At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals facing challenges like social isolation and help them access vital services.
- Company: Join Dacortium, a community-focused organisation making a real difference in people's lives.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working hours, and the chance to make a positive impact.
- Other info: Home-based role with travel across Welwyn, Hatfield, and Lower Lea Valley.
- Why this job: Be a vital link in your community, helping others regain independence and improve their wellbeing.
- Qualifications: Experience in community development or health/social care is essential.
The predicted salary is between 27272 - 33332 £ per year.
Hospital and Community Navigation Service
Employer: Dacortium
Location: Welwyn Garden City
Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday – Friday, but also includes occasional weekend working.
Salary: £26,994
Contract: Permanent
Reports to: Locality Manager
Essential Requirement: UK Driving License and access to own car
This role is home based, but requires regular travel across the Welwyn, Hatfield and Lower Lea Valley areas, including home visits to service users, and supporting local hospitals.
The Service is commissioned by Hertfordshire County Council and is comprised of five voluntary organisations who provide hospital discharge and social prescribing services to Hertfordshire residents. These services are free and designed to support individuals to improve and maintain health and wellbeing.
Main purpose of the role:
- Support those who are struggling with issues such as social isolation, housing and finances, or those not understanding or managing their health or wellbeing and making sure they have any advice and help needed to access appropriate services.
- Support people being discharged from hospital and reduce the likelihood of readmission by helping them to regain and retain independent living, as well as finding and accessing further support.
Responsibilities:
- Hold a caseload of clients and provide support and information to those clients, so they can build sustainable relationships with groups, activities and services which will help build resilience and independence.
- Create short, medium and longer-term goals with clients, through ongoing personalised care and support planning. Highlight any changes in a service user’s condition or circumstance ensuring that appropriate measures are taken to support the person.
- Link clients to existing resources in the community to help them to live well and avoid crisis. Identify any gaps in resources and relay to management. Ensure that clients develop sustainable relationships with organisations and services.
- Use a Case Management System to accurately record and report actions taken, allowing the service to demonstrate its outcomes.
- Liaise with social care, health, housing and other professionals to ensure that the needs of the individual are consistently met.
- Collect equipment like walkers and commodes from local hospitals and deliver them to clients and occasionally provide transport to service user’s home by car on discharge from hospital wards, A&E departments & community hospitals.
- Carry out essential shopping, prescription collections and urgent welfare checks as required.
- Willingness to work flexibly around the needs of the service, including weekend working and supporting other localities with casework when required.
- Ensure service users’ health and wellbeing is preserved and safeguarding policies and procedures are followed at all times. Work with colleagues to ensure that health and safety legislation and risk assessments are understood and implemented.
- Work in partnership with the District and Borough Councils, Housing Associations, local Voluntary Organisations and Forums to ensure that the project is effectively used and understood.
HCNS Person Specification:
Skills & Knowledge:
- Demonstrates a passion for delivering agreed outcomes.
- Works well under pressure.
- Self-motivated and able to carry out tasks with minimal supervision.
- Strong team player and able to work effectively as part of a locality, area and Countywide team.
- Flexible, innovative and adaptable and has a ‘can do’ approach and attitude.
- Good understanding of the voluntary and statutory sector and ideally the specific locality area.
- Skilled at using user feedback to demonstrate outcomes and improve services.
- Demonstrates personal accountability.
- Works confidently with service users, partners and stakeholders to find effective solutions.
- Effective administrative skills and an excellent standard of IT skills including MS Office, the internet and appropriate software.
- Able to work and travel throughout the area on a regular basis as appropriate, and more widely as required.
Experience:
- Recent experience of working directly in a community development context, adult health and social care, learning support or public health/health improvement (including unpaid work) is essential.
- Experience of liaising with agencies (statutory and voluntary) on a day to day basis.
- Working in the public sector or a charitable organisation providing services to the public.
Subject to satisfactory references and an Enhanced DBS check.
Additional Information: Whilst we recognise the growth and popularity of artificial intelligence (AI), it is important we are confident that your application is unique and has been completed without the use of AI technology. Applicants progressing through our selection process are not permitted to use AI technology tools or software.
Community Link Worker in Welwyn employer: HCNS
HCNS is an attractive employer due to its commitment to community welfare and employee support. The organization fosters a collaborative work culture where staff can engage directly with the community, making a positive difference in people's lives. Opportunities for professional development are also available, enhancing career growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Community Link Worker in Welwyn
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at HCNS.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from HCNS!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like HCNS, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at HCNS or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Community Link Worker in Welwyn
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to HCNS:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to HCNS! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at HCNS
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
