PCN Social Prescribing Link WorkerNHS

Job summary

The London Borough of Waltham Forest and Waltham Forest Federated GP Network are supporting the Primary Care Networks established across the borough to recruit Social Prescribing Link Workers.

The post will be part of a wider Integrated Care development known as the Managed Network of Care & Support.

The role is practice based and not remote.

Salary: Agenda for change - Band 5 - Pro rata

Hours: 18 hours 45 mins. Part time

Fixed Term Contract: Between 6-8 months. To be discussed during interview.

Probation period: 3 months (Extension/s can be given as per our policy and only if required).

The Managed Network focuses on prevention and early intervention. A key activity is to provide non-clinical support to vulnerable residents by employing link workers across 3 well-being pathways, Social Prescribing, well-being at Home and Local Area Coordination.

The model has been developed as part of the Waltham Forest Integrated Care Partnership and is part of the Promoting Wellbeing Programme.

Main duties of the job

Social Prescribing Link Workers empower people to take control of their health and well-being by taking a holistic approach and connecting people to practical and emotional support in the community and statutory sectors. Officers give people time to focus on their aspirations & goals and help to build active and sustainable communities by working collaboratively with local partners.

You will be practice based on a rotational basis and may be working at different practices within the PCN. This is not a remote role.

The activities undertaken by Social Prescribing Link Workers help to strengthen personal and community resilience and reduce health inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health such as debt, poor housing and social isolation.

The service is targeted at particular groups of residents. Social Prescribing Link Workers will support residents to become more independent and enhance their well-being

Job description

1. Working with direct supervision by a GP, taking referrals from a wide range of agencies - working with primary care networks, community health teams, hospital discharge teams, social care services, housing agencies, employment organisations and the voluntary & community sector (VCS). This list is not exhaustive.

2. Provide personalised support to individuals, families and carers, helping them to take control of their well-being so they can live more independently and improve their health outcomes, as key members of the Primary Care Network multi-disciplinary team.

3. Develop trusting relationships by giving people time and focusing on what matters to the person. The approach should be holistic and based on the individuals aspirations and goals and how these impact the wider determinants of health.

4. Co-produce a personalised support package to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or re-connecting people to community groups and statutory services. The role may involve managing a caseload and this will need to be prioritised based on competing demands and the needs of clients.

5. Draw on, and increase, the strengths and capacities of local communities - enabling VCS organisations and community groups to receive referrals. Ensure groups are supported and have basic safeguarding processes in place for vulnerable individuals, so people can develop friendships, a sense of belonging and increase knowledge, skills and confidence.

6. Alongside other members of the Primary Care Network multi-disciplinary team, work collaboratively with local partners to contribute towards supporting local VCS organisations and community groups to become sustainable and that community asset are nurtured. This may mean making group leaders aware of opportunities for small grants or micro-commissioning, where available. It may also mean providing help to set up new community groups and services, where gaps in local provision are identified.

7. Social Prescribing Link Workers will have a role in educating non-clinical and clinical staff within their Primary Care Network multi-disciplinary teams on what other services are available within the community and how and when patients can access them. This may include verbal or written advice and guidance.

Key tasks

Referrals

Promote social prescribing and the role it can play in facilitating self-management and improving outcomes by addressing the wider determinants of health.

As part of the Primary Care Network multi-disciplinary team, build relationships with key stakeholders and workers in other well-being pathways that are part of the PCN. Attend relevant multi-disciplinary team meetings and provide information and feedback on social prescribing and other wellbeing-related services.

Develop strong links with local agencies, encouraging referrals by providing a high-quality and responsive service to referring practitioners.

Work in partnership with local agencies to raise awareness of how social prescribing and other well-being pathways can reduce pressure on statutory services and enable a holistic approach to care.

Provide advice and training on how to access information about support-related services and make appropriate referrals.

Seek feedback from referring agencies about service quality and impact.

Encourage referrals from communities that statutory agencies find hard to reach.

About us

Fednet WTE CIC works with 36 GP Practices in Waltham Forest. We are a private limited company who provides NHS Services based in Primary Care, pooling the skills and resources of local GPs to provide large scale services as part of the local NHS Strategy to bring more services into the Community to help people stay well and at home.