Description Job Description Do you want an exciting opportunity to lead a key policy priority on developing a national approach to Social Prescribing in Scotland? Building on existing work on health inequalities and the role of communities in creating health and wellbeing. Social prescribing is an umbrella term that describes a person-centred approach to connect people to community groups and services across a range of areas that support health and wellbeing by, for example, reducing isolation, developing community connectedness, and supporting physical and mental health and wellbeing. The post is based in the Health Inequalities Unit, which is part of the Population Health Strategy and Improvement Division within Population Health Directorate. The Directorate has a strong focus on both wellbeing and learning & development, and takes a cross-division approach to reducing health inequalities. This role offers a range of opportunities to work across boundaries to build good relationships with external stakeholders and other SG teams to drive delivery and development of our cross-cutting policies. Working with colleagues you will progress Ministers’ objectives to develop an overall Framework for Social Prescribing for Scotland, similar to that in other parts of the UK. This work is building on the expansion of activity in local areas through Community Links Workers in primary care, Community Connectors in other service areas and related roles. Responsibilities Lead the development of a Social Prescribing Framework for Scotland, working with colleagues across government and externally and building on existing approaches in other countries. Work with colleagues across Health and Social Care Directorates to develop our policy position on social prescribing and ensure that our policy is reflected consistently in correspondence and supports the next phase of development of Social Prescribing in Scotland. Develop effective working relationships with colleagues in Mental Health and Primary Care, to inform ongoing work which has a social prescribing component. Develop effective working relationships with external stakeholders to ensure that our policy is based on a firm understanding of the delivery challenges. Establish connections with social prescribing policy leads in other UK administrations and with key groups such as the National Academy of Social Prescribing. Work across the wider Division and Directorate to ensure that social prescribing policy is integrated into wider strands of work relating to Population Health. Responsibilities Success Profile Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. Experience: Working across organisational boundaries and across Scottish Government teams to develop policy positions and draft ministerial submissions Behaviours: Changing and improving (level 3) Making effective decisions (level 3) Working together (level 3) Seeing the bigger picture (level 3) You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot How to apply Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1,000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and a written assessment. Assessments are scheduled for w/c 9th June however this may be subject to change. Qualifications About Us The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland. We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer. As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules. Working Pattern Our standard hours are 35 hours per week. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us. Equality Statement We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation. Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them. Further information Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website. Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.