Search

Social Prescribing Link Worker

Social Prescribing Link Workers are part of the ‘Universal Personalised Care’ team working in Primary Care services. Personalised Care is part of a social strategy to tackle health inequalities through communities rather than relying solely on referrals to specialist secondary healthcare, which can take a long time and might not always be needed. As part of the Universal Personalised Care team the Social Prescribing Link Worker works with Health and Wellbeing Coaches and Care Coordinators.

Operating out of GP practices, or community organisations working on behalf of the NHS, Social Prescribing Link Workers connect people with local community groups, activities and services to meet practical, social and emotional needs and help improve health and wellbeing. The people getting this kind of support may have long-term health conditions, disabilities, mental health issues or just feel lonely or isolated within their communities.  

Social Prescribing Link Workers also support the development of new provision in local communities and help existing groups become more accessible. This is done by working with key partners to identify local trends related to social and emotional needs. 

Referrals to Social Prescribing Link Workers can come from health and social services, as well as other local agencies including community centres and charities in the social care sector. 

Responsibilities

Once health and well-being issues are identified and a referral made, Social Prescribing Link Workers work with people to find groups, services and activities to improve the situation e.g., art classes, gardening clubs or exercise groups. Or they may even help them seek more practical advice, for example on debt or housing issues. 

 

As a Social Prescribing Link Worker you will need to: 

 

  • Give people the time to share their stories 
  • Provide a listening ear and focus on ‘what matters to me?’ 
  • Assess what support people need, such as physical activities, learning new skills, making new friends or finding employment 
  • Find local support services such as community groups and charities for people to go to 
  • Refer people who need care and support into a range of local activities 
  • Review the progress that people make 
  • Produce a personalised care and support plan  
  • Support people to take control of their health and wellbeing 
  • May specialise in one area of care and support, for example supporting people with physical disabilities to be more physically active in the community

Skills

You will need to have: 

  • an understanding of community health and well-being 
  • an understanding of the range of support and services available to people in their local community 
  • excellent communication skills  
  • an ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team  
  • excellent organisational and time management skills 
  • an ability to prioritise a busy workload 
  • computer literacy and be confident working with common applications (e.g. Microsoft Office). 
  • an ability to listen, empathise with people  
  • an ability to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity 
  • an ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people  
  • an ability to identify risk and manage risk when working with individuals 
  • have emotional resilience

Salary

£20000 to £27000 

Working hours

Tends to be to be 37-40 hours between usual GP practice hours (9am-5pm). However, depending on employer can include shift work and out of hours.

Employers

They can be employed by:  

  • GP practices/a group of GP practices 
  • Community organisation working on behalf of the NHS

Work experience

Experience of working with people in community settings whether paid or unpaid. This could also include ‘lived experiences’ of some of the health and well-being issues within communities.

What to expect

  • Working with people within community settings 
  • Working alongside healthcare professionals within Primary Care Networks 
  • Working with local community groups and organisations to identify activities to benefit people 
  • Working with people who are experiencing a number health and well-being issues 

Career Progression

With appropriate training could progress into one of the other Universal Personalised Care roles- Health and Well-being Coach or Care Coordinator. 

There are also opportunities to develop a specialism- for example working with children and families, working in specific community setting such as housing associations, or organisations with a focus mental health and well-being. 

The experience of working with people in healthcare could also provide a springboard into the health professions through degree apprenticeships. For example, Mental Health Nursing or Occupational Therapy. Degree level study would require a Level 3 qualification. 

NHS Jobs NHS Health Careers

How do I become a Social Prescribing Link Worker?

On the whole, there are no set entry requirements (other than ‘a good standard of education’) for this role because your work and life experience, personal qualities and values are generally more important than qualifications. However, some employers can ask for a degree in a relevant area or an equivalent level of experience. 

The lack of specific entry requirements means that workers can come from a range of care experiences including voluntary and community work. It is a role that could also benefit from workers who have had a ‘lived experiences’ of some of the issues people face e.g., experience of being active in the community involvement and/or people from community groups including those with disabilities. Recently, the pandemic showed that there were a huge number of people who were willing to support others by joining the ‘army of volunteers’ and working as stewards at testing centres or vaccinators in vaccination centres or deliverers of food to the most vulnerable.  

In summary, employers might ask for one or more of the following:  

  • Experience of working directly in a community development context, adult health and social care, learning support or public health/health improvement (including unpaid work). Employers might ask for 1 year or more of relevant experience 
  • A good standard of general education with English and Maths to GCSE level 4 to 9 
  • A level 3 qualification or a level 3 qualification in a related area such as health and social care 
  • A degree or equivalent or a degree in a related area such as Social Work, Social Policy, Health, Youth Work 
  • Once in a role, you will receive training and development to support you (approved by Personalised Care Institute) 

Routes to become a Social Prescribing Link Worker

As there are no specific formal entry requirements future Social Prescribing Link Workers can come from a very wide range of education and work backgrounds.  

However, there is an apprenticeship framework for all the Personalised Care roles- the Community Health and Wellbeing Worker apprenticeship.

 

University

A Higher Education qualification is not usually essential (although some employers might ask for it). Either way, this role might appeal to graduates of degrees such as Social Work, Social Policy, Guidance and Counselling, Childhood Studies, Youth & Community Work and any Health related degree.

NHS Health Careers

Apprenticeship

Community Health and Wellbeing Worker apprenticeship framework is available for this role.

Experience of working with people in community settings whether paid or unpaid. This could also include ‘lived experiences’ of some of the health and well-being issues within communities.

Find an Apprenticeship NHS Jobs Community Health and Wellbeing Worker (Level 3)

Useful links