Exciting Opportunity: Social Prescribing Link Worker at Forest Heath PCN (Part- time)
Join our team at Forest Heath Primary Care Network (PCN) and be part of a transformative initiative in shaping primary care across our community. We are currently seeking a dedicated Social Prescribing Link Worker to play a crucial role in addressing the social, financial, and personal challenges that impact the health and well-being of our patients.
As part of the NHS Social Prescribing initiative, this role involves collaborating with patients to co-create a "Social Prescription." The aim is to support individuals in achieving positive health and well-being outcomes by addressing non-medical and social factors affecting their lives, such as housing, financial concerns, or social isolation.
Forest Heath PCN stands as the largest PCN in West Suffolk, boasting a vibrant and dynamic team. We encourage individuals to not only contribute to the overall mission but also to develop professionally. Ideally, we hope you'll focus on health areas where you have a genuine interest, actively supporting and making a positive impact on the local community.
If you're passionate about making a difference in people's lives, thrive in a collaborative and dynamic environment, and want to contribute to reshaping primary care, we invite you to apply and be part of our dedicated team at Forest Heath PCN.
We are seeking a part-time team member (20 hours/2 days/week) to support the Lakenheath and Reynard surgeries (10 hours each 0800 -1830) . The role involves a mix of remote and in-person communication—including Microsoft Teams, email, and face-to-face interaction. A primary focus will be collaborating with the larger Social Prescribing team to maintain strong links across the Forest Heath PCN areas of Brandon, Mildenhall, Lakenheath, and Newmarket.
Main duties of the job
You will be responsible for linking patients to services across the Health, Social Care and Voluntary sectors across West Suffolk. You will work alongside patients to help them achieve their goals, undertaking assessments and building relationships to agree personalised plans, which will empower the patient to make the necessary changes to enable them to live the life they choose.
You will work closely with GPs, community services, the ambulance services, Social Care, voluntary sector organisations, Practice staff and wider multi-disciplinary teams.
About us
Forest Heath PCN has been formed between Brandon Medical Practice, Forest Surgery, The Surgery – Lakenheath, The Market Cross Surgery, Oakfield Surgery, Orchard House Surgery, The Reynard Surgery and Rookery Medical Centre serving our combined 73,000 patients in Newmarket, Mildenhall, Brandon and the surrounding villages.
Job responsibilities
- Based on referrals from GPs and other practice staff, work with patients to co-produce a personalised care/support plan to address the patients’ health and wellbeing and mental health needs. Based on the patient’s priorities, interests, values, cultural and religious/faith needs, connect them with appropriate groups, activities and services. Help the patient understand what they can do for themselves to improve their own health and wellbeing.
- To provide support in a variety of ways such as telephone conversations, group settings and one-to one/face to face conversations.
- To be a friendly and engaging source of information about health, wellbeing and prevention approaches.
- To keep up to date and familiar with a wide range of local resources, groups and opportunities that may be relevant to people using this service.
- To build relationships with staff in the PCN and GP practices. Be proactive in developing strong links with all local agencies to encourage referrals, recognising what they need to be confident in the service to make appropriate referrals
- To attend relevant Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings, giving information and feedback on social prescribing.
- To be proactive in encouraging equality and inclusion, through self-referrals and connecting with all diverse local communities, particularly those communities that statutory agencies may find hard to reach.
- To ensure patient confidentiality, respect, and dignity is always adhered to.
Specification Qualifications Essential
- Qualifications at NVQ level 3 standard (or equivalent)
- Full, clean UK driving licence
- As an NHS employer, all mandatory regulations on COVID vaccinations will apply.
Experience Essential
- Experience of supporting people, their families and carers in a related role either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacity
- Experience of supporting people with their mental health, either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacity
Desirable
- Experience working in General Practice or Primary Care
- Working within a confidential environment
- Working within a Mental Health enviroment
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills both verbal and written, demonstrating sufficient knowledge of the English language.
- Knowledge and understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion
- Excellent organisational skills
- Ability to actively listen, empathise with people and provide person-centred support in a non-judgemental way
- Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
- Enthusiastic
- Trustworthy
- Calm and professional disposition
Desirable
- Knowledge and understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities, individuals, their families and carers
- Clinical computer systems System One
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £28,000.00-£33,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Education:
- Certificate of Higher Education (preferred)
Experience:
- Health and Social Care: 1 year (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
Work Location: In person
