Social Prescribing Link Worker

NHS; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

A primary care network is seeking a compassionate Social Prescribing Link Worker to support patients by connecting them to community services. This role involves working with diverse patients, co-producing support plans, and promoting social prescribing principles. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills, experience in healthcare, and a commitment to helping individuals improve their wellbeing. Flexible hours are available, and ongoing professional development is encouraged.

Benefits

Ongoing professional development

Supportive team environment

Flexible working hours

Qualifications

• Experience of working in primary, community, or social care settings.
• Knowledge of healthcare policies and procedures.
• Commitment to personal and professional development.

Responsibilities

• Receive referrals and co-produce personalised support plans with patients.
• Build strong working relationships with GP practices and local organisations.
• Communicate effectively with patients and community groups.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Experience in primary, community, or social care

Ability to build strong relationships

Understanding of the wider determinants of health

Empathy and active listening skills

Education

A Level, NVQ Level 3, or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

SystmOne or other case management systems

Job description

HillsboroughPrimary Care Network (PCN) have an exciting opportunity for a SocialPrescribing Link Worker to join the team. We are looking for someone to work between24-30 hours per week across 4 days, based between all 4 GP practices in thePCN.

Social Prescribingenables healthcare professionals and other local agencies to refer patients tonon-clinical link workers, who can connect people to programmes and services withintheir local community. The aim is to support individuals by using a holisticapproach to address and meet the practical, social, and emotional needs thataffect their health and wellbeing.

We are seekinga friendly, enthusiastic, and compassionate individual for this role. The postholder will have excellent communication skills and the ability to work confidentlywith a diverse range of people.

Interviews willbe held on the morning of Monday 20th October.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities:

1.Receivereferrals and co-produce personalised support plans with patients, empoweringindividuals to take control of their health and wellbeing and enabling them toaccess the services that they need

2. Take a whole population approach,working with a range of people who may benefit from social prescribing

3. Build strong working relationships withstaff within the PCN and GP practices, attend relevant meetings, and becomepart of the wider network team

4.Buildlinks with local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE)organisations and community groups

5. Promote social prescribing within thePCN and educate non-clinical and clinical staff as to the value of non-medicalcommunity-based interventions

About us

Hillsborough PrimaryCare Network serves a population of just over 36,000 patients across theHillsborough area of Sheffield.

The PCNconsists of 4 GP practices:

- DykesHall & Deer Park Medical Centres

- FarLane & Trafalgar House Medical Centres

- TramwaysMedical Centre (Thake)

- Tramways& Middlewood Medical Centres

As a network wehave forged strong links between our practices, and we offer a welcoming andsupportive environment.

Job responsibilities

KEYDUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1.Receivereferrals from the GP practices within the PCN and from a range of agencies, assessingthe health and wellbeing needs of patients with in-practice consultations,telephone consultations, and community-based support e.g. home visits andcommunity service events

2.Effectivelymanage and prioritise a patient caseload, communicating with patients, carers,advocates, healthcare professionals, and other agencies involved in thewellbeing of patients

3.Providecare within own competence, ensuring awareness of when it is necessary to seekadvice or refer patients back to colleagues or other healthcare professionals

4.Workwith patients to co-produce a personalised care and support plan, taking aholistic approach to address individual needs based on the patients priorities,interests, values, and motivations

5.Provideappropriate support and information to patients to empower them to take controlof their wellbeing, live independently, and improve their health outcomes. Thisincludes building trust with patients to help identify wider issues that may beimpacting their health e.g. housing problems, debt, unemployment, loneliness,and caring responsibilities

6.Communicateeffectively with patients to ensure they are aware of what to expect fromonward referrals and participation with different services, groups oractivities. Demonstrate sensitive communication styles and work non-judgementallywith patients, their families, and carers, to capture important information

7.Physicallyintroduce people to appropriate community groups and activities, peer supportgroups, or statutory services, ensuring they are comfortable, feel valued andrespected

8.Promotesocial prescribing as an approach across the PCN and in the wider community,supporting community groups to be accessible and sustainable

9.Developa strong knowledge of local services to enable patients to access a range ofservices to meet their needs. Support patients to meaningfully engage andconnect with their local community and other organisations

10.Work closely with the PCN OccupationalTherapist and collaborate well with the wider PCN and practice teams. Attendrelevant meetings and provide updates and feedback on social prescribing tostaff

11.Proactively build links with a range of localvoluntary and community organisations and other healthcare professionals withinthe wider neighbourhood team

12.Encourage patients, their families and carersto provide feedback e.g. through patient satisfaction surveys, and to sharetheir stories about the impact of social prescribing on their lives

13.Ensurethat social prescribing referral SNOMED codes are coded appropriately intoclinical systems (as outlined in the NetworkContract DES)

14.Adhereto PCN policies around data protection legislation and data sharing agreements, ensuringpatients give appropriate consent

GENERALTASKS

Work with your line managerto undertake continual personal and professional development.

Undertake relevant trainingas required and complete appropriate mandatory training. Continuallyupdate own knowledge and skills within the job role.

Adhere to organisationalpolicies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, loneworking, information governance, and health and safety.

Undertake any tasksconsistent with the level of the post and the scope of the role, ensuringthat work is delivered in a timely and effective manner.

Duties may vary from time totime, without changing the general character of the post or the level ofresponsibility.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience of working within primary, community, social care, or voluntary sector
• Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations
• Experience of using IT systems, including comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft packages
• Experience of working within General Practice
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience using SystmOne or other case management systems
• Experience of supporting people, their families and carers in a related role (including unpaid work)
• Experience of supporting people with their mental health (either in a paid, unpaid, or informal capacity)
• Experience of working with the VCSE sector (in a paid or unpaid capacity), including with volunteers and small community groups
• Experience of data collection and using tools to measure the impact of services

Other

• Meets DBS reference standards and criminal record checks
• Access to transport and ability to travel across the local area on a regular basis, including to visit people in their own homes and support people to attend activities as appropriate
• Knowledge of and ability to work to policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety

Qualifications

• A Level, NVQ Level 3, or equivalent qualifications or working towards
• Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal development
• Knowledge of how the NHS works, including primary care and MDT working
• Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience
• Knowledge of the personalised care approach
• Local knowledge of VCSE and community services
• Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic, and environmental factors and their impact on communities, individuals, their families and carers
• Familiar with Safeguarding

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to actively listen, empathise with people and provide person centred support in a non-judgemental way
• Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people in all communities
• Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential
• Able to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships and to promote collaborative practice with all colleagues
• Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or on own initiative
• Ability to organise, plan, and prioritise on own initiative
• Can demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience, and ability to work well under pressure

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.