Senior Health Coach

An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Taunton Area Wellbeing Service enabling us to recruit a Senior Health Coach.

With the development of Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and the implementation of the NHSEI Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS), Health Coaches are now nationally recognisable roles within the healthcare system as investing in health coach and social prescribing link worker roles has been shown to improve the health and wellbeing of people in the community and reduces the number of visits patients make to GP practices.

Fitting with the ambitions of the NHSE Long Term Plan and Somerset’s ‘Fit for My Future’ the health coach role assists patients in empowering them to self-care and maintain an active role in their community for as long as possible. Health coaches play a vital role in ensuring patients are assisted in meeting their health goals set by patients in collaboration with health care professionals including Practice Nurses, District Nurses, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Podiatrists, Mental Health Professionals, Dietitians, and Speech and Language Therapists.

Senior Health Coaches will have responsibility for proactively reaching out to, monitoring and coordinating care for a defined cohort of patients. There will be a Senior Health Coach based in each of the three PCNs in Taunton and Wellington who will manage a caseload and oversee the case load of Health Coaches assigned to their PCN. They will be the point of contact for the PCN, along with offering peer support and mentoring to junior colleagues. In addition, there will be the opportunity in the future for Senior Health Coaches to supervise apprenticeships within the team.

The post available covers the Wellington and Wivilescombe areas working within the Taunton Deane West Primary Care Network.

The successful candidate will be kind, reflective and self-aware and will enjoy working with a wide range of people. They will have good communication and negotiation skills and a firm belief that people have untapped resources within them, that can be unleashed by providing a high quality, non-judgmental service.

Senior Health Coaches will have access to ongoing supervision, skills development, and support so they are able to further build their skills and experience within the role. There will be a countywide training programme to ensure health coaches and senior health coaches have the relevant skills, knowledge and competencies.

As an organisation, the NHS offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, pension contributions, market leading annual leave allowance, career progression and regular conversations, not to mention our Blue Light Card and NHS exclusive discounts.

The benefits of working in Somerset include the idyllic countryside, with our areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines. You will get to enjoy these perks whilst still only being a stone’s throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London.

There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable. You will experience the best of both in Somerset, the countryside and the cosmopolitan – there is truly something for everyone.

The post holder should be aware that this post will require lone working, working in people's homes and some working within the Taunton Neighbourhood Hub and in the future, some weekend/out of hours working to support the Trust’s aim of a 7-day service across Somerset may be required.