Job Description

Job summary

We are looking to recruit to the post of Social Prescribing link worker, to work within our primary care network in North Warks Rural PCN, which covers the areas of Tamworth/Kingsbury/Coleshill and Nuneaton. The primary area of work would be in the Tamworth/Kingsbury/Coleshill area. This role involves working in a multi-disciplinary healthcare team, providing 1:1 personalised support to people who are referred to them by team members and local agencies. The post would potentially lead to some project work and involvement in specialist clinics to support the PCN in targeted work to improve the health outcomes of their population.

This is a varied and interesting role in a developing area and would suit someone who likes new challenges and a diverse working environment, involving a number of stakeholders. The person would enjoy working across multiple environments including GP surgeries, visiting people at home and supporting people into community activities and events, therefore travelling by car between sites is an integral part of the role. Being proactive and adaptable to changing situations will be a something that you enjoy and can take in your stride.

This post empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing by giving time to focus on 'what matters to me'. The social prescribing link worker will build trusting relationships with people, create a shared personalised care and support plan and connect them to local, diverse and culturally appropriate community groups, VCSE organisations and services. They will also work with a diverse range of partners to provide support to community groups and VCSE organisations involved in social prescribing.

This role helps people to work on their wider health and wellbeing, specifically addressing health access and outcomes and wider determinants of their health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity, as well as other lifestyle issues and low-level mental health concerns by increasing people's active involvement with their local communities. This approach particularly helps people with long term conditions (including support for mental health), people who are lonely or isolated, or who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.

You must be a good listener, have time for people and be committed to supporting local communities to care for each other. You should have experience of working positively with people facing complex social and emotional challenges. You will have great interpersonal skills in supporting people, community groups and local organisations.

Interviews to be held w/c 3rd March 2025

The CRGPA offers excellent company benefits including:

NHS company pension,

Occupational sick pay

Annual leave 27 days a year plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years.

Viv up Scheme including Employee Assistance Programme and various discounts to national retailers and NHS blue light card.

The role will require patient facing work in a GP surgery, community setting or remote visiting.

THIS ROLE REQUIRES YOU TO HOLD A DRIVING LICENCE AND HAVE ACCESS TO A VEHICLE, PLEASE ONLY APPLY IF YOU MEET THIS CRITERIA

Please upload a cover letter along with your CV for this application as applications without a cover letter will not be considered

Main duties of the job

Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral or direct access to non-medical link workers who give time, focus on what matters to me and take a holistic approach, connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.

Social prescribing can help to strengthen community and personal resilience and reduces health inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing, and physical inactivity, by increasing peoples active involvement with their local communities. It works particularly well 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.

You must be a good listener, problem solver, have time for people, and be committed to supporting local communities to care for each other. You should have experience of working with people facing complex social and emotional challenges. You will have great interpersonal skills in supporting people, community groups and local organizations. If you enjoy a job where every day will bring something different, can adapt well to changing situations, and like the challenge of working with a diverse client group this will be a rewarding job for you.

Job responsibilities

Knowledge of the personalized care approach and providing personalized support Work alongside individuals to identify goals and formulate simple care plansto support their wellbeing. Meet people on a one-to-one basis, making home visits where appropriate within organizations' policies and procedures. Give people time to tell their stories and focus on 'what matters to me'. Build trust and respect with the person, providing non-judgmental and non-discriminatory support, respecting diversity and lifestyle choices. Work from a strength-based approach focusing on a person's assets. Help people identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, being unemployed, loneliness and caring responsibilities. Work with the person, their families and carers and consider how they can all be supported through social prescribing. Help people maintain or regain independence through living skills, adaptations, enablement approaches and simple safeguards. Work with individuals to co-produce a simple personalized support plan to address the person's health and wellbeing needs - based on the person's priorities, interests, values, cultural and religious/faith needs and motivations - including what they can expect from the groups, activities and services they are being connected to and what the person can do for themselves to improve their health and wellbeing. Where appropriate, physically introduce people to culturally appropriate community groups, activities, and statutory services, ensuring they are comfortable, feel valued and respected. Follow up to ensure they are happy, able to engage, included and receiving good support. Build relationships with key staff within the PCN, attending relevant meetings, becoming part of the wider network team, giving information and feedback on social prescribing. Be proactive and 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 teams within the PCN with regular updates about social prescribing, including training for their staff and how to access information to encourage appropriate referrals and seek regular feedback. Organize and prioritize workload Support community groups and VCSE organizations to receive referrals Work collectively with all local partners to ensure community groups are strong and sustainable, identifying gaps in provision of services in the community. Data capture: The post holder is responsible for maintaining accurate records using the Practice's Clinical System.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 31,049.00 per year

Work Location: In person