Social Prescribing Link Worker
| Posting date: | 26 April 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £27,500.00 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £27500.00 a year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 24 May 2024 |
| Location: | Bury, BL9 5BN |
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | B0126-24-0009 |
Summary
This role is to empower people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to non-medical support with Bury GP Federation. To implement patient referrals from primary care health professionals, providing holistic assessments and co-designing a social prescription to improve health and well-being outcomes for individuals, with a longer-term outcome of reducing the number of clinical /medical interventions required. To develop and support community-based sessions meeting the needs of referrals as required. Key Responsibilities Take referrals from a wide range of agencies, including GP practices, pharmacies, multi-disciplinary teams, hospitals including self-referrals Triage incoming referrals from professionals and self-referrers to ensure that individuals are assessed within an appropriate time-frame 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 me. Co-produce a personalised support plan to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or reconnecting people to services, organisations, voluntary and community groups who may be able to help improve health and wellbeing The role will require managing and prioritising your own caseload, in accordance with the needs, priorities and any urgent support required by individuals. It is vital that you have a strong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other health professionals/agencies, especially when the persons needs are beyond the scope of the Social Prescriber role e.g., when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner Draw on and increase the strengths and capacities of local communities, enabling local organisations and community groups to receive social prescribing referrals. Ensure these organisations/groups are supported, have capacity for additional attendees, 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 with colleagues and local partners to support sustainability 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. Develop and work on social prescribing activities linked to GP surgeries that will maintain a focus on what referrals need as well as providing a space where people can easily access the social prescriber and wider community healthcare team, as well as supporting volunteer development within these activities. Key Tasks Referrals Promoting 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 strong links with all local agencies to encourage referrals, recognising 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 their staff and how to access information to encourage appropriate referrals Seek regular feedback about the quality of service and impact of social prescribing 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 Provide Personalised Support Meet people on a one-to-one basis, making home visits where appropriate within organisations policies and procedures. Give people time to tell their stories and focus on what matters to me. Build trust with the person, providing non-judgemental support, respecting diversity and lifestyle choices. Work from a strength-based approach focusing on a persons assets. Support and empower the person with their wider issues which impact their health and wellbeing and affect their ability to access support. Be a friendly source of information about wellbeing and prevention approaches Reporting Requirements Help people identify the wider issues that impact upon 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 personalised support plan based on the persons priorities, interests, values 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 groups, activities and statutory services, ensuring they are comfortable. Follow up to ensure they are happy, able to engage, included and receiving good support Where people may be eligible for a personal health budget, help them to explore this option as a way of providing funded, personalised support to be independent, including helping people to gain skills for meaningful employment, where appropriate. Support community groups and organisations to receive referrals Forge strong links with the local area, building on whats already available to create a map or menu of community groups and assets. Use these opportunities to promote micro-commissioning or small grants if available Encourage people who have been connected to community support through social prescribing to volunteer and give their time freely to others, in order to build their skills and confidence, and strengthen community resilience Develop a team of volunteers within your service to provide buddying support for people, starting new groups and finding creative, community solutions to local issues Encourage people, their families and carers to provide peer support and to do things together, such as setting up new community groups or volunteering Provide a regular confidence survey to community groups receiving referrals, to ensure that they are strong, sustained and have the support they need to be part of social prescribing General Tasks Work sensitively with people, their families and carers to capture key information, enabling tracking of the impact of social prescribing on their health and wellbeing Encourage people, their families and carers to provide feedback and to share their stories about the impact of social prescribing on their lives Support referral agencies to provide appropriate information about the person they are referring. Use the case management system to track the persons progress. Provide appropriate feedback to referral agencies about the people they referred Work closely with GPs to ensure that social prescribing referral codes are inputted to EMIS and that the persons use of the NHS can be tracked, adhering to data protection legislation and data sharing agreements with the clinical commissioning group (CCG) Ensure recording of data to track clients progress Ensure relevant targets and deadlines are met to ensure BGPFs compliance with contractual obligations for social prescribing Liaise with primary care providers to ensure that data is gathered to evidence the achievement of the objectives of the service Monitor the performance of the service and produce monitoring reports on the progress and outcomes. General Requirements Monitor the performance of the service and produce monitoring reports on the progress and outcomes Participate in training and information briefings and maintain an up to date knowledge of the sector To be familiar with and comply with all departmental policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines Attend supervision sessions and staff meetings Assist management in preparing quarterly monitoring reports outlining progress of the work, bids submitted; funding secured, and key issues raised by members Carry out occasional other duties as agreed within supervision to develop the aims of BGPF Undertake personal training as may be required to keep up to date and fulfil the professional requirements identified for this job description To have a collaborative and flexible approach to work undertaken by BGPF