Youth Social Prescribing Link Worker

Place of work: Flexible locations in GU46/GU17 Yateley and Blackwater area with some home based work.

Working Hours: Part time. This is a flexible role to work around an appointment diary set by the Link Worker, V4Y and associated connections. The role is for 20 hours per week, Monday-Friday. Appointments are likely to be during school hours or in the evening at one of V4Y’s youth clubs. Access to transport is required in order to meet the young people at various local locations. This is a new project for V4Y and the Link Worker will work closely with the charity to help grow the service. Further funding is continually being sought with a plan to run the social prescribing permanently; currently this role is funded for approximately six months.

Key Responsibilities: To take referrals from a wide range of sources, such as GP surgeries, secondary schools, parents and youth groups. To work with each young person on a 1-1 basis to establish their current situation and how social prescribing can help them. Help young people identify the wider issues that impact upon their health and wellbeing and provide support where necessary. Onward referral for each young person to attend the social activity that is individually relevant to them, whilst making direct contact with the place of engagement. Keeping in touch with each young person for 6 weeks to ensure they are settled in their new social activities.
Maintaining key relationships with GP surgeries, secondary schools, local youth organisations and other places that may support young people socially (eg. a leisure centre). Promote social prescribing wherever possible to encourage future referrals across the whole local community.
Keep full records of each young person’s progress to ensure effective delivery of the service. Evaluate this data regularly to see if the service can be improved. Maintaining full data protection for the individuals concerned throughout, whilst providing feedback to referral agencies.
Being mindful of and potentially raising any safeguarding concerns when speaking with young people.
Working closely with the V4Y admin team to report on cases, workload and whether any additional admin support is required.
Full training will be given as well as ongoing training when required. A good understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, equality, diversity and inclusion as well as health and safety.

Experience Required: The role requires someone with experience of working with young people. We are looking for someone with enthusiasm to help make this new service a success.

Knowledge & Skills
Understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion.
Ability to present information both written and oral to a high standard and communicate this effectively.
An ability to be flexible in one's approach to interventions.
An ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
An ability to effectively use IT systems to support clinical care ie. communication and record keeping.
Skilled in the communication of sensitive issues.
Confident in working alone and as part of a team

Experience
Experience of working with the VCSE sector, including with volunteers and small community groups
Experience in assessment, planning, implementing and evaluating care including risk.
Experience of independently and safely managing one’s own workload
Experience of working directly in a community development context, health and social care, especially with young people, learning support or public health/health improvement (can include unpaid work)
Experience of supporting young people (can include unpaid work)
Experience of supporting young people with their mental health, either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacity
Experience of data collection and using tools to measure the impact of services
Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations including the voluntary sector

**Job Type**: Part-time

**Salary**: £13.00 per hour

**Benefits**:

- Casual dress
- Company pension
- On-site parking
- Work from home

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday

Work Location: Hybrid remote