PCN Social Prescribing Link Worker

people to take control of their health and well-being by taking a holistic

approach and connecting people to practical and emotional support in the

community and statutory sectors.

Officers give people time to focus on their aspirations & goals and

help to build active and sustainable communities by working collaboratively

with local partners.

You will be practice based on a rotational basis and may be working at different practices within the PCN. This is not a remote role.

The activities undertaken by Social

Prescribing Link Workers help to strengthen personal and community resilience

and reduce health inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health

such as debt, poor housing and social isolation.

The service is targeted at

particular groups of residents. Social

Prescribing Link Workers will support residents to become more independent and enhance

their well-being

1. Working with direct supervision by a GP, taking referrals from a

wide range of agencies - working with primary care networks, community health

teams, hospital discharge teams, social care services, housing agencies,

employment organisations and the voluntary & community sector (VCS). This list is not exhaustive.

2.

Provide personalised support to individuals, families and carers, helping

them to take control of their well-being so they can live more independently

and improve their health outcomes, as key members of the Primary Care Network

multi-disciplinary team.

3.

Develop trusting relationships by giving people time and focusing

on what matters to the person. The approach should be holistic and based on the

individuals aspirations and goals and how these impact the wider determinants

of health.

4.

Co-produce a personalised support package to improve health and

wellbeing, introducing or re-connecting people to community groups and statutory services. The role may involve managing

a caseload and this will need to be prioritised based on competing demands and

the needs of clients.

5.

Draw on, and increase, the strengths and capacities of local

communities - enabling VCS organisations and community groups to receive referrals.

Ensure groups are supported and have

basic safeguarding processes in place for vulnerable individuals, so people can

develop friendships, a sense of belonging and increase knowledge, skills and

confidence.

6.

Alongside other members of the Primary Care Network

multi-disciplinary team, work collaboratively with local partners to contribute

towards supporting local VCS organisations and community groups to become

sustainable and that community asset are

nurtured. This may mean making group

leaders aware of opportunities for small grants or micro-commissioning, where

available. It may also mean providing help

to set up new community groups and services, where gaps in local provision are identified.

7.

Social Prescribing Link Workers will have a role in educating

non-clinical and clinical staff within their Primary Care Network multi-disciplinary

teams on what other services are available within the community and how and

when patients can access them. This may

include verbal or written advice and guidance.

Key tasks

Promote social prescribing and the role it can play in

facilitating self-management and improving outcomes by addressing the wider

determinants of health.

As part of the Primary Care Network multi-disciplinary team, build

relationships with key stakeholders and workers in other well-being pathways

that are part of the PCN. Attend

relevant multi-disciplinary team meetings and provide information and feedback

on social prescribing and other wellbeing-related services.

Develop strong links with local agencies, encouraging referrals by

providing a high-quality and responsive service to referring practitioners.

Work in partnership with local agencies to raise awareness of how

social prescribing and other well-being pathways can reduce pressure on

statutory services and enable a holistic approach to care.

Provide advice and training on how to access information about

support-related services and make appropriate referrals.

Seek feedback from referring agencies about service quality and

impact.

Encourage referrals from communities that statutory agencies find

hard to reach.

Fednet WTE CIC works with 36 GP Practices in Waltham Forest. We are a private limited company who provides NHS Services based in Primary Care, pooling the skills and resources of local GPs to provide large scale services as part of the local NHS Strategy to bring more services into the Community to help people stay well and at home.

Experience

Qualifications

Desirable: - Previous experience of working within a PCN.