Job Description
Post Title: Social Prescribing Link Worker
Workington Primary Care Network
Grade: £27,917.47 to £33,317.06 - depending on experience
Hours: 32 hours per week, part-time
Accountable to: Workington Clinical Lead GP on behalf of Workington Primary Care Network
Base location: Workington Community Hospital – the post holder will be required to work across all Workington practice geography
Job Summary
The role will involve coproducing a "Social Prescription" with individuals referred to the service which involves providing personalised support to individuals, their families and carers to take control of their health and wellbeing; live independently and improve their health outcomes. To take a holistic approach to addressing non-medical/social issues in their life, such as housing, debt or social isolation by introducing or connecting people to community groups, activities or statutory services.
The link worker will need to have a comprehensive knowledge of activities available across Workington to support individuals and will support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable. The post holder will also work with key stakeholders to utilise untapped community resources, support the facilitation of self-help groups and other innovative approaches to enable people to better manage their own care.
We are looking for motivated individuals who are able to work independently to manage their own workload, and are flexible to respond to the developing nature of the role and the needs and priorities of individuals requiring support. You will be expected to work collaboratively with a wide range of partner organisations, professionals and volunteers to improve the health and wellbeing of the Workington patient population.
Hours of work will reflect general practice hours working within 8.00am to 6.30pm. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required to promote the service and or local organisations. Job-share and flexible hours will be considered.
Main duties & responsibilities
Patient Focus:
- Be proactive across the network of practices to promote the role and service to the multi-disciplinary practice teams to encourage referrals, ensuring staff understand how to refer and what support will be provided to individuals.
- Ensure referrals are responded to in a timely manner, communicating with referrers when necessary, enabling confidence in the service and ensuring patients receive a prompt response.
- Develop trusting relationships by giving people time and focus on ‘what matters to them’; and take a holistic approach, based on the person’s priorities, and the wider determinants of health.
- Identify and engage effectively in a non-judgemental and respectful manner with members of the community from all backgrounds, abilities and ages, listening and interpreting complex health information into understandable terms about health and health improvement.
- Conduct an assessment of an individual’s circumstances and challenges to determine the nature and extent of their non-clinical needs. Looking at their abilities and preferences, thinking laterally and then advising and supporting them in a variety of areas/activities being and sensitive to barriers to adopting a healthier lifestyle such as affordability, accessibility and life circumstances.
- Co-produce a simple personalised care and support plan to address the patient’s health and wellbeing needs by introducing or reconnecting people to community groups and statutory services. The care and support plan may include referral to local activities or social groups, advice on debt management, budgeting or getting back into work for example.
- Evaluate how far the actions in the care and support plan are meeting the individual’s health and wellbeing needs.
- Provide personalised support to individuals, their families and carers to take control of their health and wellbeing, live independently and improve their health outcomes.
- Use motivational/coaching skills to encourage people in choices and actions that are acceptable and achievable to them, while being aware of cultural and social considerations in regard people's lifestyles. This may include accompanying individuals to activities to develop their confidence.
- Support people to recognise and change their current lifestyle and to identify how their way of life might affect their health and well-being.
- Seek advice from the patient’s GP or practice lead GP as appropriate.
- Ensure patients’ and their families/carers views are taken into account in every stage of the decision making process.
Community/Primary Care Network Focus:
- Have an extensive knowledge of and develop strong links with local VCSE organisations, community and neighbourhood level groups using their networks to have an up to date menu of options available locally.
- Be proactive in the community and patient network to encourage referrals from a range of professionals, from patients, their families and carers and local organisations.
- Understand the roles and responsibilities of other professionals providing social prescribing type support e.g. elderly care coordinators, HAWCs, community development officers, inclusion team, etc.
- Work collaboratively with all local partners to contribute towards supporting the local VCSE organisations and community groups to become sustainable and that community assets are nurtured, through sharing intelligence regarding any gaps or problems identified in local provision with commissioners and local authorities.
- Where gaps are identified in service provision, generate and co-produce ideas and solutions with patients, key operational partners and community leaders. This may include developing volunteers and encouraging families and carers to provide community resolutions.
- Be a point of contact between primary care and community groups, ensuring referrals are managed and they have the support they need to meet the ‘social prescription’.
- Provide promotion and education to nonclinical and clinical staff within the PCN on services that are available within the community and how and when patients can access them. This may include ensuring notice board and waiting room information is accurate and up to date, as well as advice and guidance to staff.
- Be responsible for the promotion of the service via patient groups, local network groups, websites and other media.
Communication
- Link/liaise with local strategic groups (e.g. ICCs/PCN) to ensure work is aligned with local health and wellbeing priorities.
- Establish positive working relationships and effective communication with the Workington GP Practices, integrated care health and care teams, and a range of local voluntary sector and community organisations.
- Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.
- Communicate effectively to overcome communication barriers with patients and the general public displaying emotional crisis, vulnerability, verbal/ physical aggression, learning difficulties, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication.
- Ability to cope with frequently challenging, diverse and stressful situations.
Admin & Professional
- To use highly developed knowledge and skills to provide high standards of patient centred care.
- To maintain accurate contemporaneous records on all aspects of the care process and patient contact.
- To ensure that all project paperwork e.g. performance information is completed and available in a timely manner.
- Provide intelligence to the system on the impact of patient lifestyle changes via outcome measure reporting.
- Awareness of, and compliance with, all relevant local/clinical policies and guidelines.
- Participate in data collection data for audit purposes and be responsible for monitoring progress against key performance targets.
- Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.
- Value and respect colleagues, other members of staff and patients and show commitment to working as a team member.
- To attend and participate in practice clinical meetings and other multi-disciplinary meetings where necessary.
Confidentiality
- In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.
- In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.
- Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other health care workers or the business of the Practices may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of sensitive data.
Equality & Diversity
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:
- Acting in a way that recognises the importance of people’s rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with procedures and policies, and current legislation;
- Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.
Education
- Participate in clinical supervision
- To be accountable for own professional development including compliance with all mandatory training such as Safeguarding and Information Governance.
- Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills
Health & Safety
- Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, as an employee, you must take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and for other persons who may be affected by your acts or omissions at work. The Act also states that you must not intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety and welfare.
- Use personal security systems within the workplace according to local guidelines
- Identify risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages risks
- You are also required to make yourself aware of the site health and safety policy and how to report any accidents/incidents.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Experience- Essential
- NVQ Level 3 or equivalent
- Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal development
- Min 2 years’ experience of working with the VCSE sector (paid or unpaid)
- Min 2 years’ experience or equivalent proven knowledge of working in a health, social care or community development setting
- Experience of working/supporting children & young people
- Has knowledge and capability to support children & young people to identify the appropriate pathways of emotional well being
Education/Qualifications/Experience- Desirable
- Educated to degree level Social Prescribing qualification
Skills/Abilities/Knowledge- Essential
- Local knowledge of the voluntary sector, service provision and asset based community services
- Understanding of the needs of small volunteer-led groups and ability to support their development
- Networking skills and the ability to work across a range of agencies, partners and professionals
- Understanding of local health and social care structures
- Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team
- Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Office packages and case management systems
- Excellent communication skills including the ability to communicate complex information in situations where there may be barriers to understanding both to patients, their families /carers and other professionals
- Displays self-confidence and self-awareness, especially in dealing with staff and patients.
- Can do attitude with an open mind and creative approach to working with people and systems
- Ability to juggle competing priorities, in order to complete work to a high standard, and plan ahead to achieve targets
- Knowledge and ability to work within policies and procedures including safeguarding, confidentiality and health and safety.
Skills/Abilities/Knowledge- Desirable
- Knowledge of local population health and wellbeing issues and priorities
- Excellent written skills as you will be providing housing support documentation
Pay: £27,917.47-£33,317.06 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
