The main purpose of this post is to lead a team, and participate in delivering a Social Prescribing Service to the patients within the Beacon Medical Group Primary Care Network.
In a lead role, you will work to ensure services link and support one another, organising and coaching the PCN Social Prescribers and Trainee Social Prescribers in your team to work closely with the VCSE, whilst focusing on specific areas of need and specific patient cohorts.
The post holder will be an integral part of the general practice team, working in each practice and across the PCN, as well as part of a wider community groups and their multidisciplinary teams. A SPLW supports existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and helps people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all local partners.
Main duties of the job
The Social Prescriber Team Lead will lead the daily activities undertaken by the social prescribing team, providing a robust training programme to support the development of staff new to role, as well as providing ongoing support and mentorship for members of the team.
Social prescriber link workers work alongside a team within general practice and within the Primary Care Network (PCN) and empower people to take control of their health and well-being.
A referral to a non-medical link worker is designed to support patients in being able to take a holistic approach, connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.
About us
Beacon Medical Group Practice is a single practice, Primary Care Network (PCN), providing care to 43,000 patients across Plympton and the South Hams. We are a team of Partners, Salaried GPs, Paramedics, Clinical Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Practice and specialist Nurses, HCAs, Phlebotomists, First Contact Physios, Social Prescribers, Advanced Clinical Practitioners, Clinical Practitioners and Administrative support staff. Our mission is to give all our patients the right care, at the right time, in the right place. We are a forward-thinking partnership always looking for opportunities to improve services for our patients. We have a good reputation for delivering good healthcare, leading at scale and innovating primary care services. This is a really exciting time to be joining us as we diversify our teams, our partnership and services.
If you join our team; you will receive support, opportunities to grow in your role, training, and work with colleagues who care about you.
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
The Lead Social Prescriber will lead the daily activities undertaken by the social prescribing team, providing a robust training programme to support the development of staff new to role, as well as providing ongoing support and mentorship for members of the team.
This is an innovative role designed to work in an outcome-focused way to improve people's quality of life, health and wellbeing by recognizing that this can be affected by a range of social, economic and environmental factors. Supporting patients and their Carers to achieve their personal aspirations participate in their local and wider communities, enhance effective personal support networks, enabling individuals to maintain healthy lifestyles; and lead independent and fulfilled lives.
To support and develop a team with the aim of improving the health and wellbeing outcomes of patients accessing the Social Prescribing service. The Lead Social Prescriber will lead the daily activities undertaken by the social prescribing team, providing a robust training programme to support the development of staff new to role, as well as providing ongoing support and mentorship for members of the team.
To be responsible for your own continuing self-development, undertaking training as appropriate.
To undertake other duties appropriate to the grading of the post as required.
Must be able to work flexible hours.
Key responsibility 1: Leadership and Management
To provide leadership and mentorship to the PCN social prescribing team, dealing with day-to-day queries and using your initiative to solve queries as guided by procedures.
Oversee the routine daily activities of the team and ensure individuals are employed to best advantage.
Monitor absence, approve leave requests and authorise overtime working for all members of the team.
Conduct regular appraisals for all members of the team.
Evaluate, Organise and oversee staff induction and training and ensure that all staff are adequately trained to fulfil their role.
Work collaboratively as a key member of the practice team, help develop and promote a positive working culture, encouraging staff participation and involvement in developing and improving their own contribution towards the success of the surgery and the organisation.
To act as a point of contact for stakeholders in providing service updates and organising service delivery.
To support and share knowledge with social prescribers.
Work with the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in locality to understand the range of services available and work with them to manage the referral process.
Support HR duties in respect of sickness recording, annual leave approvals, appraisal processes etc., and apply HR policies as appropriate seeking advice from the HR team as needed.
To provide supervision, mentorship to members of the team and deliver the appraisal process reflecting on others learning needs and developing relevant objectives.
Implement and support the development of a training framework for the Trainee Social Prescribers, supporting their induction and ongoing training.
Organise and co-ordinate meetings and training events for the team.
Key responsibility 2: Organisational
Promoting social prescribing, its role in self-management, and the wider determinants of health.
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.
Seek regular feedback about the quality of service and impact of social prescribing on referral agencies.
Forge strong links with local VCSE organisations, community and neighbourhood level groups, utilising their networks and building on what's already available to create a map or menu of community groups and assets. Use these opportunities to promote micro-commissioning or small grants if available.
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.
Work with the PCN Clinical Director, Board, 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.
Provide education and specialist expertise to fellow PCN staff, ensuring they are made aware of health coaching and social prescribing services and support colleagues to improve their skills and understanding of personalised care, behavioural approaches, and ensuring consistency in the follow up of people's goals where an MDT is involved.
Raise awareness within the PCN of shared decision making and decision support tools and supporting people in shared decision-making conversations.
Engage with and support the new and evolving agendas and service requirements across the PCN, including working with the LCPs on local pilot services.
As part of the PCN multi-disciplinary team, build relationships with staff in GP practices within the local PCN, attending relevant MDT meetings, giving information and feedback on health coaching.
Alongside other members of the PCN multi-disciplinary team, work collaboratively with all local diverse partners to contribute towards supporting the local VCSE organisations and community groups to become sustainable and that community assets are nurtured, through sharing intelligence regarding any gaps or problems identified in local provision with commissioners and local authorities.
Work sensitively with people, their families and carers to capture key information, enabling tracking of the impact of health coaching on their health and wellbeing, including the measures required within the PCN Contract (e.g. PAM measures).
Encourage people, their families and carers to provide feedback and to share their stories about the impact of social prescribing and health coaching on their lives.
Work closely within the MDT and with GP practices within the PCN to ensure that the relevant codes are captured and inputted into clinical systems, (as outlined in the Network Contract DES), adhering to data protection legislation and data sharing agreements.
Contribute to the development of policies and plans relating to equality, diversity and health inequalities.
Support the organisation in working towards the National Goals for Social prescribing as set by NHS England.
Key responsibility 3: Social Prescribing Link Worker Key Responsibilities
Receiving and actioning referrals from a wide range of agencies: GP practice, pharmacies, multi-disciplinary teams, hospital discharge teams, allied health professionals, fire service, police, social care services, housing associations, and voluntary organizations. (List not exhaustive).
Signposting adults who have been identified as those who could benefit from the Social Prescribing Service including those who are frail and socially isolated, to services within the community including social, recreational and non-medical support which may help them to improve their health and wellbeing.
Working with adults with mild to moderate mental health, learning difficulties, learning disabilities, anxiety and depression. Providing personalized support to individuals, their families and carers to enable them 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 them. Taking a holistic approach, based on the persons priorities and the wider determinants of health.
Assess the patients abilities and preferences, thinking laterally and then advising and supporting them in a variety of areas/activities. Being sensitive to barriers to adopting a healthier lifestyle such as affordability, accessibility and life circumstances. Encouraging choices and actions that are acceptable and achievable to patients while being aware of cultural and social considerations.
Support patients to recognize and change their current lifestyle and to identify how their way of life might affect their health and well-being.
Working alongside and collaborating with existing local partners: Primary Care Mental Health Team, St Lukes Listening Service, and Physiotherapy etc. Educating non-clinical and clinical staff within the Practice on what other services are available within the community and how and when patients can access them.
Participate in an annual appraisal process, review yearly progress and develop clear plans to achieve results within priorities set by others. It is vital that the Social Prescriber has a strong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other health professionals or agencies.
Person Specification
Skills
* Ability to communicate well with patients, carers, volunteers, colleagues and with professional staff in other organisations.
* Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiation skills organisation skills with the ability to work to tight deadlines.
* Ability to maintain effective working relationships and to promote collaborative practice with all colleagues.
* Ability to work and lead in a team environment.
* Ability to maintain confidentiality.
* Ability to use own initiative, discretion and sensitivity.
* Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines.
Qualifications
* Experience of working with health sector and multiple stakeholders.
* GCSE A-C in English and Maths.
* Has undertaken Social Prescribing learning for link workers programme (HEE).
* Social care qualification such as a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care, or knowledge in a specific area of support such as employment, social isolation, mental health, housing or physical activity.
* Undertaken Personalised care training.
Experience
* Knowledge and Experience: Experience of working with health sector and multiple stakeholders.
* Experience of giving advice/education to individuals with long term conditions.
* An understanding of the needs and problems older, vulnerable and disabled adults may have.
* Knowledge of and ability to work to policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety.
* Has an excellent working knowledge of the role, scope of practice, contributions, and boundaries of SPLWs.
* Has good understanding of local community-based infrastructures, multi-professional teams, and asset-based systems of care.
* Knowledge of the range of services available locally.
* Experience of social prescribing.
* Experience of designing and implementing new initiatives.
Other and Values
* Full driving license.
* Commitment to collaborative working with all local agencies (including VCSE organisations and community groups). Able to work with others to reduce hierarchies and find creative solutions to community issues.
* The candidate must demonstrate the ability to show care, promote Community, show willingness to evolve, be trusting and promote candour.
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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