PCN Social Prescriber

North & South Gloucester PCN is looking for a Social Prescriber to join our supportive and friendly Living Well Team, working alongside Frailty Nurses, other SPLWs and our Care Coordination team.

Social prescribing is a vital and growing part of modern primary care. Within Primary Care Networks (PCNs), it offers a holistic, person centred approach that recognises the powerful impact of social, emotional and practical factors on health. By connecting people to meaningful community based support, Social Prescribers help individuals take control of their wellbeing while reducing pressure on GP services and strengthening the resilience of the wider health system.

The role will be primarily based at Churchdown Surgery and/or BizSpace, Gloucester. Some remote or home working may be required. Occasionally you may be required to work at other PCN sites - Brockworth, Churchdown, Hucclecote, Longlevens Surgeries, or The Alney Practice, all located within Gloucester. The ability to work flexibly is essential.

Access to own transport and the ability to travel across the network is essential. Candidates should be confident visiting patients at home and working independently in community settings.

The hours of work are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday - 8.30 am to 16.30 pm. Occasional Saturday morning working on a rota basis will be required to facilitate local Mindfulness sessions.

This role is not eligible for UK visa sponsorship.

Main duties of the job

Social Prescribers work one-to-one with people in the community, focusing on what matters most to them and building trusted relationships. They develop personalised care and support plans, connecting individuals to local community groups, voluntary organisations and services. The role supports people to improve their health and wellbeing by addressing wider determinants such as social isolation, debt, housing, physical inactivity and low-level mental health needshelping individuals become more engaged in their communities. This approach is particularly beneficial for those with long-term conditions, complex social needs, or who may feel lonely or isolated.

We are looking for someone who is naturally empathetic, a great listener, and able to build strong relationships with people from all walks of life. You'll be curious, non-judgemental, and confident working independently, with the ability to think holistically and connect people to the right support. Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage a varied caseload are essential, alongside a genuine passion for improving community wellbeing.

You will ideally have experience working in a health, social care, voluntary or community setting, with knowledge of local services and support pathways. While there are no strict qualification requirements, a relevant qualification (e.g. in health and social care, community development, or mental health) or equivalent experience would be advantageous.

About us

North & South Gloucester (NSG) Primary Care Network (PCN) consists of five surgeries located around Gloucester - The Alney Practice, Brockworth Surgery, Churchdown Surgery, Hucclecote Surgery and Longlevens Surgery.

We are a growing PCN with over 58,000 patients and a PCN staff of over 40. We are passionate about developing and delivering excellent quality local services to meet the needs of our communities. We work closely together with a wide range of local providers, including acute trusts, social care, the voluntary and community sector, and patient participation groups to offer proactive, personalised, preventative, and co-ordinated health and social care to our local population.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Social prescribing supports people to improve their health and wellbeing through self-care and connecting people to other services and community assets. Social Prescribers give time, focus on what matters to the person, and take a holistic approach, connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support. Social Prescribers support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all local partners.

Social prescribing can help to strengthen community resilience and personal resilience and reduce health inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity - by increasing peoples 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.

Key Responsibilities

• Take referrals from GP practices and multi-disciplinary teams and work closely with PCNs for the benefit of the local population.
• Meet people on a one-to-one basis, making home visits where appropriate within the terms of the Practice/PCNs policies and procedures. Give people time to tell their stories and focus on "what matters to me". Build trust with the person, providing non-judgemental support, respecting diversity and lifestyle choices. Work from a strength-based approach focusing on a persons' assets.
• Co-produce a personalised care and support plan to improve health and wellbeing, which may include introducing or reconnecting people to community groups and statutory services.
• Where appropriate, physically introduce people to community groups, activities and statutory services, ensuring they are comfortable. Also provide follow up care to ensure they are happy, able to engage, are included and receiving good support.
• Where people may be eligible for a personal health budget, help them to explore this option as a way of providing funded, personalised support to be independent, including helping people to gain skills for meaningful employment, where appropriate.
• Manage and prioritise own caseload.
• Have a strong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other healthcare professionals/agencies, when a person's needs are beyond the scope of the Social Prescriber, e.g., when there is an unmet Mental Health or physical health need.
• 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
• Draw on and increase the strengths and capacities of local communities, enabling local VCSE organisations and community groups to receive social prescribing referrals. Ensure people are supported and provide opportunities for the person to develop friendships, a sense of belonging, and build knowledge, skills and confidence.
• Work together with all local partners to collectively ensure that local Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations and community groups are sustainable and that community assets are nurtured, by making them aware of small grants or micro-commissioning if available, including providing support to set up new community groups and services where gaps are identified in local provision.
• Work sensitively with people, their families and carers to capture key information, enabling tracking of the impact of social prescribing and health coaching on their health and wellbeing.
• Seek regular feedback about the quality of service and impact of social prescribing on referral agencies.
• Have a role in educating clinical and non-clinical staff within the PCNs multi-disciplinary teams on what other services are available within the community, and how and when people can access them.
• Attend relevant PCN multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meeting. Build relationships with key staff in GP practices within the PCN. Attend relevant meetings, thereby becoming part of the wider network team, giving information and feedback on Social Prescribing.
• Be responsible to undertake continued personal and professional development, attend regular "clinical supervision" and study days. Take an active part in reviewing and developing SPLWs roles and responsibilities.
• Support Community Groups and VCSE Organisations to receive referrals
• Forge strong links with local VCSE organisations, community and neighbourhood level groups, utilising their networks and building on what is already available to create a map or menu of community groups and assets. Use these opportunities to promote micro-commissioning or small grants if available.
• Develop supportive relationships with local VCSE organisations, community groups and statutory services, to make timely appropriate and supported referrals for the person being introduced.
• Ensure that local community groups and VCSE organisations being referred to have basic procedures in place for ensuring vulnerable individuals are safe and, where there are safeguarding concerns, work with all partners to deal appropriately with issues. Where such policies and procedures are not in place, support groups to work towards this standard before referrals are made to them.
• Check that community groups and VCSE organisations meet in appropriate premises that have insurance and that health and safety provisions are in place. Where such policies and procedures are not in place, support groups to work towards this standard before referrals are made to them.
• Support local groups to act in accordance with information governance policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act.
• Work collectively with all local partners to ensure community groups are strong and sustainable
• Work with commissioners and local partners to identify unmet needs within the community and gaps in community provision.
• Support local partners and commissioners to develop new groups and services where needed, through small grants for community groups, micro-commissioning and development support.
• Encourage people who have been connected to community support through social prescribing to volunteer and give their time freely to others, to build their skills and confidence, and strengthen community resiliance.
• Develop a team of volunteers within your service to provide "buddying support" for people, starting new groups and finding creative community solutions to local issues.
• Encourage people, their families and carers to provide peer support and to do things together, such as setting up new community groups or volunteering.
• Provide a regular "confidence survey" to community groups receiving referrals, to ensure they are strong, sustained and have the support they need to be part of social prescribing.

For more details regarding the person specification or to apply online, please click on Apply Now.