribing link workers will have a key role in educating non-clinicaland clinical staff within their PCN multi-disciplinary teams on what otherservices are available within the community and how and when patients canaccess them. This may include verbal or written advice and guidance.
KeyTasks
Referrals
Promote social prescribing, its role in self-management, addressing healthinequalities and the wider determinants of health.
As part of the PCN multi-disciplinary team, build relationships with staff inGP practices within the local PCN, attending relevant MDT meetings, givinginformation and feedback on social prescribing.
Be proactive in developing strong links with all local agencies to encouragereferrals, recognising what they need to be confident in the service to makeappropriate referrals.
Work in partnership with all local agencies to raise awareness of socialprescribing and how partnership working can reduce pressure on statutoryservices, improve health access and outcomes and enable a holistic approach tocare.
Provide referral agencies with regular updates about social prescribing,including training for their staff and how to access information to encourageappropriate referrals.
Seek regular feedback about the quality of service and impact of socialprescribing on referral agencies.
Be proactive in encouraging equality and inclusion, through self-referrals andconnecting with all diverse local communities, particularly those communitiesthat statutory agencies may find hard to reach.
Meet people on a one-to-one basis, making home visits where appropriate withinorganisations policies and procedures. Give people time to tell their storiesand focus on what matters to me. Build trust and respect with the person,providing non-judgemental and non-discriminatory support, respecting diversityand lifestyle choices. Work from a strength-based approach focusing on apersons assets.
Be a friendly and engaging source of information about health, wellbeing andprevention approaches.
Help people identify the wider issues that impact on their health andwellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, being unemployed, loneliness and caringresponsibilities.
Work with the person, their families and carers and consider how they can allbe supported through social prescribing.
Help people maintain or regain independence through living skills, adaptations,enablement approaches and simple safeguards.
Work with individuals to co-produce a simple personalised support plan toaddress the persons health and wellbeing needs based on the personspriorities, interests, values, cultural and religious/faith needs andmotivations including what they can expect from the groups, activities andservices they are being connected to and what the person can do for themselvesto improve their health and wellbeing.
Where appropriate, physically introduce people to culturally appropriatecommunity groups, activities and statutory services, ensuring they arecomfortable, feel valued and respected. Follow up to ensure they are happy,able to engage, included and receiving good support.
Where people may be eligible for a personal health budget, help them to explorethis option as a way of providing funded, personalised support to beindependent, including helping people to gain skills for meaningful employment,where appropriate.
Seek advice and support from the GP supervisor and/or identified individual(s)to discuss patient-related concerns (e.g. abuse, domestic violence and supportwith mental health), referring the patient back to the GP or other suitablehealth professional if required.
Support community groups and VCSE organisations to receive referrals
Forge strong links with a wide range of local VCSE organisations, community andneighbourhood level groups . click apply for full job details
This post is available as either a Band 4 Developmental Social Prescriber or a Band 5 Social Prescriber, depending on your qualifications, experience and knowledge. If appointed at Band 4, you will receive structured support, supervision and development to build the skills and competencies required to progress to a Band 5 Social Prescriber.
You'll spend time understanding what matters most to each individual, helping them identify their goals and connecting them with local services, community groups and voluntary organisations that can improve their wellbeing.
No two days are the same. You may be supporting someone experiencing loneliness, helping a patient access housing or financial advice, connecting carers with local support, or working alongside healthcare professionals to reduce health inequalities across our communities. Throughout the role, you'll develop strong relationships with community partners and play an important part in delivering personalised, preventative care.
A full driving licence & access to a car for work purposes is required.
Main duties of the job As a Social Prescriber, you will:
- Manage a caseload of patients referred by GP practices and partner organisations.
- Work with individuals to understand what matters most to them and identify goals to improve their health and wellbeing.
- Develop personalised support plans using a holistic, person-centred approach.
- Signpost and connect people to local community groups, voluntary organisations and statutory services.
- Build strong working relationships with GP practices, the wider multidisciplinary team and community partners.
- Support patients to improve independence, reduce isolation and access appropriate support.
- Carry out appointments in GP practices, community venues, and by telephone, where appropriate.
- Identify when a patient's needs require referral to another healthcare professional or specialist service.
- Maintain accurate clinical records and collect outcome data using the appropriate clinical systems.
- Promote social prescribing across the Primary Care Network and contribute to reducing health inequalities.
- Develop knowledge of local services and community resources to ensure patients receive the most appropriate support.
- Work in line with safeguarding, information governance, confidentiality and lone working policies.
- Participate in regular supervision, training and continuing professional development.
We have a strong multidisciplinary team including GPs, Advanced Practitioners, Pharmacists, Care Coordinators, Health & Wellbeing Coaches, Mental Health Practitioners and Social Prescribers. Our aim is to provide proactive, preventative care that helps people remain independent and improves health outcomes.
We're looking for a compassionate, motivated individual to join our growing team as a Social Prescriber.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys working directly with people, building relationships within the local community and helping individuals access the right support at the right time.
Job responsibilities Keyresponsibilities
Working under the supervision of the wider PCN Team, take referrals from thePCNs Core Network Practices and from a wide range of agencies, includingpharmacies, wider multi-disciplinary teams, hospital discharge teams, alliedhealth professionals, fire service, police, job centres, social care services, housing associations, and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations (list not exhaustive).
Provide personalised support to individuals, their families and carers to takecontrol of their health and wellbeing, live independently and improve theirhealth access and outcomes, as a key member of the PCN multi-disciplinary team.Develop trusting relationships by giving people time and focus on what mattersto me. Take a holistic approach, based on the persons priorities and thewider determinants of health. Co-produce a simple personalised care and supportplan to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or reconnecting people toappropriate community groups and statutory services. The role will requiremanaging and prioritising your own caseload, in accordance with the needs,priorities and any urgent support required by individuals on the caseload. Itis vital that you have a strong awareness and understanding of when it isappropriate or necessary to refer people back to other healthprofessionals/agencies, when the persons needs are beyond the scope of thelink worker role e.g. when there is a mental health need requiring aqualified practitioner.
Work with a diverse range of people and communities, to draw on and increasethe strengths and capacities of local communities, enabling local VCSEorganisations and community groups to receive social prescribing referrals.
Alongside other members of the PCN multi-disciplinary team, workcollaboratively with all local diverse partners to contribute towardssupporting the local VCSE organisations and community groups to becomesustainable and that community assets are nurtured, through sharingintelligence regarding any gaps or problems identified in local provision withcommissioners and local authorities.
Social prescribing link workers will have a key role in educating non-clinicaland clinical staff within their PCN multi-disciplinary teams on what otherservices are available within the community and how and when patients canaccess them. This may include verbal or written advice and guidance.
KeyTasks
Referrals
Promote social prescribing, its role in self-management, addressing healthinequalities and the wider determinants of health.
As part of the PCN multi-disciplinary team, build relationships with staff inGP practices within the local PCN, attending relevant MDT meetings, givinginformation and feedback on social prescribing.
Be proactive in developing strong links with all local agencies to encouragereferrals, recognising what they need to be confident in the service to makeappropriate referrals.
Work in partnership with all local agencies to raise awareness of socialprescribing and how partnership working can reduce pressure on statutoryservices, improve health access and outcomes and enable a holistic approach tocare.
Provide referral agencies with regular updates about social prescribing,including training for their staff and how to access information to encourageappropriate referrals.
Seek regular feedback about the quality of service and impact of socialprescribing on referral agencies.
Be proactive in encouraging equality and inclusion, through self-referrals andconnecting with all diverse local communities, particularly those communitiesthat statutory agencies may find hard to reach.
Meet people on a one-to-one basis, making home visits where appropriate withinorganisations policies and procedures. Give people time to tell their storiesand focus on what matters to me. Build trust and respect with the person,providing non-judgemental and non-discriminatory support, respecting diversityand lifestyle choices. Work from a strength-based approach focusing on apersons assets.
Be a friendly and engaging source of information about health, wellbeing andprevention approaches.
Help people identify the wider issues that impact on their health andwellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, being unemployed, loneliness and caringresponsibilities.
Work with the person, their families and carers and consider how they can allbe supported through social prescribing.
Help people maintain or regain independence through living skills, adaptations,enablement approaches and simple safeguards.
Work with individuals to co-produce a simple personalised support plan toaddress the persons health and wellbeing needs based on the personspriorities, interests, values, cultural and religious/faith needs andmotivations including what they can expect from the groups, activities andservices they are being connected to and what the person can do for themselvesto improve their health and wellbeing.
Where appropriate, physically introduce people to culturally appropriatecommunity groups, activities and statutory services, ensuring they arecomfortable, feel valued and respected. Follow up to ensure they are happy,able to engage, included and receiving good support.
Where people may be eligible for a personal health budget, help them to explorethis option as a way of providing funded, personalised support to beindependent, including helping people to gain skills for meaningful employment,where appropriate.
Seek advice and support from the GP supervisor and/or identified individual(s)to discuss patient-related concerns (e.g. abuse, domestic violence and supportwith mental health), referring the patient back to the GP or other suitablehealth professional if required.
Support community groups and VCSE organisations to receive referrals
Forge strong links with a wide range of local VCSE organisations, community andneighbourhood level groups . click apply for full job details