Social Prescribing Link Worker

Job 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 individual's health and wellbeing, connecting people to diverse 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 diverse partners.

Social prescribing link workers will work as a key part of the primary care network (PCN) multi-disciplinary team. Social prescribing can help PCNs to strengthen community and personal resilience, reduce health inequalities (in relation to timely access and outcomes) and wellbeing inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing, and physical inactivity, by increasing people's active involvement with their local diverse 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 wellbeing.

Main duties of the job

Social prescribing is a way of engaging patients in primary care with a resource which provides support within the local community. In addition it provides GPs with a non-medical referral option that can align to existing treatments to improve health and wellbeing. People want to be able to access information and support in a setting that is convenient and familiar to them, delivered by people they trust. The Social Prescribing Link Worker will offer support in a clinic environment based within general practice as well at various locations within the community including the patient's home. The role will provide information and support to patients in addition to becoming the link between the patient, GP and other service providers. The role will require managing and prioritising your own caseload, in accordance with the needs, priorities and any urgent support required by individuals.

About us

Nottingham City General Practice Alliance is a GP federation that operates to support, connect, and represent General Practices in Nottingham city. We are the lead employer for Primary Care Network (PCN) staff, employing on behalf of our member PCNs. We are close to employing over 100 ARRS (Additional Role Re-imbursement Scheme) roles.

We currently employ over 45 Clinical Pharmacists across the city, and our goal is to ensure that all staff are supported to grow and thrive. We have been nationally recognised for our models of supervision, and have recently appeared on the Specialist Pharmacist Service Webinar to share our experiences.