Job Summary
Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to ‘link workers’ who give time, focus on ‘what matters to me’ and take a holistic approach to an individual’s health and wellbeing, connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support. Social prescribing can help PCN’s to strengthen community and personal resilience and reduces health and wellbeing inequalities. It works for people with long-term conditions (including support for mental health), people who are lonely or isolated, or have complex social needs which affect their well-being.
The post holder will utilise counselling-based skills and therapeutic communication techniques to support individuals experiencing emotional distress, anxiety, low mood, loneliness, adjustment difficulties and other non-clinical mental wellbeing concerns. They will demonstrate empathy, active listening, reflective practice and person-centred approaches to help individuals explore their circumstances, identify strengths, build resilience and develop practical coping strategies. Whilst not providing formal psychotherapy, the post holder will be confident in delivering brief psychosocial interventions, emotional support and wellbeing-focused conversations, recognising when specialist mental health services or safeguarding interventions are required.
MAIN DUTIES
1. To work with individual clients, particularly around poor mental wellbeing and low-level mental health issues, on 1:1 basis to build trusting relationships to ensure they are accessing the right support, at the right time, in the right place.
2. Provide personalised support to individuals, to take control of their mental health and wellbeing, live independently and improve their health outcomes, as a key member of the PCN multi-disciplinary team. Develop trusting relationships by giving people time and focus on ‘what matters to me.’ Possess genuine listening skills and provide short-term interventions and solution-focused techniques.
3. To manage and prioritise your own caseload, in accordance with the needs, priorities and any support required by individuals on the caseload.
4. Alongside other members of the PCN multi-disciplinary team, work collaboratively with all local partners to contribute towards supporting the local VCSE organisations and community groups. Share intelligence regarding any gaps or problems identified in local provision with commissioners and local authorities.
5. Utilise counselling and therapeutic communication skills to provide emotional support, active listening, brief interventions and person-centred wellbeing conversations, enabling individuals to explore challenges, identify solutions, build resilience and improve self-management of their health and wellbeing.
Requirements
- Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors.
- Understanding of person-centred counselling principles and therapeutic communication techniques.
- Ability to establish rapport and maintain professional helping relationships with individuals experiencing emotional distress.
- Knowledge of active listening, reflective practice, empathy and boundary management.
- Understanding of trauma-informed approaches and their application within community and primary care settings.
- Ability to recognise signs of deteriorating mental health and escalate concerns appropriately.
- Knowledge of brief intervention techniques, solution-focused approaches and emotional wellbeing support.
- An understanding of health inequalities and the impact on health.
- Knowledge of health and lifestyle issues relating to mental wellbeing and mental health (gained through practical experience and/or a health-related qualification).
- Skills to listen, influence, negotiate and motivate individuals in relation to health-related behaviours.
- Ability to handle sensitive data with confidentiality.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal and listening skills.
- Ability to demonstrate an effective collaborative supportive management style.
- Ability to act upon own initiative, respond to changing situations.
- Good organisational and time management skills.
- An awareness of behaviour change models.
- Ability to collate information and prepare reports.
- Experience of multi sector working.
- Local knowledge of how the NHS works, including primary care and primary care networks.
Qualifications & Training
- Relevant level 4 or 5 qualification in mental health / wellbeing or related area. e.g. NVQ3 / Foundation degree / Higher National Diploma or equivalent.
- Certificate, Diploma or equivalent training in Counselling Skills, Person-Centred Counselling, Therapeutic Communication or a related field.
- Evidence of continuing professional development in mental health, counselling skills, coaching or wellbeing interventions.
- Good overall topic-based training covering a range of health and wellbeing disciplines.
- RSPH Level 2 Understanding Health Improvement.
- Training in motivational interviewing or equivalent experience
- Level 2 health and wellbeing Awareness qualification
- Social Prescribing Link Worker Qualification
Pay: From £16.42 per hour
Work Location: In person
