Social Prescribing Team Leader

The role requires

extensive liaison with statutory and non-statutory services, to both generate

referrals into the service and support access to relevant local services, so

that seamless and joined up local services are provided for the individual.

In addition, the

post holder will contribute to the development of the service and will

participate in support, supervision and training as required.

The main focus for

the post holder is to understand the operational delivery requirements and to

support the Service Lead to ensure, quality of provision, team supervision and

representation of the sector at neighbourhood level

Take referrals from

and make referrals to a wide range of agencies within Primary Care Network

personalised support plans with individuals, their families and carers to take

control of their wellbeing, live independently and improve their health

outcomes.

Developing trusting

relationships by giving people time and focus on what matters to me.

Take a holistic

approach, based on the persons priorities and the wider determinants of health.

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, when

what the person needs is beyond the scope of the link worker role e.g. when

there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner.

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.

Work with the

practice and community staff, to identify and support individuals at risk of

loss of independence or hospital admission as a result of inadequate social

support.

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 referral

agencies with regular updates about social prescribing, including training for

their staff and how to access information to encourage appropriate referrals.

Provide feedback to

referral agencies if it is found that the individuals that they are referring

to the scheme do not meet the requirements

Ensure that

referrals received are distributed amongst the team in an equitable manner

Ensure that the

Social Prescribing Link Workers are picking up referrals in an appropriate

timeframe as well as keeping case notes up to date and accurate.

Monitor the

capacity within the team and ensure that referral agencies are updated with any

delay in service provision.

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.

Help people

identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as

debt, poor housing, being unemployed, loneliness and caring responsibilities.

Develop a

comprehensive knowledge of wider support services for people with non-clinical

needs that impact on their wellbeing and health outcomes, such as social

isolation, wellbeing, housing, unemployment, welfare benefits.

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 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.

The post holder

will be required to have awareness and training in relation to relevant

safeguarding policies and procedures and to raise any concerns regarding

safeguarding on the individual to the attention of the relevant nominated lead

within the team.

Support community

groups and VCSE organisations to receive referrals.

Forge strong links

with local VCSE organisations, community and neighbourhood level groups,

utilising their networks and building on whats already available to create a

map or menu of community groups and assets.

Develop supportive

relationships with local VCSE organisations, community groups and statutory

services, to make timely, appropriate and supported referrals for the person

being introduced.

Work collectively

with all local partners to ensure community groups are strong and sustainable.

Ability to

represent the VCSE sector and Social Prescribing at neighbourhood meetings,

providing updates and contributing to conversations about improving health

inequalities for a whole population with other partners in the neighbourhood.

and wider Multi-Disciplinary teams as required.

Work with

commissioners and local partners to identify unmet needs within the community

and gaps in community provision and support development of new groups and

services where needed.

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.

Ensure that local

community groups and VCSE organisations being referred to have basic procedures

in place for ensuring that vulnerable individuals are safe and, where there are

safeguarding concerns, work with all partners to deal appropriately with issues.

Where such policies and procedures are not in place, support groups to work

towards this standard before referrals are made to them.

Check that

community groups and VCSE organisations meet in insured premises and that

health and safety requirements are in place. Where such policies and procedures

are not in place, support groups to work towards this standard before referrals

are made to them.

Support local

groups to act in accordance with information governance policies and

procedures, ensuring compliance with the GDPR.

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.

Work closely with

GP practices within the PCN to ensure that they are receiving appropriate

feedback about the people they have referred.

Assist with monthly

or quarterly data collection and submission to the PCNs and CCG for governance

and performance purposes.

Manage own workload

through planning and organising own work schedule, obtaining and organising the

necessary information and resources.

Employment will be with Out of Hours West Lancashire CIC

Limited (OWLS). We host roles on behalf of the three West Lancashire Primary

Care Networks (PCNs) and their member practices.

OWLS is a small GP owned and led not-for-profit primary care

organisation run by GPs and health professionals. As a not-for-profit

organisation all the money we generate through service contracts is reinvested

in providing patient care.

We were founded in the 90s by a small group of GPs to

provide high quality out of hours services. In 2017, we became the West

Lancashire GP Federation. The Federation supports and provides services

directly and with partners, for West Lancashire GP practices and provides a

vehicle to bid for and provide primary care services.

This is an exciting

opportunity to join the West Lancashire Social Prescribing Team as a full-time

Team Leader. The small, close-knit Social Prescribing Team sits within OWLS CIC

West GP Federation and the service receives referrals from GP practices from

across West Lancashire.

Other Requirements

Desirable: - Willingness to work flexible hours when required to meet work demands

Qualifications

Essential: - Degree and/or equivalent experience in health care/social care or related area.; - Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal development

Desirable: - Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience

Experience

Personal Qualities and Attributes

Skills and Knowledge

Desirable: - Knowledge of motivational coaching and interview skills