General practice based social prescribing link worker

Job Detail

Career Level Officer
Experience 2 Years
Industry management
Qualifications Degree Bachelor

Job Description

Job description

The role
The link worker’s role will be to support patients participating in the MIDAS trial in each GP practice over a 6-month period and also to work with other patients in the practice based on practice requirements.

Responsibilities
Contact and meet face to face in general practices with people referred by GPs
Agree a plan to address each person’s individual health and wellbeing goals, whether they are psychosocial or more practical such as welfare entitlements
Negotiate and support access for patients to community-based services and activities that will support them to live well. At times, it might be necessary to sensitively challenge service providers for the benefit of the patient
Build effective pathways to support and help patients to navigate complex existing pathways
Work autonomously to manage workload and appointments
Maintain accurate records throughout the intervention period
Assist in data collection to monitor the implementation of the trial intervention and deliver reports in an agreed format as requested by the programme management team
Map out local resources, develop relationships with community organisations and compile a resource booklet for the practice
Update the practice on progress and available resources in their community via regular practice meetings
Update the referring GP on patient progress.

Selection criteria
Essential:
Inclusive values
Knowledge and experience of working with people who are experiencing complex social and emotional circumstances. For example, people who have social, emotional, and mental health issues, live in complex life circumstances, experience chronic pain, drug and alcohol misuse, or homelessness
Strong understanding of the role of community and social factors in living well
Proven and highly effective interpersonal and communication skills in working with people on a 1:1 basis and with organisations
Experience in influencing, negotiation, and motivational skills to engage patients and enable them to take up a wide range of community services and activities
Excellent networking and information management skills
Ability to work effectively as part of a team and on own initiative
IT skills in word processing, spreadsheets, email, and the internet
An ability and willingness to travel extensively within the local community and wider area

Desirable:
Experience working in primary care
Educated to degree level or equivalent within a relevant field, e.g., community education, public health, social care, addiction, mental health, with a minimum of two year’s post qualification
experience
Relevant post graduate experience or qualification in topics such as health behaviour change or motivational interviewing

Job location

,Dublin – Ireland