Social Prescriber

Job summary

Do you have a passion for people? Want toconnect people to services that can help them stay well and remain independent?

The Blackmore Vale Partnership is recruiting apart-time Social Prescriber who will be part of our well-established andexperienced Wellbeing Team. A Social Prescriber is a non-clinical healthcareprofessional who responds to concerns raised by the wider GP practice teamabout any individual facing life challenges that are adversely impacting theirhealth & wellbeing. It is a diverse and sometimes challenging role with notwo days being the same. Becoming a Social Prescriber is an opportunity toreally help people, whether they are lonely, struggling with life, or needinghelp with managing their health condition your starting point is to listen tothem and understand what matters most then to create a plan with them fortheir individual needs. This post will also focus on supporting children, youngpeople, and families which will develop as you progress in within the role. You will take a holistic approach, signpostingand connecting people to community groups, services, and activities forpractical and personalised support. You will be working in partnership with our wider GP Practiceteam to support patients in taking control of their health and linking them withappropriate support in their local community.

Key Details:

Part-time (hrs/wk)

5 weeks Annual Leave

NHS Pension

Flexible Working

Development Opportunities

Main duties of the job

ROLEDESCRIPTION

OVERVIEW

Social Prescribing enables people to takecontrol of their health and wellbeing through a personalised care approach.Social Prescribers respond to concerns about someones (non-clinical) support needsand provide time to focus on what matters to me, working holistically withpeople to connect them to community groups and statutory services for practicaland emotional support. Social Prescribers also work collaboratively withcommunity groups and service providers so that these remain accessible andsustainable.

Social Prescribing helps to strengthen personaland community resilience and reduce health inequalities by addressing the widerdeterminants of health such as debt, housing and physical inactivity and promotesactive involvement within local communities. This can be particularly helpful forpeople with long-term conditions (including support for mental health), forpeople who are lonely or isolated, or those with complex social support needs.

JOB PURPOSE

Working as part of the Blackmore ValePartnership Wellbeing Team, you will assist in connecting people to appropriateservices and opportunities that can meet their (non-clinical) support needs.

About us

We are a large innovative and friendly GMS practice in North Dorset who are big on development, invest in our team and are keen to create opportunities for career development through routes such as portfolio working and giving autonomy to take the lead and use initiative. As a partnership we have demonstrated our commitment to diversification from the traditional model, having both an Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Pharmacist and a Manager as partners in our organisation.

We are passionate about giving all our team a voice and input into the way we work and provide care for our community. We are very fortunate to have a large MDT already and recognise the importance of a holistic approach to health care. We have been part of The Altogether Better Programme and now have a team of health champions and social prescribers which support this approach.

We are a fun loving practice, looking for like minded enthusiasts to come and join us and deliver healthcare embracing new models of care.

Located in a beautiful part of North Dorset (Shaftesbury and Sturminster Newton and surrounding areas), we enjoy excellent transport links, fantastic local schools (both state and private) and the coast is within easy reach for sailing, diving and outdoor pursuits

Job description

Job responsibilities

ROLEDESCRIPTION

OVERVIEW

Social Prescribing enables people to takecontrol of their health and wellbeing through a personalised care approach.Social Prescribers respond to concerns about someones (non-clinical) support needsand provide time to focus on what matters to me, working holistically withpeople to connect them to community groups and statutory services for practicaland emotional support. Social Prescribers also work collaboratively withcommunity groups and service providers so that these remain accessible andsustainable.

Social Prescribing helps to strengthen personaland community resilience and reduce health inequalities by addressing the widerdeterminants of health such as debt, housing and physical inactivity and promotesactive involvement within local communities. This can be particularly helpful forpeople with long-term conditions (including support for mental health), forpeople who are lonely or isolated, or those with complex social support needs.

JOB PURPOSE

Working as part of the Blackmore ValePartnership Wellbeing Team, you will assist in connecting people to appropriateservices and opportunities that can meet their (non-clinical) support needs.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

This involves a wide range of responsibilitiesincluding:

Liaise with people registered at the practice,their families/representatives, healthcare professionals, social services andGPs to ensure that their care & support needs are being met.

Assess, plan, develop, implement, and evaluatenon-clinical support that promote health & wellbeing.

Work with patients to support adherence toprescribed clinical treatments.

Support patients to adopt health promotionstrategies that encourage people to live healthily and apply principles ofself-care and self-management.

Provide telephone support or home visits whenthe need arises.

Provide information to the practice to aidtimely assessment and management of peoples care & support needs.

Maintain electronic records within peoplesclinical systems for audit purposes.

Keep information regarding patients and theirfamilies secure and confidential.

Talk to people, their carers or representativesabout their care and support needs, taking into account different communicationneeds and levels of understanding.

Identify and support people who lack capacityin best interest decision making.

Attend multidisciplinary meetings as requiredto offer support around non-clinical care.

Ensure working patterns are efficientand well planned.

Effectively prioritise tasks to meetunexpected emergencies and changes in working arrangements.

Communicate effectively with colleagues andother members of the practice team regarding peoples well-being.

Identify and establish contact with patients,families and carers who may benefit from Social Prescriber interventions.

Give people time to explain their situationand focus on what matters to me.

Build trust by providing non-judgementalsupport, respecting diversity and lifestyle choices. Work from a strength-basedapproach focusing on a persons assets.

Increase the scale and impact ofsimple lifestyle advice in Primary Care.

Be a key part of our multidisciplinary team, workingcollaboratively with clinical and non-clinical colleagues to provide the bestpossible services to registered patients and their families.

Actively support our Health Champion volunteersprogramme, linking people together for peer-support, self-help and communityhealth & wellbeing.

Support Children and Young People, and theirfamilies will any non-clinical support they may need after understanding whatsupport they currently have

Work with the Local Alliance Group to helpform the pathway for Children and Young People in North Dorset.

Key Details:

Part-time (hrs/wk)

BVP Band 5 £28, (£ per hour) £31,(£ per hour) pro rata subject to experience

5 weeks Annual Leave

NHS Pension

Flexible Working

Development Opportunities

Closing date: 17th Sept 2024

Interviews: w/k commencing 23rd Sept 2024

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Essential criteria Knowledge, training and experience: Educated to A level in relevant subject or equivalent level of experience of working at a similar level in the public or third sectors. (Paid or voluntary) Communication skills: Excellent skills for communication, managing multiple sources of information requiring developed interpersonal and oral/written communication skills. Networking and persuasive skills. Analytical: Problem-solving skills and ability to respond to sudden, unexpected demands. Excellent time-management skills with the ability to prioritise. Planning skills: Ability to work within The Vale Network team to contribute to planning of services that support full implementation of social prescribing into the Primary Care offer. Autonomy: Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload with minimal supervision working to tight and often challenging timescales. Other: Self-motivation, Adaptability, Full driving licence

Desirable

Desirable criteria: Knowledge, training and experience:Previously worked in similar position within public sector. Good working knowledge of healthcare in The Vale Network, local practices and community.

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