Job Description

Responsible to Social Prescribing Team Lead

This job is working in the Woodsley & Holt Park areas of Leeds covering: Horsforth, Cookridge, Headingley, Kirkstall, Burley Park, Hyde Park, Woodhouse, Hawksworth, Abbey Grange.

We are looking for 2 Social Prescribing Link Workers to join our established team working alongside our practice and PCN staff. Our PCN staff currently include Social Prescribing Link Workers, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Care Co-Ordinators (with different specialisms working with frailty and specific long term health conditions), Health and Wellbeing Coaches, Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, Dieticians and Mental Health Practitioners.

Main duties of the job

The Role

The Leeds Social Prescribing model aims to improve physical, mental, and social health and wellbeing, through a holistic approach to improving quality of life and confidence in self-management and supporting independence. We work with our local population to improve the way the needs of local populations are met. This will be both on a 1:1 basis and where appropriate through the development of group work.

The post holder will work closely with GP practices in our Network, taking referrals to support individuals to build independence and personal resilience, enabling self -management of their health and wellbeing tailored to individual need. They will also take a lead in supporting administrative staff to develop their signposting skills - raising awareness of the different services on offer locally.

You will be part of our Health and Wellbeing team which is currently developing to meet the health inequalities in our area. We work closely with other PCN team members, our Primary Care Mental Health team and local third sector organisations to provide services to meet the wider needs of our patients.

You will need to work independently to develop and promote the service while working alongside our existing Social Prescribing Link Workers. You will be required to work flexibly across our practices and in community venues.

The role will require managing and prioritising your own caseload, in accordance with the needs, priorities and any urgent support required by individuals on the caseload. It is essential that you understand when it is appropriate or necessary to refer patients back to other health professionals/agencies. Recognising when patient needs are beyond the scope of the Link Worker role e.g., when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner.

You will be a key link between our PCN services and our practice team, and referrals could include supporting patients to access the most appropriate service within our PCN as well as externally.

You will provide support and guidance to cover the following areas of our assessment, so it is key you have a knowledge of these areas; housing, finances, social isolation and networks, emotional well-being, employment, volunteering, and hobbies and keeping healthy.

You must be able to hold face to face sessions with patients with a focus on making positive steps forward for them through signposting, onward referrals, and support.

MAIN TASKS

To promote the service within GP practices, developing close working relationships with the teams within practices and the Primary Care Network To provide a triage assessment with patients and assess their need for the service and the best appropriate action To appropriately risk assess patients to minimise harm and identify harm reduction where this is needed To complete referrals and signpost to specialist support quickly and effectively where necessary To provide a number of sessions with patients with a goal to moving them into appropriate services To work with a caseload of individuals to facilitate access to recommended community-based interventions and programmes of activity that benefit health and wellbeing. To support individuals into provision within agreed timeframes. To enable patients to manage their own mental & emotional health by using coping strategies and challenging unhelpful behaviour patterns To identify any barriers to people accessing services and activities and work with individuals to overcome these. To build networks with local community resources such as activities and services that may have an impact on health and wellbeing and support individuals to access these. To develop collaborative action plans with individuals which promote choice and complement any medical treatment or advice To identify any barriers to people accessing services and activities and work with individuals to overcome these To use a range of techniques and interventions to support people, including those with long term conditions, to self-manage their health and encourage behavioural and lifestyle change To provide short term interventions to individuals to sustain them while waiting to access appropriate specialist provision To facilitate access to recommended community-based interventions and programmes of activity that benefit health and wellbeing To support administrative staff to develop their signposting skills, to ensure patients are directed to the most appropriate service To monitor and record contacts and outcomes within SystmOne To ensure that client records and other information systems are completed accurately and within agreed timescales. To build networks with local community resources such as activities and services that may have an impact on mental health and wellbeing and support individuals to access these To develop multi-agency working across communities and voluntary and statutory organisations to improve health and address health inequality

ESSENTIAL SKILLS

Level 3 qualification in appropriate training or apprenticeships
Practical knowledge of local services

Excellent listening and communication skills Experience of working with people with mental health issues Empathy Emotional resilience Non-judgmental approach to your work Willingness to work as part of team Good IT and record keeping skills Willingness to undertake training and develop skills
Ability to demonstrate personal accountability, professional integrity, emotional resilience, and work well under pressure.

Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on their own initiative, including when under pressure and meeting service expectations.

Punctual, organised, and reliable.

Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or on their own initiative

DESIREABLE SKILLS

Experience of working with people with complex needs Experience of completing assessments and patient centred action planning experience of completing risk assessments Experience of using SystmOne and/or EMIS
Previous experience of similar work within health or voluntary organisations

Knowledge

Essential

Understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity, and inclusion

Ability to recognise and work within limits of competence and seek advice and supervision (peer and clinical) when needed.

Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic, and environmental factors.

Ability to work under pressure both independently and as part of a team in emotional and difficult situations.

Desirable

Knowledge of how the NHS works, including primary care and PCNs.

Understanding of local services or willingnes

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 26,530.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension
Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 06/06/2025
Reference ID: Social Prescriber Link Worker