Wish to recruit

A Social Prescribing Link Worker

in a full time role

The Social Prescribing Link Worker is responsible for connecting people to community groups, organisations, and statutory services for practical and emotional support, with the overall purpose of improving health and wellbeing and improving social support.

The successful candidate will have:

• Level 8 Qualification in a Social, Community, Health related field
• A minimum of 3 Years employment in a field of Community Development, Health or Social Care
• Experience of working directly with clients in a supportive capacity
• Must be able to demonstrate working collaboratively with service providers and agencies
• Have a working knowledge of reducing health inequalities in all communities and an understanding of the wider determinants of health
• A commitment to equality, human rights and social inclusion.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and facilitation skills.
• Excellent planning, report writing, evaluation and computer skills.
• A full clean Driving Licence and access to own transport.

Commencement of employment is subject to successful completion of Garda Vetting. A probationary period will apply. Starting salary from €43,628 per annum dependent on experience and qualification,

For a job description and to apply for the position please contact

Address: Recruitment Team, New Park close FRC, Kilkenny
Email: anneshortall60@gmail.com
For further information 056 7723309 /0838186380

Closing date for applications is 5pm on 14th January 2025.

Shortlisting for interview will apply and a panel may be formed.

Newpark Close FRC is an equal opportunities employer.

Job Description Social Prescribing

Social prescribing can help to strengthen community resilience and personal resilience, and reduces health inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity and by increasing people’s active involvement with their local 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.

Social Prescribing Link workers support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and working collaboratively with all local partners, identify gaps and needs regarding particular groups or interests.

Referrals to the Social Prescribing Link Worker come from various sources, including GPs, primary care teams, community mental health teams, community dieticians and older people’s services and community and voluntary sector organisations as well as selfreferral. Main purpose

The ultimate aim of the social prescribing link worker is to connect people to community groups, organisations and statutory services for practical and emotional support with the overall purpose of improving health and wellbeing and improving social support.

Principal Duties

• Work on a one-to-one basis with individuals to improve health and wellbeing
• Work with individuals on a one-to-one basis, complete needs assessment and coproduce a plan to improve health and wellbeing through social prescribing. • Provide non-judgemental support, respecting diversity and lifestyle choices working from a strength-based approach.
• Book appointments with individuals, meet them personally, follow-up cases and manage case load remaining as a point of contact and support throughout the individual’s social prescription.
• Support and encourage individuals to access appropriate services in their community. 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. Work in partnership with health professionals and the community and voluntary sector
• Build relationships with key staff in GP practices, members of the primary care teams within the local Community Healthcare Networks including dieticians, occupational therapists, mental health professionals, psychologists, social workers among others. Attending relevant meetings, becoming part of the wider network team, giving information and feedback on Social Prescribing.
• Develop supportive relationships with local community organisations, community groups and statutory services, to make timely, appropriate, and supported referrals for the person being introduced.
• Work closely with the HSE health promotion and improvement officer to support the ongoing development of the programme taking an active part in reviewing and developing the service and contribute to business planning.
• Build and maintain a comprehensive database of local community groups, resources and services and ensure information on sources of voluntary and community support is up to date at all times to enable effective and accurate supported access and linking of individuals with services.
• Work with local partners to identify unmet needs within the community and address gaps in community provision.
• 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.
• Provide referral agencies with regular updates about social prescribing, including information for their staff and how to access information to encourage appropriate referrals.
• Gather regular feedback and develop reports on the quality of service and impact of Social Prescribing on referral agencies.
• Ensure that local community and voluntary organisations being accessed 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 in line with the HSE Framework for Social Prescribing. Report Writing, Monitoring and Evaluation
• Work sensitively with clients to administer evaluation tools in order to capture key information, enabling tracking of the impact of social prescribing on participant health and wellbeing and other outcomes measures.
• Populate and maintain social prescribing software including to document and report case notes and social prescriptions in online social prescribing software.
• Providing reports both written and verbal, as required by the Project Manager, and/or Board of Newpark close FRC.
• Provide progress reports and presentations detailing the progress of the service to oversight groups, funders, Newpark Close FRC and other agencies as required.
• Develop effective and tailored referrals and feedback protocols to GPs and partners in CHNs.
• Ensure that all reports are provided in a timely manner. Strategic Planning & Policy
• Assist with the preparation of strategic plans and annual implementation plans. • Keep up to date with local, regional and national policies and their potential impact on the area of work.
• Keep Newpark close FRC informed of relevant policies which may impact on the work being undertaken in the area of social prescribing.
• Keep up to date with relevant local, regional and national developments through networking as appropriate. Involvement with Other Newpark close FRC Programmes
• Work as part of a team within Newpark Close FRC and ensure the integration and co-ordination of the work into the other programmes, initiatives and staff of NPCFRC.
• Record Keeping
• Ensure that documentation and files are maintained for the use of the administration team and for inspection by the Company Auditors, HSE and other relevant monitoring bodies.

Other

• This position requires a lot of flexibility.
• Attend training as deemed necessary by the management
• Carry out such duties as may be assigned from time to time by the manager and/or Board of Newpark close FRC.

Reporting to the Project Manager.