Social Prescribing Link Worker

United Kingdom One Wight Health Ltd Job summary

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £31,150 per annum

Candidates are strongly encouraged to apply early asapplications will be considered upon submission. Closing date 14.10.26 but mayclose earlier if adequate applications are received.

We're looking for a full time Social Prescribing link worker who will be employed wholly by One Wight Health Ltd and will work within the Islands South Primary Care Network at the Bay Medical Practice (Covering Sandown and Shanklin branches).

You will work with individuals to identify their needs, then support them to access other organisations, services or community groups as appropriate. You will be engaging and use your skills to build networks to identify local services that can support patients with underlying issues that may contribute to ill health, such as managing their housing, finances, stress, loneliness or lifestyle choices.

To be successful you must have experience of managing your own caseload, knowledge of the local community, ideally hold a relevant health qualification and have knowledge of advice and advocacy services. You will be customer focused in your approach with the ability to listen to patients' needs as well as develop strong networks and relationships with suitable partners. Full UK Driving licence and use of car is essential.

Main duties of the job

Takereferrals from a wide range of agencies, working with GP practices withinprimary care networks, pharmacies, multi-disciplinary teams, hospital dischargeteams, allied health professionals, fire service, police, job centres, socialcare services, housing associations, and voluntary, community and socialenterprise (VCSE) organisations (list not exhaustive).

Provide personalised support to individuals, their families and carers to takecontrol of their wellbeing, live independently and improve their healthoutcomes. Develop trusting relationships by giving people time and focus onwhat matters to me. Take a holistic approach, based on the personspriorities and the wider determinants of health. Co-produce a personalisedsupport plan to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or reconnectingpeople to community groups and statutory services. The role will requiremanaging and prioritising your own caseload, in accordance with the needs,priorities and any urgent support required by individuals onthe caseload. It is vital that you have a strong awareness and understanding ofwhen it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other healthprofessionals/agencies, when what the person needs is beyond the scope of thelink worker role e.g. when there is a mental health need requiring aqualified practitioner.

About us

One Wight Health supports our member GP practicesto help them deliver the best possible care to patients on the Island. We hosta team including Social Prescribers & Health and Wellbeing Coaches under aPrimary Care Contract that support our Island practices.

Our Approach

We aim to do that by providing centralised servicesthat enable GPs to enhance their offer of support to patients.

We also help bid for and secure additional fundingfrom NHS England, where it becomes available, to help support new initiativesthat help practices to meet their patients care needs and we work to supportgeneral practice/primary care, to make sure it has a voice within the widerhealthcare system as it develops plans for the future care for our population.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key responsibilities

1. Take referrals from a wide range of agencies, working with GP practices within primary care networks, pharmacies, multi-disciplinary teams, hospital discharge teams, allied health professionals, fire service, police, job centres, social care services, housing associations, and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations (list not exhaustive).
2. 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. Take a holistic approach, based on the persons priorities and the wider determinants of health. Co-produce a personalised support plan to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or reconnecting people to community groups and statutory services. 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 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.
3. Work with a diverse range of people and communities,to draw on and increase the strengths and capacities of local communities,enabling local VCSE organisations and community groups (including faith groups)to receive social prescribing referrals.
4. Work together with all local partners to collectively ensure that local VCSE organisations and community groups are sustainable 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.

Key Tasks

1. Promoting social prescribing, its role in self-management, and the wider determinants of health.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Provide referral agencies with regular updates about social prescribing, including training for their staff and how to access information to encourage appropriate referrals.
6. Seek regular feedback about the quality of service and impact of social prescribing on referral agencies.
7. 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

1. 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.
2. Be a friendly source of information about wellbeing and prevention approaches.
3. Help people identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, being unemployed, loneliness and caring responsibilities.
4. Work with the person, their families and carers and consider how they can all be supported through social prescribing.
5. Help people maintain or regain indepe