Jobs

Social Prescribing Link Worker / Care Navigator

Job Type: Full-time, 35 hours per week, Permanent
Salary: £23,400.00, after successful probation £24,000.00

A Social Prescribing Link Workers (SPLW) and a Care Navigator (CN) are needed to complete our successful team.

Social Prescribing Link Worker: You will be employed by Brent Mencap and work with Brent GP practices to support patients by providing advice and support and directing them to the right services in Brent. The SPLWs work in a Primary Care Networks (PCN) and they are based in GP practices supporting patients referred for non clinical needs. Often patients come to the GP practices seeking help for social issues such as social isolation, loneliness, problems with their housing or benefits, unemployment etc. Social prescribing is a way of referring patients to different support services in the community, in order to improve their health and wellbeing. This is a new role in Brent but has been successfully working in other areas across the country. It is a part of the NHS Long-Term Plan’s. For more information about Social Prescribing visit the below links:

https://www.healthylondon.org/resource/what-is-social-prescribing/
https://www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/social-prescribing/

The SPLW will build trusting relationships with people, create a shared personalised care and support plan and connect them to local, diverse and culturally appropriate community groups, organisations and services. The SPLWs are usually based in GP practices and see patients in the surgery however, since Covid 19 outbreak the team have been working remotely from home and supporting patients through a telephone service. In the future we will go back to GP surgeries but this is after risk assessments have been done and it is safe to do so.

Care Navigators: You will be employed by Brent Mencap and work with Brent NHS. You will be a part of a patient management group who receive referrals from Brent GP practices to support patients. You will help patients by providing advice and support and directing them to the right services in Brent in order to improve their confidence, skills and knowledge in managing their health and care. This role is similar to the SPLW role however it’s in a different setting.

The video link below explains the Care Navigator role further:

https://vimeo.com/dfptv/review/224471780/551ad0de89

The Care Navigators will usually do some home visits as part of their assessments of patients however, since Covid 19 outbreak we have stopped this and supporting patients through telephone service. In the future this post will require home visits but this is after risk assessments have been done and it is safe to do so.

For both the SPLW and CN role you must be a good listener, have time for people and be committed to supporting local communities to care for each other. You will have great interpersonal skills in supporting people. The postholder will work with a diverse range of people from different cultural and social backgrounds. The ability to work confidently and effectively in a diverse, and sometimes challenging environment is essential.

Often the patients go to their GP for things that are not medical related but these are important things that impact on their health and wellbeing. These can be matter related to their housing, welfare benefits, debt, employment, family or they may be facing social isolation.

As a SPLW / CN you will:

• Support patients in a person centred way.
• Work alongside GPs and other health professionals to support patients who have non medical needs.
• Provide Information and advice to patients and direct them to the right services.
• Provide personalised support to individuals, their families and carers.
• Assisting patients to engage with community based services, groups and activities.
• Supporting patients to take control of their well-being, live independently and improve their health outcomes.
• Supporting patients to develop personalised and manageable goals and aid decision making for them.
• Developing trusting relationships by giving patients time to focus on what matters to them.
• Introduce self-care and self-management to patients.
• Use the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) questionnaire to assess patients and improve their PAM level (confidence, skills and knowledge) so they can better manage their health.
• Reduce social isolation and help patients access community services.
• Training will be provided and you will have access to our Directory if services to help you direct patients to the right services.

To download the Brent Care Navigator Job Description click here (Word 33KB)

Closing Date for applications: 12 Midday Tuesday 11th August 2020.

Interviews to be held on: Thursday 13th August 2020 at Brent Mencap office in Willesden.

As part of our Safer Recruiting Process we do not accept CVs only. You can send you CV however if we find that you are a suitable candidate we will ask you to complete our application form.

COVID-19 considerations:
During Covid 19 we have stopped all face to face appointments. We have been working remotely from home and carrying out a service through telephone. Once we go back into the GP practices or carry out any visits we will ensure safety measures are be in place.
​For any questions about this post please email administrator@brentmencap.org.uk