Social Prescribing Link Worker

**Job Title - Social Prescribing Link Worker**

**Accountable to - Primary Care Network Clinical Director**

**Location - Locality-based (either Chingford, Walthamstow, Leyton/Leytonstone)**

**Salary Band 5 (Pro-rated)**

**Hours Part-time - 22.5 hours (3 days per week)**

**Introduction**

The London Borough of Waltham Forest and Waltham Forest Federated GP Network are supporting the Primary Care Networks established across the borough to recruit Social Prescribing Link Workers.

The posts will be part of a wider Integrated Care development known as the Managed Network of Care & Support. The Managed Network focuses on prevention and early intervention. A key activity is to provide non-clinical support to vulnerable residents by employing link workers across 3 well-being pathways, Social Prescribing, well-being at Home and Local Area Coordination. The model has been developed as part of the Waltham Forest Integrated Care Partnership and is part of the Promoting Wellbeing Programme.

**Purpose of the role**

Social Prescribing Link Workers empower people to take control of their health and well-being by taking a holistic approach and connecting people to practical and emotional support in the community and statutory sectors. Officers give people time to focus on their aspirations & goals and help to build active and sustainable communities by working collaboratively with local partners.

The activities undertaken by Social Prescribing Link Workers help to strengthen personal and community resilience and reduce health inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health such as debt, poor housing and social isolation.

The service is targeted at particular groups of residents. Social Prescribing Link Workers will support residents to become more independent and enhance their well-being when they meet some, or all, of the following criteria:
Residents must be vulnerable, with significant needs, and would benefit from support coordination. The team will prioritise individuals who are:

- Older or becoming increasingly frail
- Have an enduring health condition or disability (including learning difficulties and mental health issues)
- Are Carers

Support coordination delivered by Social Prescribing Link Workers is particularly effective for people who are lonely, isolated, have low mood or anxiety and who are able to access services directly - either independently or with the help of family and friends. By increasing people’s involvement with their local communities, the intervention helps to increase confidence and reduce demand for statutory services.

Postholders are expected to deal with the complex situations that people present with and be a catalyst for change in the locality where they are based. Post holders are expected to facilitate multi-agency working and support community groups to receive referrals.

**Key Responsibilities**

1. Working with direct supervision by a GP, taking referrals from a wide range of agencies - working with primary care networks, community health teams, hospital discharge teams, social care services, housing agencies, employment organisations and the voluntary & community sector (VCS). This list is not exhaustive.

2. Provide personalised support to individuals, families and carers, helping them to take control of their well-being so they can live more independently and improve their health outcomes, as key members of the Primary Care Network multi-disciplinary team.

3. Develop trusting relationships by giving people time and focusing on what matters to the person. The approach should be holistic and based on the individual’s aspirations and goals and how these impact the wider determinants of health.

4. Co-produce a personalised support package to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or re-connecting people to community groups and statutory services. The role may involve managing a caseload and this will need to be prioritised based on competing demands and the needs of clients.

Note: It is vital that staff have a strong understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other professionals and agencies because the person’s needs are beyond the scope of the Social Prescribing Link Workers (e.g. when there are mental health issues requiring a qualified practitioner).

5. Draw on, and increase, the strengths and capacities of local communities - enabling VCS organisations and community groups to receive referrals. Ensure groups are supported and have basic safeguarding processes in place for vulnerable individuals, so people can develop friendships, a sense of belonging and increase knowledge, skills and confidence.

6. Alongside other members of the Primary Care Network multi-disciplinary team, work collaboratively with local partners to contribute towards supporting local VCS organisations and community groups to become sustainable and that community asset are nurtured. This may mean making group leaders aware of opportunities