At a Glance
- Tasks: Empower individuals to improve their health and wellbeing through community connections and support.
- Company: Join a compassionate team at Sowe Valley Primary Care Network, transforming lives in Coventry.
- Benefits: Make a real impact while gaining valuable experience in health and community development.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and professional development.
- Why this job: Be part of a movement that strengthens communities and reduces health inequalities.
- Qualifications: Experience in community support or health roles; empathy and communication skills are key.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Working as a Social Prescribing Link Worker offers the unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on people's lives by addressing their health and wellbeing holistically. In this role, you'll empower individuals to take control of their health, focusing on "what matters to me" and connecting them to community groups and services that provide practical and emotional support. You'll play a pivotal role in building personal and community resilience, helping to reduce health inequalities by tackling wider determinants of health such as debt, housing issues, and social isolation. Your work will support those with long-term conditions, mental health challenges, and complex social needs, making a real difference in improving their quality of life. This role is not just about helping individuals; it's about fostering stronger, more sustainable communities. You'll collaborate with local partners to ensure community resources are accessible and thriving, even helping to inspire and establish new initiatives. By joining us, you become part of a forward-thinking, compassionate team dedicated to transforming lives and strengthening the bonds that connect people to their communities. If you're passionate about empowering others and creating lasting change, this is the role for you.
Main duties of the job
- Receiving and Managing Referrals: Take referrals from GP practices within the PCN and support patients using social prescribing methods.
- Providing Individualised Support: Work closely with individuals, their families, and carers to help them take control of their health and wellbeing, live independently, and improve their health outcomes.
- Building Trusting Relationships: Spend time understanding each person's needs, focusing on what matters to me and taking a holistic approach to their health and priorities.
- Co-Producing Support Plans: Collaborate with individuals to develop personalised plans that address their goals and connect them to community groups, activities, or statutory services.
- Strengthening Community Networks: Support and enhance the capacity of local voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations to accept social prescribing referrals.
- Promoting Wellbeing Awareness: Provide information and guidance about wellbeing and preventative approaches to improve overall health.
- Addressing Wider Determinants of Health: Help individuals identify and address challenges like debt, poor housing, unemployment, loneliness, or caregiving responsibilities that impact their wellbeing.
- Facilitating Community Engagement: When appropriate, accompany individuals to community groups, activities, or services to ensure they feel comfortable and supported. Follow up to ensure their needs are met and they feel included.
About us
Sowe Valley Primary Care Network is a collaboration of ten NHS GP Practices covering the East of Coventry and 86,000 registered patients. We have built a rich MDT team of paramedics, physiotherapists, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, social prescribers, GP assistants, dieticians, CPN and care coordinators.
Job responsibilities
- Manage referrals from GP practices within Primary Care Networks, using social prescribing approaches tailored to each patient's needs.
- Provide personalised support to individuals, families, and carers, enabling them to live independently and improve their health outcomes.
- Build trusting relationships by focusing on what matters to me and addressing wider determinants of health through a holistic approach.
- Co-produce personalised support plans, connecting individuals to community groups, activities, and statutory services.
- Strengthen community networks by supporting VCSE organisations and ensuring they can safely and effectively receive social prescribing referrals.
- Help individuals identify and address challenges such as debt, housing, unemployment, loneliness, and caregiving.
- Act as a source of guidance on wellbeing and preventative approaches.
- Accompany individuals to community services where needed, ensuring they feel comfortable, engaged, and supported.
This role is about creating lasting change, strengthening community ties, and improving lives.
Person Specification
- Ability to listen, empathise with people and provide person-centred support in a non-judgemental way.
- Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity.
- Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from all communities.
- Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with people, their families, carers, community groups, partner agencies and stakeholders.
- Have a strong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other health professionals/agencies.
- Able to work from an asset-based approach, building on existing community and personal assets.
- Able to provide leadership and to finish work tasks.
- Ability to maintain effective working relationships and to promote collaborative practice with all colleagues.
- Commitment to collaborative working with all local agencies (including VCSE organisations and community groups).
- Able to work with others to reduce hierarchies and find creative solutions to community issues.
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).
- Experience of supporting people, their families and carers in a related role (including unpaid work).
- Experience of supporting people with their mental health, either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacity.
- Experience of working with the VCSE sector (in a paid or unpaid capacity), including with volunteers and small community groups.
- Experience of data collection and providing monitoring information to assess the impact of services.
Qualifications
- NVQ Level 3, Advanced level or equivalent qualifications or working towards.
- Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience.
- Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal development.
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.
Social Prescribing Link Worker in Coventry employer: Sowe Valley Primary Care Network
Sowe Valley Primary Care Network is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment where you can truly make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, we provide opportunities for continuous learning and professional advancement, all while fostering a culture of compassion and teamwork. Located in the vibrant East of Coventry, our team is dedicated to addressing health inequalities and empowering individuals, making this a rewarding place to work for those passionate about community wellbeing.
Contact Details:
Sowe Valley Primary Care Network Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Social Prescribing Link Worker in Coventry
✨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 Sowe Valley Primary Care Network.
✨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 Sowe Valley Primary Care Network!
✨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 Sowe Valley Primary Care Network, 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 Sowe Valley Primary Care Network or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
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 Sowe Valley Primary Care Network:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Sowe Valley Primary Care Network! 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 Sowe Valley Primary Care Network
✨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.
