Job Title: Social Prescribing & Team Lead
Responsible to: Operations Manager
Location: Sunderland Central/West
Contract Type: Fixed Term to 31/03/2026
Hours: Full Time 37.5 hours
Main duties of the job
The PCN Social Prescribing Team Lead will be responsible for both first line management and leadership of all hub team members within the allocated PCN to include:
* Social Prescribers and Care Coordinators
In addition to the leadership role, the Team Lead will undertake the role of Social Prescribing Link worker within the service and as such will meet the required person specification for that role.
Working with GPs and other primary care professionals within the PCN, you will manage your own caseload of patients and where required and as appropriate, refer people back to other services or health professionals within the PCN.
As a Social Prescribing Link worker, you will work as a member of the PCNs team of health professionals, taking referrals from the PCNs Core Network Practices and from a wide range of agencies to support the health and wellbeing of patients.
About us
33 days annual leave
Peer support and team network
Candidates must also hold a driving licence and have access to a car, insured for business use.
Successful candidates will be employed by Sunderland GP Alliance, on behalf of the PCNs. SGPA is a not-for-profit organisation owned by the city's GPs, representing over 250,000 patients across Sunderland.
Job responsibilities
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This is a leadership role within the PCN which is carried out in addition to the role to which the post holder is professionally aligned.
* First line management of all employees within the PCN Hub
* Carry out and document regular supervision sessions with all accountable employees
* Carry out employee appraisals for team
* Identify training needs and source solutions
* Deal with first level disciplinary or performance issues.
* Provide supervision coaching and mentoring to teams
* Act as first point of contact for PCN practice colleagues and clinical directors
* Complete any reporting and audit requirements
* Support the operations manager and deputise where necessary
* Become an expert in the post holder's professionally aligned field, advising service development plans and implementing where necessary
Social Prescribing Link Worker Duties include:
* Assess how far a patient's health and wellbeing needs can be met by services and other opportunities available in the community.
* Co-produce a simple personalised care and support plan to address the patient's health and wellbeing needs by introducing or reconnecting people to community groups and statutory services, and signposting where appropriate and as it matters to the person.
* Evaluate how far the actions in the care and support plan are meeting the patient's health and wellbeing needs.
* Provide personalised support to patients, their families and carers to take control of their health and wellbeing, live independently, improve their health outcomes and maintain a healthy lifestyle (including, where appropriate, by referral to weight management services).
* Develop trusting relationships by giving people time and focus on what matters to them.
* Take a holistic approach, based on the patient's priorities and the wider determinants of health, including supporting people to take up employment, training and welfare support.
* Explore and support access to a personal health budget where appropriate.
* Manage and prioritise their own caseload, in accordance with the health and wellbeing needs of their population; and where required and as appropriate, refer patients back to other health professionals within the PCN.
Training & Development
* Fully participates in training and development, meeting any, and all, requirements of any courses funded, or part-funded by the Alliance.
* Engages in a programme of ongoing support and feedback to maximise the benefit of the training and development plan.
You will 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.
Confidentiality
* In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the business of an organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.
* Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the organisation may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the SGPA policies and procedures, and the protection of personal and sensitive data.
Health & Safety
* The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the SGPA Health & Safety Policy to include:
* Identifying the risk involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks.
* Using appropriate infection control procedures and maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards.
* Ensuring that all accidents are reported and investigated and follow up action taken where necessary.
* Maintain all mandatory training.
Equality and Diversity
* The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues to include:
* Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of people's rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with current legislation.
* Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.
* Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgemental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights.
Quality
* The post-holder will strive to maintain quality and will:
* Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk.
* Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision.
* Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the team's performance.
* Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients' needs.
* Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.
Communication
* The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:
* Communicate effectively with other team members, patients and carers and system partners and stakeholders
* Recognise people's needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Demonstrable commitment to personal and professional development
* Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office applications.
* Qualification or training in motivational coaching, or equivalent experience
Motivation and Skills
* Work effectively and collaboratively as part of a team but also autonomously
* High level and adaptable communication skills across a range of individuals of all ages, backgrounds and cultures with varying social and emotional needs
* Ability to help people identify issues that impact on health including debt, housing, unemployment and loneliness
* Promote and maintain good working relationships with a variety of external partners.
* Understanding of and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
* Ability to work across multiple sites in the Sunderland area
* Provide motivational coaching with the ability to inspire trust and confidence
* Prioritise own work and that of your team.
* Understanding the impact of economic and environmental factors on people's health and wellbeing
* Ability to support the development of small voluntary led groups
Other
* Confident and comfortable with difficult situations
* Patient, friendly and approachable
* Able to work under pressure and emotionally resilient
* Ability to actively listen, empathise with people and provide non-judgemental support
* Ability to respect and value individual lifestyles, backgrounds and cultures
* Committed to the vision and values of the SGPA and able to embed this within teams
* Patient and tolerant
* Fair and compassionate
* Meet DBS Standards and meet criminal record checks
* Full UK Driving licence & use of own car
Experience
* Experience of leading teams
* Understanding of team relationships and dynamics
* Experienced in holding difficult conversations and making appropriate challenges
* Experience of supporting people, their families and carers in a paid or unpaid capacity.
* Experience of supporting people, their families and carers with low level mental health issues.
* Experience of working in a community setting.
* Experience of working collaboratively with different organisations, building trust, confidence and partnerships.
* Experience of working with GPs and/or other Health or Social Care providers or knowledge of how systems work.
* Experience in accurately collecting, recording information and data whilst maintaining confidentiality.
* Ability to identify risk to self and others, identifying and reporting safeguarding incidents
* Mental Health First Aid
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.
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