Social Prescribing Link Worker

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Social PrescribingLink Worker to join our growing multi-disciplinary team.

Job Title : SocialPrescribing Link Worker

Responsible to : PCN ClinicalDirector

Location : Practiceswithin Durham Coast Primary Care Network, based at East Durham Medical Group

Contract Type : Permanent

Salary : Dependant onexperience

Hours : 1 x Part-time hours

Main duties of the job

Teamwork, flexibility, enthusiasm and the ability to prioritise tasks effectively are essential skills.

We are committed to the ongoing development of our team, whichincludes mandatory and developmental training for all our staff. Team membersare encouraged to highlight any training they feel would benefit them in theachievement of their role.

About us

Durham Coast Primary Care Network is an innovative, dynamicPCN combining 4 local GP Practices based in Easington, with a population ofover 32,000 patients. We are continuallyseekingnew ways to support and improve local healthcare services to ourpatient population.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

To support patients in our local community to take control of theirhealth and wellbeing by :

Promoting prevention &lifestyle changes

Engaging patients and connectingthem with the wide range of groups and services

Working with the widerhealth, social care and voluntary network

Encouraging a holisticapproach for patients with chronic diseases

Building a relationship inthe journey of patients towards mental health services

Building a relationship inthe journey of patients navigating through cancer pathways

Bereavement support supporting patients family's and signposting them to an appropriate bereavementservice where necessary

Supporting the practices inattaining their referral targets

Promoting and raisingawareness of the social prescribing service within the practices and partneragencies

KEYRESPONSIBILITIES

To work with patients in avariety of settings, in their own homes or in GP surgeries, to signpost them tolocal services and organisations which the patient themselves feels would be ofbenefit to reach their goals. These services may include befriending, weightmanagement, mental health support, smoking cessation, local social groups,leisure centres and volunteering.

To work with partnerorganisations to support the development and delivery of an integrated careplan for the client so all their needs are met in a holistic way.

To follow up with clients,update their records and support them on an ongoing basis.

To make and maintain contactwith local health and wellbeing service providers and build a network andknowledge of referral routes to and from service providers.

To ensure information aboutproviders and voluntary groups is shared locally across neighbouring networks

To undertake regulartraining to extend and update knowledge of health and wellbeing issues.

To offer some care coordination for thosenavigating their way through cancer pathways, offering cancer care advice andsignposting wherever appropriate.

Supporting patients with issues around Benefits,finances, housing, employment / volunteering, training, education, reducing socialisolation and promoting independence, general wellbeing, mental health support,bereavement, weight management, smoking cessation long term conditions, or anyother non-clinical issues.

Engaging with patients in a person-centred way,understanding any issues or challenges they may be facing, advising ofdifferent options and choices available to them, linking them up to theappropriate support, by signposting and refereeing to local organisations toresolve any issues or generally improve their general wellbeing by reducingisolation and promoting independence.

Working with patients until they are engagingwith the right support, offering follow ups, and promoting our SPLW service,reassuring patients they can return for future support at any time, alwaysempowering people so they have the tools and knowledge to access services forsupport in the future.

The post holder will comply with the organisations policiesand procedures :

FURTHER AREASOF RESPONSIBILITY

Health andSafety / Risk Management

The post-holder must comply at all times with the Network Health andSafety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures andreporting incidents using the organisations Incident Reporting System.

InformationGovernance

As an employee you will have access to information that is sensitive toeither an individual or to the organisation and you are reminded that inaccordance with the requirements of Information Governance, NHS Code ofConfidentiality, Data Protection Act 1998 and also the terms and conditions inyour contract of employment, you have a duty to process this informationjudiciously and lawfully; failure to do so may result in disciplinaryaction.

PerformanceAppraisal and Personal Development Planning

The network is committed to providing a high quality service through theeffective management and development of its employees. Each employee receivesan Annual Performance Appraisal and a Personal Development Plan.

Statutory andMandatory Training

All required Statutory and Mandatory training must be completed withinthe first three months of staff start date and refresher training must also beundertaken on a regular basis and in accordance with agreed policy.

SafeguardingChildren and Vulnerable Adults

The network is committed to safeguarding children, young people andvulnerable adults within its care. As anemployee you are accountable to ensure that you know how to respond when youare concerned for the safety of a child, young person or vulnerable adult.

InfectionPrevention and Control

All employees are expected to follow consistently high standards in theprevention and control of infection, especially with reference to hand hygiene,adherence to dress / uniform code and for clinical staff and all proceduresinvolving aseptic technique.

SpecialWorking Conditions

The post-holder is required to travel independently between practicesites and to attend meetings at other locations as required.

JobDescription Agreement

This job description is intended to provide an outline of the key tasksand responsibilities only. There may beother duties required of the post-holder commensurate with the position. This description will be open to regularreview and may be amended to take into account development within thenetwork. All members of staff should beprepared to take on additional duties or relinquish existing duties in order tomaintain the efficient running of the network.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience working in health and wellbeing, public or voluntary sector or leisure and fitness environment
• Experience in a customer facing role
• Experience delivering lifestyle change / brief interventions
• Excellent people skills, interacting with all types of people and able to change communication style to fit the person
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Comfortable working with people from public, private and voluntary organisations
• Highly organised, managing time, resources and competing priorities in a structured and efficient way
• Highly motivated and willing to go out of your way to help clients
• Creative problem solver and willing to search for hard to find information
• Good IT and administrative skills
• Good understanding of health issues and the wider determinants of health and wellbeing
• Knowledge of social prescribing
• Understanding of health and social wellbeing and community / local / national services
• Using own initiative

Desirable

Other

Essential

Qualifications

Essential

Desirable