Social Prescribing Link Worker (SPLW) - Care Coordinator in Chester-le-Street

Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to link workers who take a holistic approach, connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support. In this role, the link workers will support people with long-term conditions and people with complex needs to access existing groups and support, ensuring that they get the right support to manage their health and well-being needs. Care Coordinators work closely with GPs and practice teams to ensure appropriate support is made available to patients and their carers. This is achieved by bringing together all the information about a person's identified care and support needs and exploring options to meet these within a single personalised care and support plan, based on what matters to the person.

Main duties of the job

• Take referrals from and make referrals to a wide range of agencies within the primary care networks.
• Co-produce personalised support plans with individuals, their families and carers to take control of their wellbeing, live independently and improve their health outcomes.
• Be proactive in developing strong links with all local agencies to encourage referrals.
• Help people identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, being unemployed, loneliness and caring responsibilities.

Job responsibilities

• Take referrals from the GP practice multi-disciplinary teams, hospital discharge teams, allied health professionals, social care services, housing associations, and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations.
• Manage a caseload of patients, meeting people on a one-to-one basis, making home visits where appropriate.
• Work with individuals to co-produce a simple personalised support plan.
• Maintain accurate records in line with practice policies.
• Develop and maintain up to date knowledge of local community assets and services.
• Be proactive in developing strong links with all local agencies to encourage referrals.
• Ensure that local community groups and VCSE organisations being referred to have basic procedures in place for ensuring that vulnerable individuals are safe.
• 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.
• Interrogate and run regular searches of patient records to facilitate the planning of patient care.
• Carry out patient recall administration tasks for patients with long term conditions, care home patients, housebound patients as well as the auditing of non-responders.
• Assist in the preparation and delivery of immunisation campaigns such as annual flu clinics including searches, invitations, liaising with care homes and data entry.
• Maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all times.
• Support all staff with general tasks as requested (appropriate to role).
• Participate in formal appraisal on an annual basis including interim reviews to ensure objectives are achieved and relevant training undertaken.
• Duties may vary from time to time, without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility.
• Confidentiality is key to this job role. The surgery works within established protocols ensuring compliance with all mandatory regulations including (but not exhaustive); General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), Data Protection Act, Caldicott Principles.

Personal Qualities

• A positive attitude, committed to excellent customer service.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Proven ability to work well under pressure.
• A high regard for confidentiality.
• Highly organised, with excellent attention to detail.

Qualifications

• 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) A* - C including English and Maths.
• Meets DBS reference standards and criminal record checks.
• Willingness to work flexible hours when required to meet work demands.
• Full UK driving licence with use of own car.

Skills/Knowledge

• High level of written and oral skills.
• High level of computer skills including word processing and spreadsheet applications.
• Good numeracy, accuracy and literacy skills.
• An ability to be pro-active in service development and improvement.

Experience

• Experience of working directly in a community development context, adult health and social care, learning support or public health/health improvement (including unpaid work).
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, challenging environment.
• Use of Emis clinical software.
• Local knowledge of VCSE and community services.

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.