Job summary
As a Trainee Social Prescribing Link Worker, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on individuals lives by empowering them to take control of their health and wellbeing. You will be part of a supportive and collaborative team, working closely with healthcare professionals and community organisations to deliver holistic, person-centred care. This role offers a unique blend of direct client support, community engagement, and professional development, making it ideal for someone passionate about social care, public health, and making a real difference in peoples lives.
Main duties of the job
The Trainee Social Prescribing Link Worker will connect individuals of all ages with non-medical sources of support to improve their wellbeing. Key responsibilities include:
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Developing personalised care plans in collaboration with individuals, families, and carers.
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Helping clients access relevant services for housing, employment, financial, and social support.
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Building relationships with GP practices, statutory agencies, and local community organisations.
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Managing a caseload and tracking outcomes to ensure effective service delivery.
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Supporting children and young people as well as adults with tailored interventions and working closely with schools and youth services.
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Ensuring safeguarding procedures and participating in ongoing training and professional development.
About us
Jurassic Coast Primary Care Network (PCN) is a group of GP practices based in rural West Dorset, working together to provide high-quality, personalised healthcare to the local community. The PCN includes a mix of healthcare professionals like social prescribers, clinical pharmacists, digital care coordinators, and admin staff. These teams work across several hubs in the area to make sure everyone can access the care they need.
The PCN prides itself on being supportive and inclusive, with a real focus on staff well-being as a key part of delivering great patient care. Its built on values like respect, attention to detail, active listening, openness, empowering patients, and always learning and improving.
People who work there often describe it as fast-paced, lively, and caring. Theres a real sense of teamwork and making a difference to the lives of local patients, with the beautiful surroundings of the Jurassic Coast providing an added bonus.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Role
Social Prescribing Link Workers play a vital
role in addressing the social determinants of health by connecting
individualschildren, young people, and adultsto non-medical sources of
support in their community. This person-centred role involves empowering
individuals to take control of their health and wellbeing, focusing on
"what matters" rather than "what's the matter."
You will build trusting relationships,
co-produce personalised care plans, and link individuals to community groups,
statutory services, and local resources. The role also supports the development
of local VCSE (Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise) organisations to
enhance community capacity and reduce reliance on clinical services.
For children and young people, the role
includes tailored approaches to address developmental, social, and health needs
in collaboration with families and carers, prioritizing the voice and
preferences of young clients.
This role integrates the needs of both adult
and youth populations, fostering collaboration and creating opportunities for
impactful, non-clinical support across communities.
Key Responsibilities
Service
Delivery:
- Act as a first point of contact for
individuals across all ages referred to the service.
- Co-produce personalised care and support
plans with individuals, families, and carers.
- Assist individuals in accessing services
or activities relevant to their needs.
- Identify and address wider determinants
of health such as housing, employment, and financial challenges.
- Focus on holistic, person-centred support
and empower individuals to take control of their wellbeing.
Collaboration
and Networking:
- Develop and maintain strong working
relationships with GP practices, PCN teams, and multi-agency
professionals.
- Actively engage with VCSE organisations,
statutory agencies, and local groups to build referral pathways.
- Promote social prescribing as a key
component of holistic care within and beyond the PCN.
- Build and maintain a directory of local
resources and ensure safety compliance of external services.
Case
Management:
- Manage and prioritise caseloads based on
patient and community needs.
- Track and evaluate outcomes using
clinical and community systems (e.g., SNOMED codes).
- Provide feedback to referring agencies
and contribute to service planning and evaluation.
Children
and Young People-Specific Duties:
- Develop tailored support models for young
people, addressing health, education, housing, and social concerns.
- Partner with families and carers to meet
the needs of young clients holistically.
- Raise awareness of the service within
schools, youth services, and other young people-focused organisations.
Safeguarding
and Professional Development:
- Adhere to safeguarding procedures,
ensuring a strong awareness of risks and the ability to refer individuals
appropriately.
- Participate in clinical supervision,
reflective practice, and ongoing training.
- Contribute to continuous improvement and
service innovation.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Role
Social Prescribing Link Workers play a vital
role in addressing the social determinants of health by connecting
individualschildren, young people, and adultsto non-medical sources of
support in their community. This person-centred role involves empowering
individuals to take control of their health and wellbeing, focusing on
"what matters" rather than "what's the matter."
You will build trusting relationships,
co-produce personalised care plans, and link individuals to community groups,
statutory services, and local resources. The role also supports the development
of local VCSE (Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise) organisations to
enhance community capacity and reduce reliance on clinical services.
For children and young people, the role
includes tailored approaches to address developmental, social, and health needs
in collaboration with families and carers, prioritizing the voice and
preferences of young clients.
This role integrates the needs of both adult
and youth populations, fostering collaboration and creating opportunities for
impactful, non-clinical support across communities.
Key Responsibilities
Service
Delivery:
- Act as a first point of contact for
individuals across all ages referred to the service.
- Co-produce personalised care and support
plans with individuals, families, and carers.
- Assist individuals in accessing services
or activities relevant to their needs.
- Identify and address wider determinants
of health such as housing, employment, and financial challenges.
- Focus on holistic, person-centred support
and empower individuals to take control of their wellbeing.
Collaboration
and Networking:
- Develop and maintain strong working
relationships with GP practices, PCN teams, and multi-agency
professionals.
- Actively engage with VCSE organisations,
statutory agencies, and local groups to build referral pathways.
- Promote social prescribing as a key
component of holistic care within and beyond the PCN.
- Build and maintain a directory of local
resources and ensure safety compliance of external services.
Case
Management:
- Manage and prioritise caseloads based on
patient and community needs.
- Track and evaluate outcomes using
clinical and community systems (e.g., SNOMED codes).
- Provide feedback to referring agencies
and contribute to service planning and evaluation.
Children
and Young People-Specific Duties:
- Develop tailored support models for young
people, addressing health, education, housing, and social concerns.
- Partner with families and carers to meet
the needs of young clients holistically.
- Raise awareness of the service within
schools, youth services, and other young people-focused organisations.
Safeguarding
and Professional Development:
- Adhere to safeguarding procedures,
ensuring a strong awareness of risks and the ability to refer individuals
appropriately.
- Participate in clinical supervision,
reflective practice, and ongoing training.
- Contribute to continuous improvement and
service innovation.
Person Specification
Key Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Great Communication and People Skills: Able to speak clearly and work well with others.
- Caring, Open-Minded, and Focused on the Person: Shows understanding, doesn't judge, and focuses on what the person needs.
- Able to Spot Risks and Take Action When Needed, recognising when something might be unsafe or go wrong and knows when to ask for help.
- Willingness to adapt, eager to help, and dedicated to supporting people and communities.
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE English and Maths (A-C) or equivalent functional skills
- Commitment to professional and personal development
Desirable
- Training in motivational coaching or interviewing (or equivalent experience)
- Understanding of child development principles and youth-focused health promotion.
- NVQ Level 3 in Social Prescribing
Experience
Essential
- Skilled in using computers, keeping track of information, and making reports. This includes Microsoft packages, social media and other IT tools necessary to the role.
- Experience in supporting individuals who have challenges with their physical health, emotions, or mental well-being.
- Able to work well with other people as part of a team.
- Understanding or awareness of local community and volunteer organisations, either from personal experience or through work.
- Clear DBS check and have a valid UK driving license with access to a vehicle for work use.
Desirable
- Awareness of how the NHS tailors care to individuals and understanding the different things that can affect someone's health, like housing or income.
- Understanding of Safeguarding and Keeping Information Private.
- Experience in Community Work, Public Health, or Adult Care.
- Familiar with community groups and resources in West Dorset that offer support or services, usually run by volunteers or local organisations.
- Experience in helping or guiding small community groups that are run by volunteers.
- Previous experience working for the NHS.
- Familiar with NHS rules, how patient information is managed, and understanding on how data for medical conditions and treatments are recorded.
Person Specification
Key Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Great Communication and People Skills: Able to speak clearly and work well with others.
- Caring, Open-Minded, and Focused on the Person: Shows understanding, doesn't judge, and focuses on what the person needs.
- Able to Spot Risks and Take Action When Needed, recognising when something might be unsafe or go wrong and knows when to ask for help.
- Willingness to adapt, eager to help, and dedicated to supporting people and communities.
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE English and Maths (A-C) or equivalent functional skills
- Commitment to professional and personal development
Desirable
- Training in motivational coaching or interviewing (or equivalent experience)
- Understanding of child development principles and youth-focused health promotion.
- NVQ Level 3 in Social Prescribing
Experience
Essential
- Skilled in using computers, keeping track of information, and making reports. This includes Microsoft packages, social media and other IT tools necessary to the role.
- Experience in supporting individuals who have challenges with their physical health, emotions, or mental well-being.
- Able to work well with other people as part of a team.
- Understanding or awareness of local community and volunteer organisations, either from personal experience or through work.
- Clear DBS check and have a valid UK driving license with access to a vehicle for work use.
Desirable
- Awareness of how the NHS tailors care to individuals and understanding the different things that can affect someone's health, like housing or income.
- Understanding of Safeguarding and Keeping Information Private.
- Experience in Community Work, Public Health, or Adult Care.
- Familiar with community groups and resources in West Dorset that offer support or services, usually run by volunteers or local organisations.
- Experience in helping or guiding small community groups that are run by volunteers.
- Previous experience working for the NHS.
- Familiar with NHS rules, how patient information is managed, and understanding on how data for medical conditions and treatments are recorded.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This 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.
