About this role
Job summary
Salary: £30,908 (FTE)
Working Pattern: Part-time between 22.5-30 hours a week
As a Social Prescriber within Leatherhead Primary Care Network, you will support individuals to overcome the challenges affecting their health and wellbeing by connecting them with community support, local services and opportunities that make a real difference.
This role will support patients across four GP practices and is offered on a part-time basis.
The role focuses on addressing non-medical factors that affect health, such as social isolation, housing, employment, financial concerns, and lifestyle issues.
If you are compassionate and proactive about supporting people to improve their health and wellbeing, this could be the role for you.
We are looking for someone who is organised and able to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. This is a rewarding role for someone who wants to make a positive impact on patients' lives every day by building strong, trusting relationships and supporting them to improve their health and wellbeing.
We screen and shortlist suitable candidates as applications are received. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early and without notice if we fill the position. Therefore, we encourage early applications to avoid disappointment.
Please note: This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship, and the successful candidate must have existing right to work in the UK.
Main duties of the job
Provide patient-centred support to individuals, helping them identify goals and improve their health, well-being, and independence. Empower and support patients to take greater control of their physical, mental, and social well-being. Develop personalised support plans and assist patients in achieving agreed outcomes. Signpost, refer, and connect people to appropriate community and local support services. Build strong relationships with healthcare professionals, community partners, and voluntary sector organisations. Manage a caseload, maintaining accurate records and monitoring progress against agreed goals.
About us
Leatherhead PCN is part of DHC (Dorking Healthcare), which has grown out of a collaboration of Dorking GP practices to become an NHS provider organisation that serves the population of Surrey. Our services cover primary care, community health, outpatient services (including diagnostics and procedures) and mental health (Talking Therapies). With a strong shared vision, we have been able to raise standards and bring about real change in the way NHS services are managed locally. DHC is a flexible and forward-thinking employer; we offer competitive benefits and the opportunity to pay into the NHS pension scheme.
In a recent staff survey, 95% of staff said they feel enthusiastic about their job at DHC and 94% ranked care of patients as the organisation's top priority, compared with 79% nationally
Other benefits we offer include:
27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service. Access to an Employee Assistance Programme. Opportunities for training, development and career progression. Some of our sites have free on-site parking (subject to availability
DHC actively encourage and promotes diversity, ensures all voices are heard and included and are committed to equal opportunities for all.
Job description Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
The Social Prescribers role is to support individuals to improve their health, well-being, and social welfare by connecting them with community resources, voluntary services, and local support networks. The role focuses on addressing non-medical factors that affect health, such as social isolation, housing, employment, financial concerns, and lifestyle issues.
It is essential that the person has a positive and compassionate nature and can provide exceptional patient care. This role requires sensitivity and an understanding that all patients should be treated with respect.
The Social Prescriber will deliver a high-quality service for patients in a safe and effective working environment, whilst maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality. They will be a motivated person with good initiative and organisational skills, and have excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POST
Receive referrals from GPs, healthcare professionals, and other agencies. Manage and co-ordinate appointments and reviews for patients with wellbeing needs, including physical / mental health and social care needs. Conduct person-centred conversations and assessments of their needs. Support individuals to identify and achieve health and wellbeing goals. Signpost and connect patients to appropriate community and voluntary sector services. Develop personalised wellbeing plans with patients. Empower patients to increase independence and self-management. Provide ongoing support, follow-up, and progress reviews. Maintain accurate patient records and update clinical systems as required. Attend multidisciplinary team meetings and collaborate with healthcare professionals. Build relationships with local community organisations and support providers. Attend Social Prescribing community and outreach events. Identify safeguarding concerns and follow organisational procedures. Monitor outcomes and contribute to service reporting and evaluation. Participate in local training and meetings Take responsibility for own personal development by fully participating in a yearly appraisal, assessing own educational/training needs, exploring all opportunities for maintaining and updating own professional knowledge and skills, and attending training.
Keep up to date with policies and procedures and ensure that these are always adhered to.ORGANISATIONAL POSITION
The Social Prescriber works within the Social Prescribing Team and reports on a day-to-day basis to the PCN Care Co-Ordinator and Service Manager.
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Adhere to DHC policies and procedures and relevant legislation, including the requirements of any professional bodies and undertake mandatory and other training as identified by DHC. Be particularly aware of the importance of Equality and Diversity, ensuring that all colleagues, patients, clients and visitors are dealt with in line with DHC policy. Take reasonable care of health and safety at work for you and others, and to cooperate with the employer and with local practice to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements. Participate in reflection, self-evaluation and continuous professional development, including performance review. Ensure mandatory training is up-to-date at all times. Strive to communicate effectively with patients, carers and team members whilst recognising peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly. Contribute to ongoing projects as required. This job description represents an outline of the responsibilities of the post and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties or tasks. It will change and develop in line with organisational needs and may be amended following agreement with the post-holder.CONFIDENTIALITY
The post holder must maintain the confidentiality of information about patients, clients, staff and DHC business in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and Caldicott Principles.
WORK SETTING AND REVIEW
The successful candidate will be expected to work within our 4 PCN practices: Ashlea Medical Practice, Fairfield Medical Centre, The Molebridge Practice, Eastwick Park Medical Practice, Leatherhead Hospital and other local community sites.
Person Specification
Other requirements Essential
Disclosure and barring service check. Willing to travel to multiple sites & locations to attend meetings and training events.
Personal Qualities Essential
Polite & confident with good patient care, remaining calm under pressure. Caring, sensitive and empathetic sensitive to patients' life stages, concerns and problems. Self-motivated, reliable and dedicated. Excellent interpersonal skills. Motivated and proactive. Ability to use initiative. Ability to work under pressure. Confident, assertive and resilient.
Qualifications Essential
Good standard of education with excellent literacy and numeracy skills.
Skills Essential
Demonstrate an understanding of mental health, physical health and social needs and how they may present in Primary Care. Understanding of community services and local support networks. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to listen and build rapport with clients on the telephone, on video calls and in person. Good IT and record-keeping skills. Excellent administrative skills, working under own initiative at times. Effective time management skills. Strong organisational and case-management skills. Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. Motivated to achieve good outcomes for patients. Able to follow policies and procedures effectively. Able to maintain confidentiality at all times.
Desirable
Experience using clinical or case-management systems.
Experience Essential
Experience working with the general public in a similar role. Experience within healthcare, social care, community development, housing, welfare, or voluntary sectors. Experience in managing a complex role.
Desirable
Experience working in the NHS/Primary Care General Practice setting. Understanding of community services and personalised care.
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 Dorking Healthcare Ltd.
Address Eastwick Park Medical Practice
Eastwick Park Avenue
Great Bookham
LEATHERHEAD
Surrey
KT23 3ND
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://dhcclinical.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)