JOB SUMMARY:

The Social Prescribing Link Worker will have a key role in supporting delivery of the Comprehensive Model of Personalised Care. They are a key role in the PCN to strengthen community and personal resilience as well as reducing health inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health.

CONFIDENTIALITY

TLCP is committed to maintaining an outstanding confidential service. In the course of 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, their carers, practice or staff information. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.
Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, or the members practices may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with PGPA policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data, or under the guidance of your manager.
This role profile is not exhaustive, and you may be directed to complete other tasks according to the skills and requirements for individual roles. These duties will always be reasonable and deemed within the expectations of your position.

EXPERIENCE

Essential:

• 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 using tools to measure the impact of services
• Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships and to promote collaborative practice with all colleagues.
• Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or on own initiative.
• Knowledge of, and ability to work to, policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety
• Have awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other health professionals/agencies, when the person’s needs are beyond the scope of the role – for example, when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner

CORE DUTIES:

The Social Prescribing Link Worker will:

• Take referrals from within TLCP PCN. These could come from a number of sources such as GPs, nurses, pharmacists and care coordinators.
• Provide personalised support to individuals, their families and carers to take control of their 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 person’s priorities, and the wider determinants of health;
• Co-produce a simple personalised care and support plan to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or reconnecting people to community groups and statutory services;
• Evaluate the individual impact of a person’s wellness progress.
• Manage and prioritise their own caseload, in accordance with the needs, priorities and any urgent support required by individuals on the caseload.
• Where required and as appropriate, refer people back to other health professionals within the network eg when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner.
• Draw on and increase the strengths and capacities of local communities, enabling local VCSE organisations and community groups to receive social prescribing referrals. They will ensure those organisations and groups are supported, have basic safeguarding processes for vulnerable individuals and can provide opportunities for the person to develop friendships, a sense of belonging, and build knowledge, skills and confidence.
• Work together with all local partners and members of the PCN MDT to collectively ensure that local VCSE organisations and community groups are sustainable and that community assets are nurtured, by making them aware of small grants or micro-commissioning if available, including providing support to set up new community groups and services, where gaps are identified in local provision.
• Have a role in educating non-clinical and clinical staff within the network on what other services and support are available within the community and how and when patients can access them. This may include verbal or written advice and guidance.

OTHER DUTIES:

• Work within the policies of scheme and Practices.
• Maintain a good working knowledge of health and safety procedures. Participate in data led evaluation of the service.
• Promote client involvement in the management of the service.
• Participate in regular supervision sessions and appraisals with your line manager. Attend training and development activities as identified and participate in meetings as required. Take an active role in reflecting, reviewing and developing professional knowledge, skills and behaviours.
• Maintain administration systems and workspace used in a clean and tidy condition.
• Attend practice MDTs to embed relationships and promote social prescribing across the PCN.
• Work flexibly to meet the needs of clients and use appropriate judgement to ascertain the number and length of sessions required, whilst being mindful of service capacity.
• Undertake any other duties that are commensurate with the post and within the post holder’s clinical competence.
• Proactively develop strong links with local agencies and seek regular feedback about referral quality, as well as the impact of social prescribing on referral agencies.

GENERIC RESPONSIBILITIES

All staff at The Lewisham Care Partnership(TLCP) have a duty to conform to the following: