Social Prescribing Link Worker

Working with the Social Prescribing team based within OWLS, the role will include visiting individuals who have been referred to the project by GPs, NHS staff or other agencies, on a one to one basis, accessing their holistic situation and supporting and improving their health and wellbeing with non-medical intervention, such as linking them to activities and opportunities within the VCF (Voluntary Community and Faith) sector.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.
Main duties of the job The post holder will work in collaboration with OWLS CIC to deliver a coordinated and high-quality Social Prescribing Link Worker service supporting clients to access and engage with the extensive range of support in the community.
The post holder will manage a caseload of clients through assessment to onward-referral, working with clients in the practice that have been referred by the GP. They will provide ongoing support for an allocated timeframe to promote engagement with identified services and achievement of goals.
The role requires extensive liaison with statutory and non-statutory services, to both generate referrals into the service and support access to relevant local services, so that seamless and joined up local services are provided for the individual. The post holder will have demonstrable high levels of emotional intelligence, with working practices based upon compassion and empathy.
In addition, the post holder will contribute to the development of the service and will participate in support, supervision and training as required.
About us Employment will be with Out of Hours West Lancashire CICLimited (OWLS). We host roles on behalf of the three West Lancashire PrimaryCare Networks (PCNs) and their member practices.
OWLS is a small GP owned and led not-for-profit primary careorganisation run by GPs and health professionals. As a not-for-profitorganisation all the money we generate through service contracts is reinvestedin providing patient care.
We were founded in the 90s by a small group of GPs toprovide high quality out of hours services. In 2017, we became the WestLancashire GP Federation. The Federation supports and provides servicesdirectly and with partners, for West Lancashire GP practices and provides avehicle to bid for and provide primary care services.
Job responsibilities Take referrals from and makereferrals to a wide range of agencies within Primary Care Networks
Co-produce personalised supportplans with individuals, their families and carers to take control of theirwellbeing, live independently and improve their health outcomes.
Developing trusting relationshipsby giving people time and focus on what matters to me.
Take a holistic approach, basedon the persons priorities and the wider determinants of health.
It is vital that you have astrong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary torefer people back to other health professionals/agencies, when what the personneeds is beyond the scope of the link worker role e.g. when there is a mentalhealth need requiring a qualified practitioner.
Referrals Be proactive in developing stronglinks with all local agencies to encourage referrals, recognising what theyneed to be confident in the service to make appropriate referrals.
Be proactive in developing stronglinks with all local agencies to encourage referrals, recognising what theyneed to be confident in the service to make appropriate referrals.
Work in partnership with alllocal agencies to raise awareness of social prescribing and how partnershipworking can reduce pressure on statutory services, improve health outcomes andenable a holistic approach to care.
Work with the practice andcommunity staff, to identify and support individuals at risk of loss ofindependence or hospital admission as a result of inadequate social support.
Seek regular feedback about thequality of service and impact of social prescribing on referral agencies.
Be proactive in encouragingself-referrals and connecting with all local communities, particularly thosecommunities that statutory agencies may find hard to reach.
Provide personalised support Meet people on a one-to-onebasis, making home visits where appropriate within organisations policies andprocedures. Give people time to tell their stories and focus on what mattersto me.
Help people identify the widerissues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing,being unemployed, loneliness and caring responsibilities.
Develop a comprehensive knowledgeof wider support services for people with non-clinical needs that impact ontheir wellbeing and health outcomes, such as social isolation, wellbeing,housing, unemployment, welfare benefits.
Help people maintain or regainindependence through living skills, adaptations enablement approaches andsimple safeguards.
Work with individuals toco-produce a simple personalised support plan based on the personspriorities, interests, values and motivations including what they can expectfrom the groups, activities and services they are being connected to and whatthe person can do for themselves to improve their health and wellbeing.
Where appropriate, physicallyintroduce people to community groups, activities and statutory services,ensuring they are comfortable. Follow up to ensure they are happy, able toengage, included and receiving good support.
The post holder will be requiredto have awareness and training in relation to relevant safeguarding policiesand procedures and to raise any concerns regarding safeguarding on theindividual to the attention of the relevant nominated lead within the team.
Support community groups and VCSEorganisations to receive referrals Forge strong links with localVCSE organisations, community and neighbourhood level groups, utilising theirnetworks and building on whats already available to create a map or menu ofcommunity groups and assets.
Develop supportive relationshipswith local VCSE organisations, community groups and statutory services, to maketimely, appropriate and supported referrals for the person being introduced.
Work collectively with all localpartners to ensure community groups are strong and sustainable Work with GPs, PCNs and widerMulti-disciplinary teams as required.
Work with commissioners and localpartners to identify unmet needs within the community and gaps in communityprovision and support development of new groups and services where needed.
Encourage people who have beenconnected to community support through social prescribing to volunteer and givetheir time freely to others, in order to build their skills and confidence, andstrengthen community resilience.
Data capture Work sensitively with people,their families and carers to capture key information, enabling tracking of theimpact of social prescribing on their health and wellbeing.
Encourage people, their familiesand carers to provide feedback and to share their stories about the impact ofsocial prescribing on their lives.
Support referral agencies toprovide appropriate information about the person they are referring. Use thecase management system to track the persons progress.
Work closely with GP practiceswithin the PCN to ensure that they are receiving appropriate feedback about thepeople they have referred.
Manage own workload throughplanning and organising own work schedule, obtaining and organising thenecessary information and resources.
Person Specification Experience Experience of working with health sector and multiple stakeholders
Experience and demonstrable evidence of incorporating patient/client views into the development of services e.g. co-production
Good understanding of service improvement, innovation, performance improvement across a range of disciplines
Experience of working with statutory sector
Experience of holistic interviewing and assessment of individuals to produce an action plan
Experience of working with and supporting volunteers
An understanding of the VCF sector
Ability to use a range of IT programmes
Understanding of the NHS and social care sector
Experience of working with primary care e.g. GP practices
Skills and Knowledge Ability to communicate well with patients, carers, volunteers, colleagues and with professional staff in other organisations
Knowledge and skill in the use of recording/maintaining data for reporting
Ability to prioritise own workload, work unsupervised and take appropriate decisions
Experience in effective use of softer skills listening, lateral thinking, body language and observation
Excellent organisational and time management skills
Ability to travel around the whole of West Lancashire using appropriate transport to undertake multiple appointments/meetings (in different geographical locations) to meet defined project time slots
An appreciation of services and help available for people living in West Lancashire
Knowledge and understanding of health inequalities and what actions to take to narrow the gap in health inequalities
Behaviours and Values To respect client confidentiality at all times
Good verbal and written communication skills
Ability to work calmly whilst under pressure.
Ability as part of a team as well as alone
Well organised and methodical
Able to work flexible hours to suit project needs
Presentable with a friendly, approachable manner
Qualifications Degree and/or equivalent experience in health care/social care or related area.
Hold certificate for (or be willing to work towards) Levels1 and 2 Safeguarding – Adults and Children
Qualification and/or experience in giving information and advice to individuals with differing needs in the community
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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr