About this role
Job summary
We are looking to recruit to the post of social prescribing link worker, to work within our Primary Care Network multidisciplinary healthcare team.
The post holder will work with a diverse range of people from different cultural and social backgrounds. The ability to work confidently and effectively in a varied, and sometimes challenging environment is essential.
The successful candidate will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and be organised, patient and empathetic. They will have experience of working in health, social care or other support roles including direct contact with people, families or carers.
Main duties of the job
Take referrals from and work with GP practices and other professionals within the PCN as well as receiving self-referrals from the public.
Provide personalised support to individuals, their families and carers to take control of their wellbeing, live independently and improve their health outcomes. Develop trusting relationships by giving people time and focus on what matters to me. Take a holistic approach, based on the persons priorities and the wider determinants of health. Co-produce a personalised support plan to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or reconnecting people to community groups and statutory services.
The role will require managing and prioritising your own caseload, in accordance with the needs, priorities and any urgent support required by individuals on the caseload. It is vital that you have 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 link worker role e.g. when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner.
About us
North Lewisham Primary Care Network (NLPCN) is one of the largest PCNs in Lewisham and has a very diverse population made up of 9 GP Practices serving a population of around 91,000 patients.
Health inequality impacts our patients: North Lewisham has higher than average levels of deprivation and BAME populations and poorer health outcomes.
NLPCN is committed to tackling health inequality as a priority. We have developed a program of work to improve trust and engage with our local community, training our GP surgeries and staff to improve access for patients, improving our communication to patients about service changes and health promotion and improving the monitoring of those suffering from health inequality to drive our strategy.
The Waldron is a health centre and a community hub promoting health and wellbeing activities.
Job description Job responsibilities
KEY TASKS
Referrals
Promoting social prescribing, its role in self-management, and the wider determinants of health
Build relationships with key staff in GP practices within the local Primary Care Network (PCN), attending relevant meetings, becoming part of the wider network team, giving information and feedback on social prescribing
Be proactive in developing strong links with all local agencies to encourage referrals, recognising what they need to be confident in the service to make appropriate referrals
Work in partnership with all local agencies to raise awareness of social prescribing and how partnership working can reduce pressure on statutory services, improve health outcomes and enable a holistic approach to care
Provide the PCN with regular updates about social prescribing, including training for their staff and how to access information to encourage appropriate referrals
Seek regular feedback about the quality of service and impact of social prescribing on referral agencies
Be proactive in encouraging self-referrals and connecting with all local communities, particularly those communities that statutory agencies may find hard to reach
Provide personalised support
Engage with people on a one-to-one basis, making home visits where appropriate within organisations policies and procedures. Give people time to tell their stories and focus on what matters to me. Build trust with the person, providing non- judgmental support, respecting diversity and lifestyle choices. Work from a strength-based approach focusing on a persons assets
Be a friendly source of information about 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 based on the persons priorities, interests, values 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 community groups, activities and statutory services, ensuring they are comfortable. 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
Develop supportive relationships with local VCSE organisations, community groups and statutory services, to make timely, appropriate and supported referrals for the person being introduced
Ensure that local community groups and VCSE organisations being referred to have basic procedures in place for ensuring that vulnerable individuals are safe and, where there are safeguarding concerns, work with all partners to deal appropriately with issues. Where such policies and procedures are not in place, support groups to work towards this standard before referrals are made to them
Support local groups to act in accordance with information governance policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act
Work with commissioners and local partners to identify unmet needs within the community and gaps in community provision
Support local partners and commissioners to develop new groups and services where needed, through small grants for community groups, micro-commissioning and development support
Encourage people who have been connected to community support through social prescribing to volunteer and give their time freely to others, in order to build their skills and confidence, and strengthen community resilience
Develop a team of volunteers within your service to provide buddying support for people, starting new groups and finding creative community solutions to local issues
Encourage people, their families and carers to provide peer support and to do things together, such as setting up new community groups or volunteering
Data capture
Work sensitively with people, their families and carers to capture key information, enabling tracking of the impact of social prescribing on their health and wellbeing
Encourage people, their families and carers to provide feedback and to share their stories about the impact of social prescribing on their lives
Support referral agencies to provide appropriate information about the person they are referring. Use the case management system to track the persons progress. Provide appropriate feedback to referral agencies about the people they referred
Work closely with GP practices within the PCN to ensure that social prescribing referral codes are inputted to EMIS/System One/Vision and that the persons use of the NHS can be tracked, adhering to data protection legislation and data sharing agreements with the clinical commissioning group (CCG)
Clinical Governance
Identify risk issues that impact on peoples health or social care needs
Take appropriate action to the significance of the risk and consistent with protection procedures, applying protection procedures, following lone worker procedure
Demonstrate effective team working inclusive of all relevant professionals
Report all accidents / incidents, and all ill health, failings in equipment and / or environment to line managers
Contribute towards audit and data collection as required
Once assessed as competent will be accountable for their own practice within their area of responsibility when identified and agreed with the line manager
Professional development
Work with your line manager to undertake continual personal and professional development, taking an active part in reviewing and developing the roles and responsibilities
Adhere to organisational policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety
Work with the Clinical Director to access regular clinical supervision, to enable you to deal effectively with the difficult issues that people present
Miscellaneous
Work as part of the team to seek feedback, continually improve the service and contribute to business planning
Undertake any tasks consistent with the level of the post and the scope of the role, ensuring that work is delivered in a timely and effective manner
Duties may vary from time to time, without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility
Supervision
The postholder will have access to appropriate clinical supervision and an appropriate named individual in the PCN to provide general advice and support on a day-to-day basis.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Experience of working directly in a community development context, adult health and social care, learning support or public health/health improvement (including unpaid work). Experience of supporting people, their families and carers in a related role (including unpaid work). Experience of working with the VCSE sector (in a paid or unpaid capacity), including with volunteers and small community groups. Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations.
Desirable
Experience of data collection and providing monitoring information to assess the impact of services. Experience of supporting and/or working with vulnerable people.
Knowledge and Skills Essential
Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact. Knowledge of community development approaches. Knowledge of IT systems, including ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans. Knowledge of motivational coaching and interview skills. Awareness of GDPR. Awareness of Safeguarding Children & Adults.
Desirable
Knowledge of the personalised care approach. Knowledge of VCSE and community services in the locality.
Qualities/Attributes Essential
Ability to listen, empathise with people and provide person- centred support in a non- judgemental way. Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity. Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from all communities. Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with people, their families, carers, community groups, partner agencies and stakeholders. Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals. Have 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 link worker role. Able to work from an asset-based approach, building on existing community and personal assets. Able to provide leadership and to finish work tasks. Ability to maintain effective working relationships and to promote collaborative practice with all colleagues. Commitment to collaborative working with all local agencies. Demonstrates personal accountability, emotional resilience and works well under pressure. Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative, including when under pressure and meeting deadlines. High level of written and oral communication skills. Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or on own initiative. Understanding of the needs of small volunteer-led community groups and ability to support their development. Knowledge of and ability to work to policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety.
Qualifications Essential
NVQ Level 3, Advanced level or equivalent qualifications or working towards this level. Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal development
Desirable
Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience
Other Essential
Meets DBS reference standards and has a clear criminal record, in line with the law on spent. Willingness to work flexible hours when required to meet work demands. Ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis.
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 North Lewisham Primary Care Network
Address Waldron Health Centre, Ground Floor, Suite 1
Amersham Vale, New Cross
London
SE14 6LD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.northlewishampcn.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)