PCN Social Prescriber

Job summary

We have a fantastic opportunity for a new Social Prescriber to join our expandinghealth and wellbeing team.

We are looking for self-motivated, well organised, and enthusiasticindividuals with a passion for community.

The post-holder will work with at-risk and vulnerable adults within thecommunity; there may be the opportunity for the right applicant to divide theirtime between working with adults and with young people aged 13-18.

Social Prescribing helps to empower patients to take control of theirown health and wellbeing through sign-posting and looking at alternatives tomedicines.

Social prescribing can help PCNs to strengthen community, promoteindependence and reduce health inequalities by addressing the widerdeterminants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity. Itworks by creating and supporting community services to work effectively,allowing patients further access to support that cannot be found in a bottle.

Main duties of the job

Around 80% of your time will be spent conducting appointments andspeaking to patients within the surgery to promote the service. Appointmentsare conducted via telephone and face-to-face, and you can expect to speak to peopleaffected by a wide range of health and social issues.

You will be supporting personal choices for patients to help improvetheir well-being and referring patients to comprehensive social care serviceswhere appropriate. We have a large number of patients to reach and so theability to build trust, ask the right questions and think on your feet will beessential.

Community engagement is very important, the remainder of your timewill be dedicated to community outreach and promoting our Social Prescribingand Care Co-Ordinator services to the wider community.

You will be supporting and leading our growing number of successfulcommunity groups, as well as visiting community centres and other community groupsto offer further support when able.

You will also be attending community development meetings and will beconfident in voicing concerns raised by patients as well as any gaps inprovisions identified.

About us

Blyth PCN hasover 40,000 patients across two practices, this PCN role would be based exclusivelywithin Railway Medical Group, a practice with 27,200 patients across 4 mainsites.

We have adiverse team of GPs, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Paediatric ANP, Paramedics, CPN's,Pharmacy Technicians, Nurses and Healthcare Assistants.

We are supported by PCNPharmacists, First Contact Physiotherapy and our Social Prescribers, and our comprehensivemanagement and admin team including specialist HR and IT functions.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Social Prescribing enables health and social care professionals bothwithin the practice and externally to refer patients to a wide variety of non-clinicalprogrammes and services using a more holistic approach to health and wellbeing.It allows patients to design their own personalised solutions to their health(their social prescription) by addressing and understanding social deprivationand needs. It seeks to address patient needs across several areas such asphysical activity, diet and nutrition, mental health and social support. It isoften referred to as a more than medicine approach to health and wellbeing asit is considered that many long-term conditions can be helped by lifestylechange alone.

As a busy GP Practice with over 27,000 patients, you can expectfast-paced, full clinics and so excellent time management skills will beessential. You will be expected to manage your own time.

You can expect to see patients who:

-have one or more long-term conditions includingthose with a new diagnosis.

-Are suffering with their mental health

-may endure loneliness or isolation

-experience poverty, debt or changes incircumstances that may have a long-term effect on their health and wellbeing

-have concerns about drug, alcohol, and lifestyle

-have complex social needs effecting their wellbeing

-carers both formally and informally

-patients struggling to manage within their own home

The post-holder will support patients to access health care, communitygroups and statutory services for practical and emotional support. You willwork under direction of the Team Lead and with the wider team to supportpatients with their health choices, strengthen community engagement andpersonal resilience, reduce health and wellbeing inequalities by addressing thewider factors of health.

The post holder will act within professional boundaries and seek advice fromcolleagues when needed.

The Practice has a commitment to excellent patient care, qualityimprovement and teaching. It is expected that all members of our clinical teamare actively committed to supporting these aims and participate in relevantactivities when appropriate to do so.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Excellent time-keeping skills and the ability to manage your own diaries and time A good understanding of IT systems (word, excel etc) Able to generate their own leads and workload from within the practice and the wider community Experience of supporting vulnerable people, their families and carers Experience of working in a similar role either within the NHS, health and social care, learning support, community engagement or public health/health improvement (including unpaid work)

Desirable

Experience of supporting people with their mental health, addictions or people in poverty Experience of working with the VCSE sector (in a paid or unpaid capacity), including with volunteers and small community groups Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations

Qualifications

Essential

Achieved or working towards NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care. Equivalent work experience will be considered GCSE Maths and English at or above Grade C or equivalent Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal development

Desirable

Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience

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