Social Prescriber

**About the Role**:
Titan Primary Care Network (PCN) have an exciting opportunity for a Social Prescriber to join our PCN team.

Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to non-medical ‘Link Workers’ who give time, focus on ‘what matters to me’ and take a holistic approach, connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support. Link Workers support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all local partners.

This role helps people to work on their wider health and wellbeing, specifically wider determinants of their health, as well as other lifestyle issues and low-level mental health concerns by increasing people’s active involvement with their local communities.
- This role covers these key areas:

- Improved health and quality of life
- Increased patient satisfaction
- Fewer primary care consultations
- Reductions in the number of hospital admissions, visits to Accident and Emergency, and outpatient attendances
- A decrease in the use of wider hospital resources
- Reduction in 999 calls.
- Key responsibilities- Co-produce a simple personalised care and support plan to address the patient’s health and wellbeing needs by introducing or reconnecting people to community groups and statutory services;
- Evaluate how far the actions in the care and support plan are meeting the individual’s health and wellbeing needs;
- Provide personalised support to individuals, their families and carers to take control of their health and wellbeing, live independently and improve their health outcomes;
- Develop trusting relationships by giving people time and focus on ‘what matters to them’; and
- Take a holistic approach, based on the person’s priorities, and the wider determinants of health. iii. The role will require social prescribing link workers to manage and prioritise their own caseload, in accordance with the health and wellbeing needs of their population. Where required and as appropriate, the social prescribing link workers will refer people back to other health professionals within the PCN.
- Social prescribing link workers will work collaboratively with all local partners to contribute towards supporting the local VCSE organisations and community groups to become sustainable and that community assets are nurtured, through sharing intelligence regarding any gaps or problems identified in local provision with commissioners and local authorities.
- Social prescribing link workers will have a role in educating nonclinical and clinical staff within the PCN on services are available within the community and how and when patients can access them. This may include verbal or written advice and guidance.
- Identify and engage effectively in a non-judgemental and respectful manor with members of the community from all backgrounds, abilities and ages, listening and interpreting complex health information into understandable terms about health and health improvement
- Assess the client's abilities and preferences, thinking laterally and then advising and supporting them in a variety of areas/activities being and sensitive to barriers to adopting a healthier lifestyle such as affordability, accessibility and life circumstances
- Encourage people in choices and actions that are acceptable and achievable to them, while being aware of cultural and social considerations in regard people's lifestyles
- Conduct an assessment of a client's circumstances and challenges to determine the nature and extent of their non-clinical needs *
- Support people to recognise and change their current lifestyle and to identify how their way of life might affect their health and well-being
- Provide Health Education to people to improve health and encourage healthy lifestyles/promote behavioural change

Please see full job specification attached:
If you are a social prescriber and want a new and exciting change in career, then we would love to hear from you.

You will need to have the following skills:

- NVQ Level 3, advanced level or equivalent qualifications or working towards or relevant work experience
- Knowledge of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities
- Knowledge of the personalised care approach
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with people, their families, carers, community groups, partner agencies and stakeholders.
- Have a strong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other health professionals/agencies, when what the person needs is beyond the scope of the link worker role - e.g. when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner.
- How to lead and motivate people and work effectively in teams
- Ability to maintain effective working relationships and to