Job Description

Main purpose of job

To empower people to take control of their health and wellbeing whilst reducing health inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health (such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity) by increasing people's active involvement with their local communities.

Working closely with GP practices and other healthcare professionals, Link Workers will aim to address issues that may be causing or exacerbating health problems - following a holistic approach to connect people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.

Link workers also support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all local partners and being responsible for building and maintaining strong relationships with statutory services, community groups and other stakeholders - including practice staff at local GP surgeries.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities

1. Provide personalised support

Using motivational interviewing and other techniques, provide personalised information, advice and support to primary care patients and signpost or refer (with consent) individuals to appropriate activities, services and support which will help meet their needs, circumstances and preferences.

Work alongside those referred (participants) to address the barriers to participation and things which are negatively affecting their wellbeing. This includes addressing the wider determinants of health, including debt, poor housing, under-employment, physical inactivity, etc.

Empower participants to maximise the control they have over their lives through enabling them to assess their own abilities, identify goals, take charge of decisions which affect them and improve their ability to self-care. This will involve co-producing action plans and facilitating their follow-through.

Where appropriate, physically introduce people to community groups, activities and statutory services, ensuring they are comfortable. Follow up to ensure they are happy, able to engage, included and receiving good support.

Effectively manage and prioritise a caseload of participants (up to 250 per year, offering 6 sessions to each) ensuring ambitious performance targets and project objectives are met. This will be done in accordance with the needs, priorities and any urgent support required by individuals.

Referrals

Promote social prescribing, its role in self-management, and the wider determinants of health.

Build relationships with key staff in GP practices within the local Primary Care Network (PCN), attending relevant meetings, becoming part of the wider network team, giving information and feedback on social prescribing.

Be proactive in developing links with all local agencies to encourage referrals, recognizing what they need to be confident in the service to make appropriate referrals.

Work in partnership with all local agencies to raise awareness of social prescribing and how partnership working can reduce pressure on statutory services, improve health outcomes and enable a holistic approach to care.

Provide referral agencies with regular updates about social prescribing, including training for staff, and seek regular feedback about quality of service an impact on referral agencies.

Be proactive in encouraging self-referrals and connecting with all local communities, particularly those communities that statutory agencies may find hard to reach.

Support community groups and VCSE organisations

Develop supportive relationships with local VCSE organisations, community groups and statutory services, to make timely, appropriate and supported referrals for the person being introduced.

Forge strong links with the above to utilise their existing networks and build on what's already available to create a map of community groups or assets.

Promote micro-commissioning and small grants amongst these networks if available, and support community and neighbourhood level groups to access them.

Work with commissioners and local partners to identify unmet needs within the community and gaps in community provision - developing new groups and services where needed.

Encourage local residents to volunteer in order to build their skills and confidence and strengthen community resilience - including peer support such as setting up new community groups.

Data capture

Keep accurate records relating to the interactions that take place as part of the delivery of the service, contributing to the collection of monitoring information and preparation of progress reports. This currently held on a data management system called Elemental.

Follow agreed processes and protocols for receiving, storing and transferring information about patients and ensure that confidentiality is maintained - completing all necessary administration in a timely and comprehensive manner.

Professional development

Work with your line manager to undertake continual personal and professional development, taking an active part in reviewing and developing the roles and responsibilities.

Access regular clinical supervision, to enable you to deal effectively with the difficult issues that people present.

General

Work as part of the team to seek feedback and continually improve the service.

Work in close partnership with other BS3 Community projects to ensure joined-up working and smooth referral routes.

Maintain a professional attitude and conduct at all times.

Have a Flexible approach to working which will include occasional evenings and weekends.

Undertake any other additional tasks as reasonably deemed appropriate.

Essential Skills & Experience

Experience in a role that involves promoting health and wellbeing in adult health care, social care, public health or a voluntary and community context.

Experience of working holistically on a one-to-one basis, with people with poor mental health and wellbeing.

Confident lone working - this role does not entail working in a shared office, but in a hybrid fashion across multiple sites as well as from home.

Experience of setting and maintaining professional boundaries and working within an ethical framework.

Genuine passion, empathy and desire to support residents to lead healthier and happier lives and to motivate others to reach their potential.

Ability to listen, empathise with people and provide person-centred support in a non-judgemental way, respecting lifestyles and diversity and inspiring trust and confidence.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Confidence in having difficult conversations.

Ability to develop and maintain partnerships with a range of professionals and stakeholders, promoting collaborative working and finding creative solutions to community issues.

Desirable Skills & Experience

Knowledge of developments in the public health, social care and clinical (Integrated Care Board/NHS) services landscape.

An understanding of health, social care and voluntary sector provision, the challenges currently faced and the issues affecting local communities.

Knowledge of the personalised care approach

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: 11,309.17 per year

Expected hours: 15 per week

Benefits:

Additional leave Casual dress Company pension Discounted or free food Employee discount Sick pay
Work Location: In person