Social Prescriber Link Worker

at  Chester Le Street Primary Care Network

Chester le Street PCN JOB DESCRIPTION POST TITLE: Social Prescriber Link Worker SALARY: Entry point £23,949 pa WTE RESPONSIBLE TO: Operations Manager/Practice Manager Chester le Street GP Practices have a single Primary Care Network (PCN) incorporating all areas of Chester le Street and surrounding villages. The PCN is a collaborative of the 7 GP practices in the area with a registered population of over 60,000 patients As a Social Prescriber Link Worker you will play a key role in the multi disciplinary teams of the Primary Care Network. JOB PURPOSE: The main purpose of this post is to deliver a Social Prescribing Service to the patients within the Chester le Street Primary Care Network. The post holder will join an established team and work with the Practices within the PCN to support patients by providing a patient centred assessment with the aim of addressing all issues that are affecting health and wellbeing.
The post holder will ensure Social Prescribing empowers individuals by connecting them to other people, community groups and statutory services that take decisive action to reach positive outcomes. Social Prescribing has an important role to play in strengthening personal resilience by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical activity and by increasing peoples active involvement with their local communities. It can have a significant benefit for people with long term conditions (including support for mental health), for people who are lonely or isolated or have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing. The job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role.
The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonable be required by their line manager. PRIMARY DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES Social prescribing link workers will take referrals from a range of agencies in order to support the health and wellbeing of patients assess how far a patients health and wellbeing needs can be met by services and other opportunities available in the community; co-produce a simple personalised care and support plan to address the patients health and wellbeing needs by introducing or reconnecting people to community groups and statutory services; evaluate how far the actions in the care and support plan are meeting the individuals health and wellbeing needs; provide personalised support to individuals, their families and carers to take control of their health and wellbeing, live independently and improve their health outcomes; develop trusting relationships by giving people time and focus on what matters to them; take a holistic approach, based on the persons priorities, and the wider determinants of health. The role will require social prescribing link workers to manage and prioritise their own caseload, in accordance with the health and wellbeing needs of their population. Where required and as appropriate, the social prescribing link workers will refer people back to other health professionals.
The post holder will work as part of the Durham Wellbeing Alliance MDT to triage patients when appropriate and share best practice. REFERRALS: Promoting social prescribing and its role in self-management. Help to develop the knowledge on how to identify individuals suitable for a social prescribing referral. Build relationships with key staff across the PCN and Community teams, attending relevant meetings and being part of the wider network team.
Be proactive with developing strong links with all local agencies to encourage referrals, recognising what they need to be confident in the service to make an appropriate referral. Work with all local agencies to raise awareness of social prescribing and how it can reduce pressure on statutory services, improve health outcomes and enable a holistic approach. Be proactive in encouraging self referrals to the Durham Wellbeing Alliance and connecting with all local communities, particularly those communities that statutory agencies may find hard to reach. SUPPORTING COMMUNITY GROUPS AND VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS: Forge strong links with local voluntary organisations, community and neighbourhood level groups, utilising their networks and building on what is already available to create a map or menu of community groups.
Develop supportive relationships with local voluntary organisations, community groups and statutory services to make timely, appropriate referrals. Ensure that local voluntary organisations and community groups have procedures in place for ensuring that vulnerable individuals are safe and, where there are any safeguarding concerns these are promptly escalated. All Post Holders are expected to: Adhere to Practice policies and procedures Adhere to data protection regulations, data sharing and respecting confidentiality of patients, colleagues and the Primary Care Network Undertake a Disclosures and Barring Service (DBS) application Be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults Maintain personal and professional development in order to maintain their skills Promote equality and diversity in a non-discriminatory way. Contractual Responsibilities: Confidentiality While seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters.
They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to local practices and other partner agencies. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of any partner agency or member practice, may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the established protocols, policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data. Health & Safety The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the relevant Health & Safety Policy, to include: Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines.
Equality and Diversity The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers, and colleagues, to include: Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with established procedures and policies, and current legislation and that of any practices you may be working in Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers, and colleagues Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights. Personal/Professional Development The post-holder will participate in any learning programme implemented by as part of this employment, such training to include: Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work. Quality The post-holder will strive to maintain quality, and will: Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs Effectively manage own time, workload, and resources. Communication The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to: Communicate effectively with other team members Communicate effectively with patients and carers Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.
Contribution to the Implementation of Services The post-holder will: Apply established policies, standards, and guidance and those of general practice where appropriate Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work Participate in audit where appropriate. Special Working Conditions The post-holder is required to have their own car to travel between practice sites (where applicable) and to attend meetings or other relevant work-related activities, e.g., meetings hosted by other agencies The post-holder will be expected to support the work of the PCN, and its constituent practices as required. Any other delegated duties considered appropriate to the post This job description covers the main duties that the post holder will be expected to undertake. These duties may be revised from time-to-time following consultation with the post holder

Please refer the Job description for details