Social Prescriber/Link Worker

Job Title: Social Prescriber/Link WorkerWorking hours: (37.5 hours)- (part-time/Job share considered)Contract: Temporary/ Fixed term(TBC)Pioneers IntegratedPartnership Primary Care Network is recruiting for a Temporary Social Prescriber/Link Worker to be part of the new Primary Care Network multidisciplinary team, providing 1:1 personalised support to our PCN PopulationThis post empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing by giving time to focus on what matters to me. The social prescribing link worker will build trusting relationships with people, create a shared personalised care and support plan and connect them to community groups, VCSE organisations and services. They will also work with partners to provide support to community groups and VCSE organisations involved in social prescribing.You must be a good listener, have time for people and be committed to supporting local communities to care for each other. You should have experience of working positively with people facing complex social and emotional challenges. You will have great interpersonal skills in supporting people, community groups and local organisations. A background in this type of work is essential for this post.Main duties of the jobWorking with direct supervision by a GP, take referrals from agencies, including PCNs GP practices and multi-disciplinary team in pharmacies, wide multi-disciplinary teams, hospital discharge teams, allied health professionals, fire service, police, job centres, social care services, housing associations, and voluntary, community and social enterprise VCSE organisations (list not exhaustive).Provide personalised support to individuals, their families and carers to take control of their health and wellbeing, live independently and improve their health outcomes, as a key member of the PCN multi-disciplinary team. Develop trusting relationships by giving people time and focus on what matters to me. Take a holistic approach, based on the person's priorities and the wider determinants of health. Co-produce a simple personalised care and support plan to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or reconnecting people to community groups and statutory services.The role will require managing and prioritising your own caseload, in accordance with the needs, priorities and any urgent support required by individuals on the caseload. It is vital that you have a strong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other health professionals/agencies, when what the person's needs are beyond the scope of the link worker role e.g. when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner.About usThe PCN will deliver healthcare services to a patient population of 31,000. This is a unique opportunity to co-create the future of our workforce within the Primary Care Network.The local community is a rich blend of cultures and diverse backgrounds.The job description and person specification are available to view.The deadline for applications is the 30th November2025Please apply specifying your suitability to the role and the benefits you can bring to the Primary Care Network.Interviews are expected to be scheduled week commencing 9th Dec2025.For more information emailJob responsibilitiesPioneers IntegratedPartnership PCNJOB TITLE: Temporary Social Prescriber Link WorkerGROUP: Primary Care NetworkRESPONSIBLE TO: PCN Clinical Director/PCN & Practice ManagerACCOUNTABLETO: PCN Clinical Director/PCN&Practice ManagerJOB SUMMARY:Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to link workers who give time, focus on what matters to me and take a holistic approach to an individuals health and wellbeing, connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support. Link workers also support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups, working collaboratively with all local partners.Social prescribing link workers will work as a key part of the primary care network (PCN) multidisciplinary team. Social prescribing can help PCNs to strengthen community and personal resilience and reduces health and wellbeing inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity, by increasing peoples active involvement with their local communities. It particularly works for people with long term conditions including support for mental health, for people who are lonely or isolated, or have complex social needs which affect their wellbeingKey Relationships(not exhaustive):Patients, carers and relativesPartnership Social Prescribing Leads and ICIP LeadsPartnership GPs, Nurses and the wider practice staffOther members of the wider Primary Care multi-disciplinary Team (includingOther relevant organisations bodies from time to time as requiredMain duties and responsibilities:Working with direct supervision by a GP, take referrals from a wide range of agencies, including PCNs GP practices and multi-disciplinary team in pharmacies, wide multi-disciplinary teams, hospital discharge teams, allied health professionals, fire service, police, job centres, social care services, housing associations, and voluntary, community and social enterprise VCSE organisations list not exhaustive.Provide personalised support to individuals, their families and carers to take control of their health and wellbeing, live independently and improve their health outcomes, as a key member of the PCN multi-disciplinary team. Develop trusting relationships by giving people time and focus on what matters to me. Take a holistic approach, based on the person's priorities and the wider determinants of health. Co-produce a simple personalised care and support plan to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or reconnecting people to community groups and statutory services.The role will require managing and prioritising your own caseload, in accordance with the needs, priorities and any urgent support required by individuals on the caseload. It is vital that you have a strong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other health professionals/agencies, when what the person's needs are beyond the scope of the link worker role e.g. when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner.Draw on and increase the strengths and capacities of local communities, enabling local VCSE organisations and community groups to receive social prescribing referrals.Alongside other members of the PCN multi-disciplinary team, work collaboratively with all local partners to contribute towards supporting the local VCSE organisations and community groups to become sustainable and that community assets are nurtured, through sharing intelligence regarding any gaps or problems identified in local provision with commissioners and local authorities.Social prescribing link workers will have a role in educating non-clinical and clinical staff within their PCN multi-disciplinary teams on what other services are available within the community and how and when patients can access them. This may include verbal or written advice and guidance. They will also create a full directory of services available within our local communities Key Tasks ReferralsPromote social prescribing, its role in self-management, and the wider determinants of health.As part of the PCN multi-disciplinary team, build relationships with staff in GP practices within the local PCN, attending relevant MDT meetings, giving information and feedback on social prescribing.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.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.Provide referral agencies with regular updates about social prescribing, including training for their staff and how to access information to encourage appropriate referrals.Seek regular feedback about the quality of service and impact of social prescribing on referral agencies.Be proactive in encouraging self-referrals and connecting with all local communities, particularly those communities that statutory agencies may find hard to reach.Meet people on a one-to-one basis, making home visits where appropriate within organisations policies and procedures. Give people time to tell their stories and focus on what matters to me. Build trust with the person, providing non-judgemental support, respecting diversity and lifestyle choices. Work from a strength-based approach focusing on a person's assets.Be a friendly source of information about health, wellbeing and prevention approaches.Help people identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, being unemployed, loneliness and caring responsibilities.Work with the person, their families and carers and consider how they can all be supported through social prescribing.Help people maintain or regain independence through living skills, adaptations, enablement approaches and simple safeguards.Work with individuals to co-produce a simple personalised support plan to address the person's health and wellbeing needs based on the person's priorities, interests, values and motivations including what they can expect from the groups, activities and services they are being connected to and what the person can do for themselves to improve their health and wellbeing.Where appropriate, physically introduce people to community groups, activities and statutory services, ensuring they are comfortable. Follow up to ensure they are happy, able to engage, included and receiving good support.Where people may be eligible for a personal health budget, help them to explore this option as a way of providing funded, personalised support to be independent, including helping people to gain skills for meaningful employment, where appropriate.Seek advice and support from the GP supervisor and/or identified individuals to discuss patient-related concerns e.g. abuse, domestic violence and support with mental health, referring the patient back to the GP or other suitable health professional if required.Support community groups and VCSE organisations to receive referralsForge strong links with local VCSE organisations, community and neighbourhood level groups, utilising their networks and building on what's already available to create a menu of community groups and assets.Develop supportive relationships with local VCSE organisations, community groups and statutory services, to make timely, appropriate and supported referrals for the person being introduced.Work collectively with all local partners to ensure community groups are strong and sustainable.Work with commissioners and local partners to identify unmet needs within the community and gaps in community provision.Encourage people who have been connected to community support through social prescribing to volunteer and give their time freely to others, building their skills and confidence and strengthening community resilience.Develop a team of volunteers within your service to provide buddying support for people, starting new groups and finding creative community solutions to local issues.Encourage people, their families and carers to provide peer support and to do things together, such as setting up new community groups or volunteering.Provide a regular confidence survey to community groups receiving referrals, to ensure that they are strong, sustained and have the support they need to be part of social prescribing.Person SpecificationExperienceKnowledge of the personalised care approachUnderstanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities, individuals, their families and carersKnowledge of community development approachesKnowledge of IT systems, including ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reportsLocal knowledge of VCSE and community services in the localityKnowledge of how the NHS works, including primary careExperience of working directly in a community development context, adult health and social care, learning support or public health/health improvement (including unpaid work)Experience of supporting people, their families and carers in a related role (including unpaid work)Experience of supporting people with their mental health, either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacityExperience of working with the VCSE sector (in a paid or unpaid capacity), including with volunteers and small community groupsExperience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisationsExperience of data collection and using tools to measure the impact of servicesMeets DBS reference standards and criminal record checksWillingness to work flexible hours when required to meet work demandsAccess to own transport and ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis, including to visit people in their own homesQualificationsVocational Qualification in Health and Social Care or relevant work experienceDemonstrable commitment to professional and personal developmentTraining in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experienceDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. #J-18808-Ljbffr