Social Prescriber (older persons)

Working within the Proactive Care and Care Home Team, this new Social Prescriber role for older persons over 65 years is a central non-clinical role which will help deliver the Enhanced Health in Care Homes, Social Prescribing and Proactive Care objectives of Avon Valley PCN. As a key part of the NHS 10 Year Plan, you will work closely within the local neighbourhood, including Local Authorities and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE), helping join up existing services in order to deliver better health care and community support for our older patients.

We are looking for a motivated and organised individual to join our team. Due to the nature of the role, you will be required to visit older people in their homes, so the postholder will require both the willingness and transport for this requirement. We welcome applications from candidates with or without direct NHS experience and some previous clinical experience would be highly desirable. We will consider full or part-time applications.

Main duties of the job

• Enhanced Health in Care Homes
  • All duties are directed by the Enhanced Health in Care Home framework.
  • To support people entering, or already resident in an Avon Valley Care Home, to register with the relevant practice.
  • To help coordinate and deliver a weekly Care Home MDT within the PCN, including the lead GP/clinician and Care Home staff, facilitating any actions arising.
  • Develop Care Plans for Care Home residents within the framework guidelines, and ensure these are filed appropriately.
• Social Prescribing for Older Persons
  • To provide a single point of contact for this age cohort, to help meet the practical, social and emotional needs that can otherwise affect health and wellbeing.
  • To provide coordination and navigation for people and their carers across health and care services, working closely with the wider healthcare teams.
• Proactive Care
  • To assist with the active management and coordination of the agreed Proactive Care caseload for the PCN.
  • To assist the administration and coordination of the clinical Comprehensive Frailty Assessments identified within the Proactive Care Plan.
  • To holistically bring together a patient's care and support needs into a Personalised Care and Support Plan, including patient goals and relevant actions.
  • To attend relevant MDTs to support development and delivery of these plans.

About us

Primary Care Networks (PCNs) are a fundamental part of the NHS Long-Term Plan, bringing GP practices together to enhance workforce recruitment and retention; manage financial and operational challenges; expand services for patients; and integrate more effectively with the broader healthcare system. Avon Valley PCN is an innovative, friendly group of practices situated in the New Forest, and encompasses four practices: Fordingbridge Surgery, Ringwood Medical Centre, Cornerways Medical Centre (Ringwood) and Twin Oaks Surgery (Burley and Bransgore), serving over 40,000 patients.

We have successfully built a wider healthcare team to support the traditional work of the GP practice - Pharmacy Team; First Contact Practitioners (Musculoskeletal); Social Prescribers; Paramedics (Home Visiting Service); Care Coordinators; and a Mental Health Team. We welcome early applications, as some interviews may be held before the closing date.

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached document, PCN Social Prescriber (older persons) which is located within this platform.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE (Maths and English A-C)/NVQ level 2 or equivalent level of qualifications and/or equivalent relevant proven experience.
• If a candidate does not already have any level 3 qualification (e.g. A level or other equivalent post-16 education), the candidate will be required to obtain a level 3 occupational standard, accredited by the Personalised Care Institute for social prescribing link workers.
• IT literate.
• Level 3 qualification (e.g. A Level or other equivalent post 16 education). For those workers who already have a qualification at level 3, the level 3 Social Prescribing course accredited by the Personalised Care Institute is recommended but not mandatory.

Experience

• Commitment and willingness to undertake learning and development courses as required to ensure competency for this role, this will include NHS statutory and mandatory training.
• Understanding of confidentiality and Data Protection Act.
• Experience of using MS Office Applications.
• Experience supervising others or leading a team.
• Experience in a clinical role in a healthcare setting.
• Experience in an administrative role (within the NHS or otherwise).
• Experience in patient or customer facing role working with older people.
• Experience of using SystmOne/EMIS.

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.