Social Prescribing Link Worker

Garswood Surgery; Wigan; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Wigan is looking for a Social Prescribing Link Worker. This role involves working within a multidisciplinary team to support patients in taking charge of their health through community resources. The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills and experience in healthcare settings. Responsibilities include providing personalized support, managing caseloads, and promoting social prescribing initiatives. A full driving license is necessary for home visits, with flexible hours required to meet patient needs.

Qualifications

• General understanding of well-being and community services.
• Experience working in a healthcare or community setting.
• Sensitivity and empathy in distressing situations.

Responsibilities

• Promote social prescribing and self-management.
• Support patients in taking control of their health.
• Develop trusting relationships with patients.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving skills

Time management

Education

GCSE level or equivalent NVQ Level 3

Tools

Office software

Outlook

Job description

St Helens NorthPrimary Care Network are looking to recruit to a Social Prescribing Link Worker(SPLW). You will work within our Primary Care Network multidisciplinaryhealthcare team. You will be part of a team of three Social Prescribers, who willbe working in partnership with the six practices that make up the Primary CareNetwork to lead on the development of pathways and services that can supportpatients and promote lifestyle changes and prevent ill-health across theNetwork.

You will beexpected to carry out clinics across the 6 practices in the North Network, and attend home visits where required.

Social prescribingempowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referralto non-medical link workers who give time, focus on what matters to me and takea holistic approach, connecting people to community groups and statutory servicesfor practical and emotional support. Link workers support existing groups to beaccessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups,working collaboratively with all local partners.

Please note we areunable to sponsor overseas applications.

If enoughapplications are received prior to the closing date, this advert may closeearly.

No agencies please.

Main duties of the job

Social prescribingcan help to strengthen community resilience and personal resilience and reduceshealth inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such asdebt, poor housing and physical inactivity, by increasing peoples active involvementwith their local communities. It particularly works for people with long-termconditions (including support for mental health), for people who are lonely orisolated, or have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.

They will work withindividual or groups of patients in the practice or with individual patients intheir own homes or care homes.

The role willgenerally involve working within core hours 8-6:30 but may involvesupporting patients outside these times as required on a case by case basis.

Keyresponsibilities

Promoting socialprescribing, its role in self-management and the wider determinants of health.

Receive and actionreferrals from a wide range of agencies, working with GP practices, pharmacies,multi-disciplinary teams, hospital discharge teams, allied healthprofessionals, fire service, police, job centres, social care services, housingassociations, VCSE organisations and others as appropriate.

Providepersonalised support to patients, their families, and carers to take control oftheir health and wellbeing, live independently, improve their health outcomes,and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Develop trustingrelationships by giving people time and focus on what matters to them.

About us

The post holder will be working as part of the St Helens North PrimaryCare Network. We are a team of 6 Practices including Garswood Surgery,Windermere MC, Bethany MC, Kenneth Macrae MC, Rainford HC & Billinge MC -with a combined list size of just approx. 30,000 patients. It is a friendly andclose knit team and our work ethic is that of motivation, productivity, respectand innovation.

This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of an expanding and diversePrimary Care Network team, improving patient care and all whilst developingyour knowledge and skills.

Our mission is to provide pro-active care to patients to improve theirhealth and wellbeing and to make a positive impact to their lives, with respectand compassion. Working in partnership with local people, health and socialcare, voluntary sectors, community groups and colleagues to bring communitiestogether and helping to reduce health inequalities.

Job responsibilities

The role willrequire managing and prioritising your own caseload, in accordance with theneeds, priorities and any urgent support required by individuals on thecaseload. This is a sample of responsibilities expected from the SocialPrescriber, please see the Job description for full details.

Take a holisticapproach, based on the patients priorities and the wider determinants ofhealth.

Working inpartnership with all local agencies to raise awareness of social prescribing inthe Network and the benefits to services and health outcomes in can bring

Forge strong linkswith local VCSE organisations and community and neighbourhood groups. Work withthese groups to ensure directory of community assets and support reflects theservices available in St Helens North network.

Be proactive inencouraging self-referrals and connecting with all local communities,particularly those communities that statutory agencies may find hard to reach.

Actively promotesocial prescribing services within the practices

Support practicestaff with social prescribing referral processes

Train practicestaff to identify patients suitable for social prescribing by identifying themost at-risk patients in need of proactive care

Keep in contactwith the patients at agreed intervals

Takesresponsibility for personal development, learning and performance

Act in a way thatrecognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way thatis consistent with Practices procedures and policies, and current legislation.

Respect theprivacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.

Behave in a mannerwhich is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respectstheir circumstances, feeling priorities and rights.

Recognize peoplesneeds for alternative methods of communication and actively reducecommunication barriers

Person Specification

Knowledge

• General understanding of well-being and community services
• Good understanding of interventions, behavioural and motivational change methodologies
• Good understanding of social prescribing

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent NVQ Level 3, Advanced level or equivalent qualifications or working towards this level.

Skills

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Clear, polite telephone manner
• Competent in the use of Office and Outlook
• Effective time management (planning and organising)
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Problem-solving & analytical skills
• Ability to follow policy and procedure

Experience

• Experience of working with the general public
• Experience of working in a healthcare setting or in the leisure industry / public / voluntary sector
• Experience of working with vulnerable people
• Experience of delivering lifestyle changes interventions
• Experience of working as a health advisor / trainer
• Polite and confident
• Flexible and cooperative
• Motivated Forward thinker
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Ability to work under pressure and flexibly when required
• Full Driving Licence and access to vehicle

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.