Social Prescriber Link Worker

Job summary

The main purpose of this post is to deliver a SocialPrescribing Service to the patients within the Chester le Street Primary CareNetwork.

The post holder will join an established team and work withthe Practices within the PCN to support patients by providing a patient centredassessment with the aim of addressing all issues that are affecting health andwellbeing. The post holder will ensureSocial Prescribing empowers individuals by connecting them to other people,community groups and statutory services that take decisive action to reachpositive outcomes.

Social Prescribing has an important role to play instrengthening personal resilience by addressing the wider determinants ofhealth, such as debt, poor housing and physical activity and by increasingpeoples active involvement with their local communities. It can have a significant benefit for peoplewith long term conditions (including support for mental health), for people whoare lonely or isolated or have complex social needs which affect theirwellbeing.

Main duties of the job

Social prescribing link workers will take referrals from a range ofagencies in order to support the health and wellbeing of patients

assess how fara patients health and wellbeing needs can be met by services and otheropportunities available in the community

co-produce asimple personalised care and support plan to address the patients health andwellbeing needs by introducing or reconnecting people to community groups andstatutory services

evaluate howfar the actions in the care and support plan are meeting the individualshealth and wellbeing needs

providepersonalised support to individuals, their families and carers to take controlof their health and wellbeing, live independently and improve their healthoutcomes

developtrusting relationships by giving people time and focus on what matters tothem

take aholistic approach, based on the persons priorities, and the wider determinantsof health

The role will require social prescribing link workers to manage andprioritise their own caseload, in accordance with the health and wellbeingneeds of their population. Where required and as appropriate, the socialprescribing link workers will refer people back to other health professionals.

The post holder will work as part of the Durham Wellbeing Alliance MDT totriage patients when appropriate and share best practice.

As a Social Prescriber Link Worker you will play akey role in the multi disciplinary teams of the Primary Care Network.

About us

Chester le Street GP Practiceshave a single Primary Care Network (PCN) incorporating all areas of Chester leStreet and surrounding villages. The PCNis a collaborative of the 7 GP practices in the area with a registeredpopulation of over 60,000 patients.

The practices are:-

Middle Chare

Bridge End

Great Lumley

Sacriston

The Villages

Pelton & Fellrose

Cestria

Job description

Job responsibilities

Chester le Street PCN

JOB DESCRIPTION

POST TITLE: Social Prescriber Link Worker

SALARY: Entrypoint £23,949 pa WTE

RESPONSIBLE TO: Operations Manager/Practice Manager

Chester le Street GP Practiceshave a single Primary Care Network (PCN) incorporating all areas of Chester leStreet and surrounding villages. The PCNis a collaborative of the 7 GP practices in the area with a registeredpopulation of over 60,000 patients

As a Social Prescriber Link Workeryou will play a key role in the multi disciplinary teams of the Primary CareNetwork.

JOB PURPOSE:

The main purpose of this post is to deliver a SocialPrescribing Service to the patients within the Chester le Street Primary CareNetwork.

The post holder will join an established team and work withthe Practices within the PCN to support patients by providing a patient centredassessment with the aim of addressing all issues that are affecting health andwellbeing. The post holder will ensureSocial Prescribing empowers individuals by connecting them to other people,community groups and statutory services that take decisive action to reachpositive outcomes.

Social Prescribing has an important role to play instrengthening personal resilience by addressing the wider determinants ofhealth, such as debt, poor housing and physical activity and by increasingpeoples active involvement with their local communities. It can have a significant benefit for peoplewith long term conditions (including support for mental health), for people whoare lonely or isolated or have complex social needs which affect theirwellbeing.

The job description and person specification are an outlineof the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The jobholder will carry out any other duties as may reasonable be required by theirline manager.

PRIMARY DUTIESAND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES

Social prescribing link workers will take referrals from a range ofagencies in order to support the health and wellbeing of patients

assess how fara patients health and wellbeing needs can be met by services and otheropportunities available in the community;

co-produce asimple personalised care and support plan to address the patients health andwellbeing needs by introducing or reconnecting people to community groups andstatutory services;

evaluate howfar the actions in the care and support plan are meeting the individualshealth and wellbeing needs;

providepersonalised support to individuals, their families and carers to take controlof their health and wellbeing, live independently and improve their healthoutcomes;

developtrusting relationships by giving people time and focus on what matters tothem;

take aholistic approach, based on the persons priorities, and the wider determinantsof health.

The role will require social prescribing link workers to manage andprioritise their own caseload, in accordance with the health and wellbeingneeds of their population. Where required and as appropriate, the socialprescribing link workers will refer people back to other health professionals.

The post holder will work as part of the Durham Wellbeing Alliance MDT totriage patients when appropriate and share best practice.

REFERRALS:

Promotingsocial prescribing and its role in self-management.

Help todevelop the knowledge on how to identify individuals suitable for a socialprescribing referral.

Buildrelationships with key staff across the PCN and Community teams, attendingrelevant meetings and being part of the wider network team.

Be proactive withdeveloping strong links with all local agencies to encourage referrals, recognisingwhat they need to be confident in the service to make an appropriate referral.

Work with all localagencies to raise awareness of social prescribing and how it can reducepressure on statutory services, improve health outcomes and enable a holistic approach.

Be proactive inencouraging self referrals to the Durham Wellbeing Alliance and connecting withall local communities, particularly those communities that statutory agenciesmay find hard to reach.

SUPPORTINGCOMMUNITY GROUPS AND VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS:

Forge strong linkswith local voluntary organisations, community and neighbourhood level groups,utilising their networks and building on what is already available to create amap or menu of community groups.

Develop supportive relationshipswith local voluntary organisations, community groups and statutory services tomake timely, appropriate referrals.

Ensure thatlocal voluntary organisations and community groups have procedures in place forensuring that vulnerable individuals are safe and, where there are anysafeguarding concerns these are promptly escalated.

All Post Holders are expected to:

Adhere to Practice policies and procedures

Adhere to data protection regulations, data sharing and respectingconfidentiality of patients, colleagues and the Primary Care Network

Undertake a Disclosures and Barring Service (DBS) application

Be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, youngpeople and vulnerable adults

Maintain personal and professional development in order to maintain theirskills

Promote equality and diversity in a non-discriminatory way.

Contractual Responsibilities:

Confidentiality

While seekingtreatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitiveinformation in relation to their health and other matters. They do so inconfidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacyand act appropriately

In the performance ofthe duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access toconfidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staffand other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relatingto local practices and other partner agencies. All such information from anysource is to be regarded as strictly confidential

Information relating topatients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of anypartner agency or member practice, may only be divulged to authorised personsin accordance with the established protocols, policies and procedures relatingto confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

Health & Safety

The post-holder will assist in promoting andmaintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the relevantHealth & Safety Policy, to include:

Using personal securitysystems within the workplace according to practice guidelines.

Equality and Diversity

The post-holder will support the equality,diversity and rights of patients, carers, and colleagues, to include:

Acting in a way thatrecognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way thatis consistent with established procedures and policies, and current legislationand that of any practices you may be working in

Respecting the privacy,dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers, and colleagues

Behaving in a mannerwhich is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respectstheir circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Personal/Professional Development

The post-holder will participate in anylearning programme implemented by as part ofthis employment, such training to include:

Participation in anannual individual performance review, including taking responsibility formaintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development

Taking responsibilityfor own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills andactivities to others who are undertaking similar work.

Quality

The post-holder will strive to maintainquality, and will:

Alert other teammembers to issues of quality and risk

Assess own performanceand take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision

Contribute to theeffectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestionson ways to improve and enhance the teams performance

Work effectively withindividuals in other agencies to meet patients needs

Effectively manage owntime, workload, and resources.

Communication

The post-holder should recognise the importanceof effective communication within the team and will strive to:

Communicate effectivelywith other team members

Communicate effectivelywith patients and carers

Recognise peoplesneeds for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

Contribution to the Implementation of Services

The post-holder will:

Apply establishedpolicies, standards, and guidance and those of general practice whereappropriate

Discuss with othermembers of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect ownwork

Participate in auditwhere appropriate.

SpecialWorking Conditions

The post-holder isrequired to have their own car to travel between practice sites (whereapplicable) and to attend meetings or other relevant work-related activities,, meetings hosted by other agencies

The post-holder will beexpected to support the work of the PCN, and its constituent practices asrequired.

Any otherdelegated duties considered appropriate to the post

This job description covers the main dutiesthat the post holder will be expected to undertake. These duties may be revisedfrom time-to-time following consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Experience of working directly in a community development context, adult health and social care, learning support or public health/health improvement (including unpaid work)

Qualifications

Essential

Ability to listen, empathise with people and provide person- centred support in a non-judgemental way Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from all communities Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with people, their families, carers, community groups, partner agencies and stakeholders Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals 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 when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner Able to work from an asset based approach, building on existing community and personal assets Able to provide leadership and to finish work tasks Ability to maintain effective working relationships and to promote collaborative practice with all colleagues Commitment to collaborative working with all local agencies (including VCSE organisations and community groups). Able to work with others to reduce hierarchies and find creative solutions to community issues Demonstrates personal accountability, emotional resilience and works well under pressure Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative, including when under pressure and meeting deadlines High level of written and oral communication skills Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or on own initiative Understanding of the needs of small volunteer-led community groups and ability to support their development Knowledge of and ability to work to policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety NVQ Level 3, Advanced level or equivalent qualifications or working towards Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal development

Desirable

Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience

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