CAMHS Social Prescriber / Link Worker

at  Barnet Enfield Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust

We are looking for highly motivated Community Social Prescriber / Link Worker Practitioner interested in developing improved care and treatment for children, young people, families, and carers. North London Mental Health Partnership (NLMHP) is part of a national research project with UCLH evaluating social prescribing in CAMHs and this post is critical to the efficacy of the project and a greater opportunity for the successful candidate.
The post holder will support C&YP and families to explore, identify and engage in activities of their choice, with the aim of increasing mental and/or physical wellbeing and confidence.
This involves supporting the well-being and development of young people through a 1-2- 1 health coaching approach, helping them to create personal, achievable plans and introducing them to a wide range of relevant activities to meet their goals.
The offer will be provided to support C&YP, their families during waiting for assessment or clinical care in CAMHs. The initiative aims to support improving emotional wellbeing and resilience. The postholder will be skilled in developing trusting relationships and taking a holistic approach, based on the persons priorities and the wider determinants of health.
The role will involve co-producing a personalised support plan to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or reconnecting C&YP to community resources and services. The role will require managing and prioritising your own caseload, in accordance with the needs, priorities and any urgent support required by individuals on your caseload.
The successful candidate will have a strong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other health professionals/agencies, when it is clear that what the person needs is beyond the scope of non-medical intervention e.g., when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner. There will be access to structured clinical supervision and community of practice resources accessible through the research project providing a rich diverse opportunity for professional development.
The post holder will work closely with CAMHs workforce to deliver a truly holistic health and wellbeing service to C&YP and their families, having a good understanding of the full range of services available with the community.
We welcome applications from underrepresented members of the community and highly motivated and resourceful individuals to join us on our journey of transformation and improve CYP mental health support across the wider system.
The partnership between Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust (BEH) and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust (C&I) is going from strength to strength since it was originally established in 2021 forming the North London Mental Health Partnership.
The postholder will need to be comfortable working in an environment of complex matrix management arrangements and will at all times behave and align with our Trusts’ values and cultural pillars:
We are kind
We are respectful
We work together
We keep things simple
We empower
We are proudly diverse
In order to meet the needs of the new Partnership services you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. This may mean that you are required to work at any location that fall under Barnet, Enfield and Harringay Trust and Camden and Islington Trust. The Trust reserves the right to require staff to work at such other places or locations as it considers reasonable and necessary on a temporary or permanent basis.
This vacancy has been advertised in accordance with the new NHS pay rate which will take effect from autumn 2024. Please note if your employment starts before the 24/25 pay scales are implemented you will be paid under the 23/24 pay scales and any backpay will be adjusted accordingly. Further information can be found at https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/pay-scales-202425.
The successful candidate will work closely with both the Practice Lead and Operations Manager for the Thriving Research and Development Team to establish and maintain this scheme and will work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equity, equality, diversity and inclusion.
Further they will be good at identifying activities, the post holder will also be motivated and a good communicator with experience of developing local partnerships.
Provide personalised support
Work from a strength-based approach focusing on a young person’s qualities and assets.
Be a friendly source of information about wellbeing and prevention approaches.
Help young people identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as education, financial resources, housing, opportunities of employment, peer influence and caring responsibilities.
Work with young people and network and consider how they can be supported through social prescribing.
Help young people to sustain resilience through living skills, adaptations, enablement approaches and simple safeguards.
Keep accurate records and enter relevant data on the monitoring database, ensuring compliance with policies and procedures
Ensure information and advice regarding wider voluntary sector services, activities and resources is consistent, up-to-date, available on the database
Keep track of each child and young person’s engagement with the project and wider voluntary sector organisations to record outcomes
Build strong working relationships with the wider voluntary sector and
publicise the service with healthcare professional

Please refer the Job description for details