PCN Children & Adults Social Prescribing Link Worker Dover Town PCN

Job summary

Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to non-medical link workers who give time and focus on what matters to me. By taking a holistic approach and connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support, social prescribing can help to strengthen community and personal resilience, and reduces health inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity.

Social Prescribing Link Workers support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all local partners.

The Social Prescribing Link Worker will be working in partnership with the practice teams within Dover Town Primary Care Network (PCN) to support patients to co-produce a personalised support plan to improve their health and wellbeing. The link worker will have a good understanding of social prescribing, well-being and community services together with a good understanding of and ability to provide motivational and behavioral techniques.

Take referrals from a wide range of agencies working with GP practices, including MDTs, hospital discharge teams, allied health professionals, social care services, statutory services, housing associations and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations

Co-produce 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

Increase the strengths and capacities of local communities, enabling local VCSE organisations and community groups to receive social prescribing referrals

Ensure VCSE organisations are supported, 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 together with local partners to ensure that local VCSE organisations & community groups are sustainable and that community assets are nurtured, by making them aware of small grants, including providing support to set up new community groups and services, where gaps are identified in local provision

Address health inequalities within the PCN by identifying populations experiencing inequality in health provision and outcomes and engaging with the selected populations.