About this role
Job summary
Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing, focus on what matters to me and take a holistic approach to an individuals health and wellbeing, connecting people to diverse community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support. Social Prescribers also support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all local diverse partners.
Social prescribing link workers work as a key part of the primary care network (PCN) multidisciplinary team. Social prescribing can help PCNs to strengthen community and personal resilience, reduce health inequalities (in relation to timely access and outcomes) and wellbeing inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity, by increasing peoples active involvement with their local diverse 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.
Main duties of the job
Take referrals from PCNs GP practices for the benefit of the local population Identify a range of options that could assist the person to improve their independence and health and wellbeing Produce a simple personalised support plan to improve health & wellbeing introducing or reconnecting people to community groups Manage and prioritise own caseload Have a strong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other health professionals Identify new, and work in partnership with voluntary and statutory organisations Understand the barriers and opportunities for people to self-manage their conditions in the community
Key Tasks
Promote social prescribing, its role in self-management and the wider determinants of health Be proactive in encouraging self-referrals and connecting with all local communities, particularly those communities that statutory agencies may find hard to reach Be a friendly source of information about well being and prevention approaches Help people identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, being unemployed, loneliness and caring responsibilities Work with the person, their families and carers and consider how they can all be supported through social prescribing Keep accurate and up-to-date records on relevant health and social care systems Gather record and collate data, including case studies, in a prescribed format in order to demonstrate the impact of the service
About us
Sevenfields PCN comprises four GP practices providing care to approximately 40,000 patients. The PCN is focused on delivering proactive, integrated healthcare and reducing health inequalities across its population. Through multidisciplinary working and strong partnerships with community and voluntary sector organisations, Sevenfields PCN supports patients with both their health needs and the wider factors affecting wellbeing, including housing, employment, social isolation and financial wellbeing.
The post holder will have a key role in supporting our work in addressing the special determinants of health, which are those issues that drive patient ill health such as debt, housing issues social isolation and more.
Job description Job responsibilities
Provide personalised support
Meet people on a one-to-one basis, or provide telephone assessments where appropriate within organisations policies and procedures. Give people time to tell their stories and focus on what matters to me. Build trust and respect with the person, providing non-judgemental and non-discriminatory support, respecting diversity and lifestyle choices. Work from a strength-based approach focusing on a persons assets Be a friendly and engaging source of information about health, wellbeing and prevention approaches Help people identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, being unemployed, loneliness and caring responsibilities Work with the person, their families and carers and consider how they can all be supported through social prescribing Help people maintain or regain independence through living skills, adaptations, enablement approaches and simple safeguards Work with individuals to co-produce a simple personalised support plan to address the persons health and wellbeing needs based on the persons priorities, interests, values, cultural and religious/faith needs and motivations including what they can expect from the groups, activities and services they are being connected to and what the person can do for themselves to improve their health and wellbeing Where appropriate, physically introduce people to culturally appropriate community groups, activities and statutory services, ensuring they are comfortable, feel valued and respected. Follow up to ensure they are happy, able to engage, included and receiving good support Where people may be eligible for a personal health budget, help them to explore this option as a way of providing funded, personalised support to be independent, including helping people to gain skills for meaningful employment, where appropriate
Support community groups and VCSE organisations to receive referrals
Working closely with other link workers in Lewisham and the Neighbourhood Community and voluntary networks to forge strong links with a wide range of local VCSE organisations, community and neighbourhood level groups. Utilising their networks and building on whats already available to create a menu of diverse community groups and assets, who promote diversity and inclusion Develop supportive relationships with local diverse VCSE organisations, culturally appropriate community groups and statutory services, to make timely, appropriate and supported referrals for the person being introduced
Work collectively with all local partners to ensure community groups are strong and sustainable
Work with the GP Federation, PCN and other local partners to identify unmet diverse needs within the community and gaps in community provision Encourage people who have been connected to community support through social prescribing to volunteer and give their time freely to others, building their skills and confidence and strengthening community resilience Encourage people, their families and carers to provide peer support and to do things together, such as setting up new community groups or volunteering
Key Relationships
PCN clinical directors, OHL Community development lead Director, PCN Health Inequalities Fellow, Age UK Lewisham and Southwark, Lewisham Health and Social Care, Lewisham voluntary and community networks
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Experience of working directly in a community development context, health and social care, learning support, public health or health improvement. This can include unpaid work. Experience in supporting people, their families and carers in a related role. Experience working with the VCS sector (in a paid or unpaid capacity), including with volunteers and small community groups
Desirable
Experience of working in primary care
Qualifications Essential
NVQ Level 3 Advanced level or equivalent qualifications or experience, or working towards. Supporting evidence will be required if you are working towards a level 3 NVQ.
Desirable
Previous experience of working within a PCN.
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.
Employer details Employer name Sevenfields PCN
Address Sevenfields PCN
Goldsmiths Community Centre
Castillon Road
London
SE6 1QD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.sevenfieldspcn.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)