Social Prescribing Link Worker

Clondalkin / Tallaght
1 Year Fixed Term Contract
Full Time

A vacancy has arisen for a Social Prescribing Link worker, South Dublin County Partnership. South Dublin County Partnership works with people who are socially excluded or are at risk of becoming so and promotes social cohesion and labour market participation with a focus on the most disadvantaged areas. This is achieved through a range of integrated activities in Education, Training, Job Placement, Early Childhood Services, Enterprise Support and Community Development Programmes. South Dublin County Partnership is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from a diversity of backgrounds.

South Dublin County Partnership (SDCP) are recruiting for a Social Prescribing Link worker for the Clondalkin/Tallaght area to join our Slaintecare Healthy Communities initiative’s.

Social prescribing is the provision of non-medical supports for people to enable them to improve their health & wellbeing. Through a structured referral process and the establishment of close connections with both healthcare practitioners and community organisations, the Link worker will create a person-centred assessment of the persons needs and agree on a cocreated plan based on this need. The aim is to connect people to local supports and meet a person’s social, physical, and emotional needs that may not always be met by their GP. The social prescribing model is an integrated model of care that aligns with the social determinants of health.

We are looking for an energetic, organised, and focused person, with great people skills.
The person will be part of the Health and Wellbeing team in South Dublin County Partnership. The successful candidate will report to the Health and Wellbeing Manager and will also be supported by the Health and Wellbeing team.

Role and responsibilities

• Support the continuous development of the Social Prescribing project in the Clondalkin/Tallaght area.
• Regularly gather data on local and community projects and activities, and manage the entry of client data and social prescribing outcomes on the data collection platform
• Build, develop and maintain effective and sustainable relationships with community services, organisations and groups to collect information about activities and programmes as well as to leverage relationships with stakeholders to support client engagement

The Social prescriber link worker will

• Complete a person-centred holistic assessment of need with the client
• Develop a co-produced plan with the client to improve Health and Wellbeing
• Complete agreed evaluation/monitoring forms/outcome measures
• Identify the best fit option
• Provide support to empower the client to engage with proposed activities that will connect them with their communities
• Engage with the client by phone or face to face consultation for 2-8 sessions
• Identify, establish and monitor new referral pathways
• Maintain and develop established referral pathways

Performance monitoring and metrics

• Provide regular data and reports to the Health and Wellbeing Manager through nationally agreed templates and reporting schedule
• Complete “essential skills training” as directed by HSE
• Document and report on progress with the project including the gathering/collection of quantitative and qualitative data to support project evaluation
• Document and report case notes and social prescriptions in online software
• Develop communications plan and materials to publicise the project;
• Build effective relationships with key stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, community organisations and members of the Advisory Group
• Attend local forums and relevant meetings with stakeholders from community and voluntary sector as necessary
• Make regular reports and presentations on the progress of the project to committees and funders
• Write and submit applications for new funding opportunities
• Participate fully and work effectively with the SDCP Health and Wellbeing Team.

Qualifications / experience

• Educated to degree level in Social, Community, Health Promotion or related field
• Good understanding of multi-stakeholder working and the local and community development sector

Competencies and skills required

• Knowledge, understanding and commitment to addressing key determinants of health
• Strong organisational and project and caseload management skills
• Ability to prioritise, manage competing demands and reach deadlines
• Self-motivated and able to initiate actions
• Excellent social skills, including empathy and ability to motivate people
• Proficient in collaborating and managing relationships with multiple stakeholders, clients and funding organisations
• Excellent IT skills
• Strong communication and reporting skills
• Ability to identify and use appropriate evaluation and research methods to evidence and improve work

Other

• Car owner with full clean driver’s license
• Garda vetting will apply to this role

Requirements of all SDCP staff

• Commitment to the purpose of SDCP and to work within the values, policies and procedures of the organisation and in the context of current legislation and regulations
• To undertake your work in a manner that is friendly, flexible and professional
• To report any area of concern to your line manager in a timely fashion
• To show flexibility in relation to hours of attendance to meeting the needs of the work
• To have a flexible approach to the work in response to organisational change, development and review of best practice
• To identify training needs through supervision and participate in training opportunities
• To be vigilant of any Health, Safety and Welfare risks in the workplace and bring any concerns to your line manager or Health & Safety representative
• To undertake other duties as may be requested by the line manager from time to time

Renumeration Package & Benefits:

• The salary for this position will be based on the successful individual’s qualification and experience.
• Excellent Pension of 10% employer’s contribution after successful probation period.
• Access to HSF private health insurance.
• 35 Hour per week (full time)
• Employee assistance programme (EAP)

Application Process

Applicants should pay particular attention to the essential and desirable criteria in the job description, your suitability and why you are the best candidate for this post in question.

Please send three copies of your up-to-date detailed CV (no more than 2 pages) and cover letter accompanied with completed confidential form marked Social Prescribing Link Worker Ref: 168/2025 to:
Administration & Operations Department, South Dublin County Partnership, Unit D1, Nangor Road Business Park, Nangor Road, Dublin 12
OR alternatively email your application to jobs@sdcpartnership.ie – subject box to be marked Social Prescribing Link Worker Ref: 168/2025

Closing date for receipt of applications: 31st January 2025, 5pm.
Note no late applications will be accepted.

The post is subject to Garda vetting.

South Dublin County Partnership is an Equal Opportunities Employer.