Social Prescribing Link Worker

Job summary

Social prescribing empowers people totake control of their health and well-being through referral to link workerswho give time, focus on what matters to me and take a holistic approach to anindividuals health and well-being, connecting people to diverse communitygroups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.

The link worker will work as part of amulti-disciplinary team to provide social prescribing expertise for the Canterburyprimary care networks (PCN). Social prescribing can help PCNs to strengthencommunity and personal resilience, reduce health inequalities (in relation totimely access and outcomes) and well-being inequalities by addressing the widerdeterminants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity, byincreasing peoples active involvement with their local diverse communities.

Social prescribing works for people withlong term conditions (including support for mental health), for people who arelonely or isolated, or have complex social needs which affect theirwell-being.

Main duties of the job

The following are the coreresponsibilities:

Work under the overallsupervision of the GP Lead to take referrals from a wide range of agencies, including GP practices, pharmacies, hospitaldischarge teams, allied health professionals. etc.

Providepersonalised support to individuals, their families and carers to take controlof their health and wellbeing to live independently and improve their healthaccess and outcomes. Develop trusting relationships by giving people time andfocus on what matters to me. Take a holistic approach, based on the personspriorities and the wider determinants of health. Co-produce a simplepersonalised care and support plan to improve health and wellbeing, introducingor reconnecting people to appropriate community groups and statutory services.

Manage andprioritise your own caseload, in accordance with the needs of the individualpatients. It is vital that you have a strong awareness and understanding ofwhen it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other healthprofessionals/agencies, when what the persons needs are beyond the scope ofthe link worker role when there is a mental health need requiring aqualified practitioner.

Work with a diverserange of people and communities, to draw on the strengths and capacities oflocal communities, enabling local VCSE organisations and community groups(including faith groups) to receive social prescribing referrals.

About us

Canterbury Integrated Healthcare supportsthe 7 Canterbury practices and their PCNs covering a patient population ofaround 100,000 and we have worked together for many years. The local carevision in East Kent is for localities to develop a model of care that enablespeople to live as independently as possible by delivering high quality, personcentred care that integrates hospital, social care, community and voluntaryservices around primary care networks of GP practices.

The vision for Canterbury is for the twoPCNs, working together to achieve excellent patient care through integratedpathways accessed via local GP practices.

The Canterbury PCNs will achieve this bydelivering primary care at scale, including:

Engagement from allpractices within the city in the Integrated model of care

Partnership workingwith NHS Trusts, community providers and the voluntary sector

A comprehensiveworkforce strategy including engagement with the new medical school for Kentand Medway and the new Additional PCN roles.

We aim to work collaboratively with other healthcare providers andsupport organisations, to enable more patients to be treated in a primary caresetting, closer to home.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Referrals

Promote social prescribing, its role inself-management, addressing health inequalities and the wider determinants ofhealth.

As part of the PCN multi-disciplinaryteam, build relationships with staff in GP practices within the local PCN,attending relevant MDT meetings, giving information and feedback on socialprescribing.

Be proactive in developing strong linkswith all local agencies.

Provide referrers with regular updatesabout social prescribing, including training for their staff and how to accessinformation to encourage appropriate referrals.

Seek regular feedback about the qualityof service and impact of social prescribing on referral agencies.

Be proactive in encouraging equalityand inclusion, through self-referrals and connecting with all diverse localcommunities, particularly those communities that statutory agencies may findhard to reach.

Provide personalised support

Meet people on a one-to-one basis, makinghome visits where appropriate within the organisations policies andprocedures. Give people time to tell their stories and focus on what mattersto me. Build trust and respect with the person, providing non-judgemental andnon-discriminatory support, respecting diversity and lifestyle choices. Workfrom a strength-based approach focusing on a persons assets.

Be a friendly and engaging source ofinformation about health, wellbeing and prevention approaches.

Help people identify the wider issuesthat impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, beingunemployed, loneliness and caring responsibilities.

Work with the person, their familiesand carers and consider how they can all be supported through socialprescribing.

Help people maintain or regainindependence through living skills, adaptations, enablement approaches andsimple safeguards.

Work with individuals to co-produce asimple personalised support plan to address the persons health and wellbeingneeds based on the persons priorities, interests, values, cultural andreligious/faith needs and motivations including what they can expect from thegroups, activities and services they are being connected to and what the personcan do for themselves to improve their health and wellbeing.

Where appropriate, physically introducepeople to culturally appropriate community groups, activities and statutoryservices, ensuring they are comfortable, feel valued and respected.

Seek advice and support whenappropriate to discuss patient-related concerns ( abuse, domestic violenceand support with mental health), referring the patient back to the GP or othersuitable health professional if required.

Data capture

Work sensitively with people, theirfamilies and carers to capture key information, enabling tracking of the impactof social prescribing on their health and wellbeing.

Ensure that the social prescribingreferral codes are inputted into clinical systems (as outlined in the NetworkContract DES), adhering to data protection legislation and data sharingagreements.

Professional development

Undertake continual personal andprofessional development, taking an active part in reviewing and developing theroles and responsibilities.

Adhere to organisational policies andprocedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, informationgovernance, equality, diversity and inclusion training and health and safety.

Work with your supervisor to enable youto deal effectively with the difficult issues that people present.

Miscellaneous

Work as part of the healthcare team toseek feedback, continually improve the service and contribute to SP Team planning.

Contribute to the development of policiesand plans relating to equality, diversity and health inequalities.

Undertake any tasks consistent with thelevel of the post and the scope of the role, ensuring that work is delivered ina timely and effective manner.

Duties may vary from time to time,without changing the general character of the post or the level ofresponsibility.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Experience of working in a community development context, adult Health & Social care, learning support or public health/health improvement Experience of supporting people, their families and carers

Desirable

Experience of working with the VCSE sector, including with volunteers and small community groups

Qualifications

Essential

NVQ Level 3, Advanced Level or equivalent qualifications in Health & Social Care, or working towards

Desirable

Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

Ability to communicate effectively including complex and sensitive information with people at all levels both remotely and face to face Ability to identify, assess and manage risk when working with individuals Good IT skills including word processing, emails and the internet in creating sample plans and reports Can demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and ability to work well under pressure Ability to organise, plan and prioritise, including when under pressure and meeting deadlines

Desirable

Knowledge of the personalised care approach

Personal Qualities

Essential

Ability to actively listen, empathise with people and provide person-centred support in a non-judgmental way Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential

Other

Essential

Flexibility to work outside of core office hours when required Ability to work remotely Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis, including to visit people in their own home

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