Social Prescriber

**Job Purpose**: The main purpose of this post is to deliver a Social Prescribing Service to the patients within our Primary Care Network, known as East Kennet PCN. To work with the Practices within the PCN to support patients by providing holistic assessments with the aim of improving their health and wellbeing. Social Prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to non-medical link workers who can take a holistic approach to someones overall health. They connect people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.

Social Prescribing can help to strengthen community resilience and personal resilience, and reduces inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical activity and by increasing peoples active involvement with their local communities. It works particularly well for people with long term conditions (including support for mental health), for people who are lonely or isolated or have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing. This role will cover all age groups, to include Children, Adults, Families and Carers. Main Duties Provide Personalised Support Meet people on a one to one basis either within the Practice or making home visits where appropriate within line with local policies and procedures.

Be a friendly source of information about wellbeing and preventative approaches. Provide people with continuity, remaining the point of contact throughout the social prescription. Help people identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, social isolation or caring responsibilities. Work with the person, their families and carers and consider how they can all be supported through social prescribing.

Help people maintain or regain independence through living skills, adaptions, enablement approaches and simple safeguards. Work with individuals to produce a simple personal support plan based on their priorities, interests and motivation. Where appropriate, physically introduce people to community groups, activities and voluntary services ensuring they are comfortable. Offer ongoing emotional support and signposting to people which will include those suffering with poor mental health.

Liaise with parents of children who are experiencing difficulties, these may be learning or social difficulties. This may require establishing and maintaining an ongoing communication link with Schools, Social Workers, Health Visitors and Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service. Referrals Promoting social prescribing and its role in self-management. Help to develop the Practice Teams knowledge on how to identify individuals suitable for a social prescribing referral.

Build relationships with key staff across the PCN, attending relevant meetings and becoming part of the wider network team. Be proactive with developing strong links with all local agencies to encourage referrals, recognising what they need to be confident in the service to make an appropriate referral. Be proactive in encouraging self-referrals and connecting with all local communities, particularly those communities that statutory agencies may find hard to reach. Support Community Groups and Voluntary Organisations Forge strong links with local voluntary organisations, community and neighbourhood level groups, utilising their networks and building on what is already available to create a map or menu of community groups.

All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the Practice may only be divulged to authorised persons Health & Safety: It is the responsibility of all employees to ensure that they comply with the requirements of the Health & Safety at Work Act. Safe working practices are adhered to and any hazards are reported to the appropriate line manager immediately. Familiarisations with all health & safety policies within the Practices are key. Equality and Diversity: The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include: Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with policies and current legislation Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

**Personal/Professional development**: The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, with such training to include: Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development Taking responsibility for own developme