Social Prescribing Link Worker

Job summary

The Social Prescribing Link Worker is a crucial member of the Primary Care Network (PCN) team, dedicated to enhancing the health and wellbeing of patients through community engagement and personalised support. This role involves receiving referrals from Core Network Practices and a diverse range of agencies to assess patients' health and wellbeing needs.

The Link Worker will develop tailored care and support plans that connect patients to relevant community resources, groups, and statutory services, ensuring their unique needs are effectively addressed. By fostering trusting relationships, the Link Worker empowers patients, their families, and carers to take control of their health and wellbeing, promoting independent living and healthier lifestyles.

Adopting a holistic approach, the Link Worker will consider the broader determinants of health, including employment, training, and welfare support. The role also entails evaluating the effectiveness of support plans and managing a caseload based on the health needs of the population served. Collaboration with other health professionals within the PCN is essential to ensure comprehensive patient care.

In summary, the Social Prescribing Link Worker will play a vital role in improving health outcomes by prioritising what matters most to patients and ensuring they receive the support they need on their journey toward enhanced wellbeing.

Main duties of the job

1. Promoting social prescribing, its role in self-management, and the wider determinants of health.

2. Build relationships with key staff in GP practices within the local Primary Care Network (PCN), attending relevant meetings, becoming part of the wider network team, giving information and feedback on social prescribing.

3.Be proactive in developing strong links with all local agencies to encourage referrals, recognising what they need to be confident in the service to make appropriate referrals.

4. Work in partnership with all local agencies to raise awareness of social prescribing and how partnership working can reduce pressure on statutory services, improve health outcomes and enable a holistic approach to care.

5. Provide referral agencies with regular updates about social prescribing, including training for their staff and how to access information to encourage appropriate referrals.

6. Seek regular feedback about the quality of service and impact of social prescribing on referral agencies.

7. Be proactive in encouraging self-referrals and connecting with all local communities, particularly those communities that statutory agencies may find hard to reach.

About us

i3 Primary Care Network (PCN) is a collaborative model within primary care that brings together a group of general practices (GPs) along with other healthcare providers, such as community services, pharmacies, and social care services, to work together to provide more integrated and comprehensive care to the local population.

The purpose and benefits of a Primary Care Network includes

Improved Access and Continuity of Care: Patients benefit from better access to a range of services and continuity of care, particularly for those with long-term conditions.

Efficiency: By sharing resources, PCNs can reduce duplication of services and make better use of available healthcare professionals and technology.

Tailored Care: PCNs are designed to meet the specific needs of their local population, enabling more personalised and effective care