Social Prescribing Link Worker

Location

Stevenage, Hertfordshire | United Kingdom

Job description

About the Role

Stevenage South Primary Care Network (SSPCN) has an exciting opportunity for a social prescribing link worker to join our team on a full-time basis, for 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday. 

Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to non-medical ‘link workers’ who give time, focus on ‘what matters to me’ and take an holistic approach, connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support. Link workers support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all local partners, help to strengthen community resilience and personal resilience, and reduces health inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity, by increasing people’s active involvement with their local communities. It particularly works for people with long-term conditions (including support for mental health), for people who are lonely or isolated, or have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.

The main responsibilities of the role include:

• Receiving and managing all referrals from multi-agencies.
• Providing personalised support to vulnerable individuals.
• Working in partnership with the practice team to support patients and promote positive lifestyle changes, with the aim of preventing ill-health by means of behavioural change techniques.
• Completing holistic-care planning assessments, analysing how needs can be met by services and other opportunities available in the community.
• Providing information and advice about a wide range of services in order to promote health and well-being in order to support independence within communities.
• Forging strong links with local VCSE organisations, community and neighbourhood level groups.
• Contributing to reducing demand on statutory services, hospital admissions and to combat unnecessary GP appointments.
• Working with patients in the practice, or with patients in their own homes, to provide personalised person-centred support.
  

Please see full job description and additional information attached.

About the Candidate

If you are a local community champion or already a social prescriber, and want a new and exciting challenge, then we would love to hear from you.

You will need to have the following:

• Experience of working in health, social care and other support roles in direct contact with people, families or carers (in a paid or voluntary capacity).
• Experience of supporting people, their families and carers in a related role.
• Ability to actively listen, empathise with people and provide personalised support in a non-judgemental way.
• Ability to provide a culturally sensitive service supporting people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity.
• Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from diverse communities.
• Excellent communication skill with the anility to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with people, their carers, families and community groups. 
• A strong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other health professionals/agencies, when what the person needs is beyond the scope of the care coordinator role – e.g. when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner.
• Ability to work from an asset-based approach, building on existing community and personal assets.
• Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative, including when under pressure and meeting deadlines.
• Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities, individuals, their families and carers.
• Knowledge of how the NHS works, including primary care and PCNs.

About Us

SSPCN is made up of local practices who are commissioned to work together to provide a range of healthcare services to a population of 60,000 patients across Stevenage.  The core network practices include Bedwell Medical Centre, King George and Manor House Surgery, Knebworth & Marymead Medical Practice and Shephall Health Centre, however other practices may join the PCN in the future.  The PCN is governed by a PCN board, with representatives from each practice, who provide oversight of the service and approval for strategy and future PCN plans and objectives. SSPCN have a fantastic work ethic and strongly believe in supportive teamwork. 

Stevenage Healthcare Ltd has been tasked with providing delivery and support for Stevenage South Primary Care Network.The company will in directly employ staff to provide development and delivery of SSPCN contracts and areas of work, as well as explore wider healthcare opportunities to support local people and provide positive health outcomes for our population. This role will in future be transferred to SHL.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Please note 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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Job tags

Salary

£26k - £28k per annum