Community Connector – Older Persons

Clarecare is a professional social enterprise with charitable status, providing a range of people centred social services to individuals and families in County Clare for over 50 years. Current services provided include Family Support, Elderly Care Services, Counselling and Bushypark Residential Addiction Treatment Centre.   Clarcare’s headquarters are based in Ennis with local offices in Bushypark, Shannon, Kilrush, Killaloe and Ennistymon. 

JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Community Connector – Older Persons

2 Years Full-time, Fixed Term Contract

DESCRIPTION OF ROLE: We are seeking a self-motivated, energetic, enthusiastic, results driven individual to perform the duties/responsibilities attached to this new role within Clarecare. This position is funded by HSE. The Community Connector provides a specialist service to older people similar to the service provided by a Social Prescribing Link Worker. However, this is a specialist service for a specific cohort of older patients referred from the Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons (ICPOP) in the HSE.

This is the only referral pathway for patients to be referred to the Community Connector role within Clarecare.

The overall aim of Midwest ICPOP is to develop and implement integrated services and pathways for older people who have been identified as living with frailty and shift the delivery of care away from acute hospitals towards community based, planned and co-ordinated care. The ICPOP Hub is a specialist multidisciplinary service primarily targeting and managing the complex care needs of the older person with multiple co-morbidities across a continuum of care.

The ICPOP Hub will:

• Provide a specialist geriatric opinion using a multidisciplinary approach to support older people with complex care needs.
• Develop a person-centred care planning approach that supports robust and timely communication across care settings.
• Support appropriate and timely reduction of Emergency Department (ED) attendance through the development of care pathways that support GPs and others in assessment of older people with escalating care needs.
• Provide support and education to the older person, carers and healthcare professionals.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:

The role of Community Connector is aligned to that of the Social Prescribing Link Worker.

Social prescribing generally involves three key components:

(i) a referral from a healthcare professional,

(ii) consultation with a social prescribing link worker and

(iii) an agreed referral to a local community activity or programme or service delivered by the Health Service or other organisation.

A Social Prescribing service empowers individuals to take control of their health and wellbeing by referral to a social prescribing link worker who adopts a holistic approach to the assessment of their needs.

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.

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.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

Essential Education/Knowledge/Experience:

• Educated to degree level in Social, Community, Health or related field

OR

• A 3rd Level qualification in a Social, Community, Health or related field

AND

• A minimum of 3 years experience in a community development OR Healthcare OR related field
• Experience in supporting people in a one-to-one or group capacity
• Experience in partnership/ collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations.
• Candidates must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the position and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
• Experience working in a regulated environment
• Full clean drivers licence and access to own car. You will be required to provide insurance indemnity on your private motor insurance policy to Clarecare.

Benefits:

• 26 days annual leave per annum excluding Public Holidays.
• Defined Contribution Pension Scheme Membership on successful completion of probation.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) Services for you and your family via VHI.
• Payroll deduction facility for Hospital Plan cover with VHI, etc.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Access to Sick Pay Scheme on successful completion of probation.
• Death In Service Benefits x 4 times salary upon successful completion of probation.#

The gross salary on offer for this position is aligned to Clarecare’s Payscales and is commensurate with experience and available from HR on 086 – 4161520.

For full job spec and application method click Apply Now to visit our careers page today!