PCN Social Prescriber

Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing, focus on what matters to me and take a holistic approach to an individuals health and wellbeing, connecting people to diverse community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support. Social Prescribers also support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all local diverse partners.

Social prescribing link workers work as a key part of the primary care network (PCN) multidisciplinary team. Social prescribing can help PCNs to strengthen community and personal resilience, reduce health inequalities (in relation to timely access and outcomes) and wellbeing inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity, by increasing peoples active involvement with their local diverse communities.

It particularly works for people with long term conditions (including support for mental health), for people who are lonely or isolated, or have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.

• Take referrals from PCNs GP practices for the benefit of the local population
• Identify a range of options that could assist the person to improve their independence and health and wellbeing
• Produce a simple personalised support plan to improve health & wellbeing introducing or reconnecting people to community groups
• Manage and prioritise own caseload
• Have a strong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other health professionals
• Identify new, and work in partnership with voluntary and statutory organisations
• Understand the barriers and opportunities for people to self-manage their conditions in the community

Key Tasks

• Promote social prescribing, its role in self-management and the wider determinants of health
• Be proactive in encouraging self-referrals and connecting with all local communities, particularly those communities that statutory agencies may find hard to reach
• Be a friendly source of information about well being and prevention approaches Help people identify the wider issues that impact on 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
• Keep accurate and up-to-date records on relevant health and social care systems
• Gather record and collate data, including case studies, in a prescribed format in order to demonstrate the impact of the service

Sevenfields PCN comprises four GP practices providing care to approximately 40,000 patients. The PCN is focused on delivering proactive, integrated healthcare and reducing health inequalities across its population. Through multidisciplinary working and strong partnerships with community and voluntary sector organisations, Sevenfields PCN supports patients with both their health needs and the wider factors affecting wellbeing, including housing, employment, social isolation and financial wellbeing.

The post holder will have a key role in supporting our work in addressing the special determinants of health, which are those issues that drive patient ill health such as debt, housing issues social isolation and more.

• Meet people on a one-to-one basis, or provide telephone assessments where appropriate within organisations policies and procedures. Give people time to tell their stories and focus on what matters to me. Build trust and respect with the person, providing non-judgemental and non-discriminatory support, respecting diversity and lifestyle choices. Work from a strength-based approach focusing on a persons assets
• Be a friendly and engaging source of information about health, wellbeing and prevention approaches
• Help people identify the wider issues that impact on 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 to address the persons health and wellbeing needs based on the persons priorities, interests, values, cultural and religious/faith needs 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 culturally appropriate community groups, activities and statutory services, ensuring they are comfortable, feel valued and respected. Follow up to ensure they are happy, able to engage, included and receiving good support
• Where people…