Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to link workers who give time, focus on what matters to them, and take a holistic approach to an individual's health and wellbeing. Connecting people to diverse community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support. Link workers also support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all local diverse partners. Social prescribing link workers will work as a key part of the Primary Care Network (PCN) multidisciplinary team. Social prescribing can help PCNs to strengthen community and personal resilience, reduce health inequalities (in relation to timely access and outcomes), and wellbeing 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 diverse 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.
Main duties of the job
1. Promote social prescribing, its role in self-management, addressing health inequalities and the wider determinants of health.
2. As part of the PCN multi-disciplinary team, build relationships with staff in GP Practices within Health Village Dearne Valley PCN, attending relevant MDT meetings, giving information and feedback on social prescribing.
3. 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.
4. 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 access and outcomes, and enable a holistic approach to care.
5. Provide referring agencies with regular updates about social prescribing, including training for their staff and how to access information to encourage appropriate referrals.
6. Develop trusting relationships by giving people time and focus on what matters to them.
7. Take a holistic approach, based on the patients' priorities and the wider determinants of health.
8. Be proactive in encouraging equality and inclusion, through self-referrals and connecting with all diverse local communities, particularly those communities that statutory agencies may find hard to reach.
About us
Health Village Dearne Valley Primary Care Network (PCN) is a collaborative organisation of 3 GP Practices serving the wider Rotherham area. We offer combined Primary Healthcare services to a population of approximately 48,000 patients.
Job responsibilities
1. Promote social prescribing, its role in self-management, addressing health inequalities and the wider determinants of health.
2. As part of the PCN multi-disciplinary team, build relationships with staff in GP Practices within Health Village Dearne Valley PCN, attending relevant MDT meetings, giving information and feedback on social prescribing.
3. 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.
4. 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 access and outcomes, and enable a holistic approach to care.
5. Provide referring agencies with regular updates about social prescribing, including training for their staff and how to access information to encourage appropriate referrals.
6. Develop trusting relationships by giving people time and focus on what matters to them.
7. Take a holistic approach, based on the patients' priorities and the wider determinants of health.
8. Be proactive in encouraging equality and inclusion, through self-referrals and connecting with all diverse local communities, particularly those communities that statutory agencies may find hard to reach.
Person Specification
Knowledge and Skills
* Knowledge of the personalised care approach and understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic, and environmental factors and their impact on communities.
* Knowledge of community development approaches.
* Knowledge of motivational coaching and interview skills.
* Capacity to be innovative and develop the role of a link worker.
* Ability to work with a range of clinical and non-clinical personnel as part of a team.
* Ability to work independently and effectively with a high degree of motivation.
* Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines.
* Ability to define, collate, analyse, and interpret data.
* Understanding of the current issues facing the primary care team.
* Understanding of NHS long term plan and priorities relevant to primary care.
* Local knowledge of community healthcare and social care is desirable.
Experience
* Evidence of recent and relevant Continuing Professional Development.
* Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience.
* Experience of supporting people, their families, and carers in a related role (including unpaid work).
* Experience of setting up services within Primary Care Networks and their local communities.
* 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 working with local VCSE organisations and community groups.
Qualifications
* NVQ Level 3, Advanced level or equivalent qualifications or working towards.
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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