Role Context
General practice teams in Primary Care Networks (PCN) across England now have access to dedicated Link Workers to provide the following functions:
To support patients with long-term conditions to access non-clinical support in their communities with a view to reducing loneliness and increasing wellbeing activities
To support the clinical staff within the PCN to understand what services are available in their communities and how to access them.
The successful Link Worker candidates will work within Citizens Advice on Prescription Liverpool service to provide allocated GP teams and a variety of statutory and non-statutory partner agencies with access to a person-focused service that will be delivered in health centres, community health settings and in peoples’ homes.
The Link Worker service is an essential part of the established Citizens Advice Liverpool service and increases treatment options for health practitioners, and its highly motivated team work closely with health professionals and community organisations to support patients to make lifestyle changes. The successful candidates will meet patients in a variety of settings and support them to develop a pathway to improved health and well-being. To provide this support you will need to develop a sound knowledge of local health, social and voluntary services.
This scheme will enable GPs to refer patients to social activities and other types of support to improve health and wellbeing. The new staff team will engage the patient and co-design a non-clinical social prescription service to improve their health and well-being using services provided by the voluntary and community sector.
The Link Worker is responsible for enabling and supporting a patient to assess their needs, co-producing solutions for them making use of appropriate local resources.
Role Profile/Job Description
Main Responsibilities
Co-produce a personalised support plans to improve health and wellbeing for patients who are experiencing loneliness, isolation or inactivity or loss of confidence.
Work closely with and take referrals from a wide range of agencies, working with GP practices, health visitors, pharmacies, multi-disciplinary teams, hospital discharge teams, children's & families services, education and housing agencies, allied health professionals, fire service, police, job centres, social care services, housing associations, and VCSE organisations (list not exhaustive) as well at the Patient Participation Group.
Work within CAL’s Health Programme to ensure information on local voluntary and community resource is always up to date to enable effective and accurate signposting and linking of patients with services.
Build relationships within the practices and PCN network, support practice staff in the referral process to develop the entire practice teams’ knowledge on how to identify patients suitable for social prescribing referral
Record and code information on the practice clinical system maintaining accurate patient records at all times.
Actively promote Social Prescribing services within the practice, using dedicated noticeboards, social media and the practice website
Work collaboratively with generalist advisers, specialist caseworkers and link workers to provide practical and wellbeing support to referred patients and have a working knowledge of how each element of the Citizens Advice on prescription Liverpool supports the needs of service users.
Demonstrate an understanding of the links between poverty, financial insecurity and health inequalities, and the importance of connecting people to appropriate welfare, debt and anti-poverty support. Maintain a working knowledge of Citizens Advice Liverpool services and referral pathways.
Support patients with priority health conditions, including but not limited to diagnosis of cancer, respiratory disease, mild, moderate or severe mental health conditions, and patients on the perinatal pathway
Social policy
Professional development
Keep up to date with legislation, policies and procedures and undertake appropriate training.
Read relevant publications.
Attend relevant internal and external meetings as agreed with the line manager.
Prepare for and attend supervision sessions/team meetings/staff meetings as appropriate.
Other duties and responsibilities
Carry out any other tasks that may be within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service.
Demonstrate commitment to the aims and policies of the Citizens Advice service.
Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues.
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