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Social Prescribing Link Worker (SPLW), Consett
Client: -
Location: Consett, United Kingdom
Job Category: Other
EU work permit required: Yes
Job Reference: cb7dfb409a65
Job Views: 6
Posted: 23.01.2025
Expiry Date: 09.03.2025
Job Description:
Job Summary
We are looking to recruit to the post of social prescribing link worker, to work within our practice multidisciplinary healthcare team. The postholder 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.
This role is dependent on ARRS reimbursement and a notice period would be given should the reimbursement cease.
Main Duties of the Job
1. Take referrals from a wide range of agencies, working with GP practices within primary care networks, pharmacies, multi-disciplinary teams, hospital discharge teams, allied health professionals, fire service, police, job centres, social care services, housing associations, and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations (list not exhaustive).
2. 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 them. Take a holistic approach, based on the person's 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.
3. 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 when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner.
About Us
We are a large practice consisting of 14 GPs (8 GP Partners) supported by an extended team, providing care to approximately 17,000 patients in Consett and surrounding areas. Our premises are a purpose-built Medical Centre. We are a Training Practice and regularly have GP Registrars attached through the Northumbria Vocational Training Scheme and Durham and Tees Valley GP Training Programme. Fully computerised SystmOne, working towards a paper-light system. Computers are used extensively during consultation and as a management tool. We are a progressive practice, fully staffed, offering a wide range of services, and committed to providing high quality health care.
Job Responsibilities
Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to non-medical link workers who give time, focus on what matters to them and take a holistic approach, connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support. Link workers support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all local partners.
Social prescribing can help to strengthen community resilience and personal resilience, and reduces health inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity, by increasing people's active involvement with their local 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.
1. Take referrals from a wide range of agencies, working with GP practices within primary care networks, pharmacies, multi-disciplinary teams, hospital discharge teams, allied health professionals, fire service, police, job centres, social care services, housing associations, and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations (list not exhaustive).
2. Provide personalised support to individuals, their families and carers to take control of their wellbeing, live independently and improve their health outcomes.
3. Develop trusting relationships by giving people time and focus on what matters to them. Take a holistic approach, based on the person's 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.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* NVQ Level 3, Advanced level or equivalent qualifications or working towards this level.
* Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal development.
* 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.
* Knowledge of VCSE and community services in the locality.
* Awareness of GDPR.
* Awareness of Safeguarding Children & Adults.
* 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.
* 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.
* Meets DBS reference standards and has a clear criminal record, in line with the law on spent convictions.
* Willingness to work flexible hours when required to meet work demands.
* Current full driving licence and sole use of car.
* Ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis, including to visit people in their own homes.
Desirable
* Experience of data collection and providing monitoring information to assess the impact of services.
* Experience of supporting people with their mental health, either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacity.
* Knowledge of the personalised care approach.
* Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience.
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