Social Prescriber

NHS

  • Luton
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 28 days ago
A social prescriber link worker (SPLW) works alongside a team within general practice and within the Primary Care Network (PCN) and empowers people to take control of their health and well-being.We have a permanent vacancy for a Social Prescriber to join our supportive, busy and friendly team. The successful candidate will play an important role in complementing our Health and Wellbeing Coaches and other members of the PCN multi-disciplinary team.Main duties of the jobThis role helps people to work on their wider health and wellbeing, specifically addressing health access and outcomes and wider determinants of their health, such as debt, poor housing, and physical inactivity, as well as other lifestyle issues and low-level mental health concerns by increasing peoples active involvement with their local communities. This approach particularly helps people with long term conditions (including support for mental health), people who are lonely or isolated, or who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.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.The postholder will work with a diverse range of people from different cultural and social backgrounds. The ability to work confidently and effectively in a diverse, and sometimes challenging environment is essential. We are committed to having a workforce in which people from diverse backgrounds are supported and empowered to work with local communities to improve health access and outcomes for all and provide culturally appropriate and responsive public services.About useQuality PCN is a forward-thinking Primary Care Network comprising 5 practices across the Luton area, providing services for over 50,000 patients. Our aim is to provide exemplary patient care, finding innovative solutions in general practice to deliver the best care we can to our patients.The 5 practices comprise: Blenheim Medical Centre, Larkside Practice, The Ashcroft Practice, Stopsley Village Practice and Bute House Practice.The successful candidate must be available to work across all sites within the PCN and also be prepared to work at community based events within the Luton area.DetailsDate posted06 August 2025Pay schemeOtherSalaryDepending on experienceContractPermanentWorking patternFull-time, Part-time, Flexible workingReference numberW0055-25-0000Job locationseQuality PCN9 Blenheim CrescentLutonLU3 1HAJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesSocial prescribing can help to strengthen community resilience and personal resilience and reduces health 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 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 well-being.As a Social Prescriber Link Worker, you will empower people to take control of their health and well-being through identifying the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, being unemployed, loneliness and caring responsibilities. You will process referrals to other non-medical link workers and connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.Principal Accountabilities
  • Take referrals from GP practices within our PCN, providing digital or practice-based consultations with patients (and possibly carers etc) and occasional community-based appointments. i.e. home visits, and community service events.
  • Provide personalised support to individuals, their families and carers to take control of their well-being, live independently and improve their health outcomes.
  • Develop relationships by giving people time to focus on what matters to them. Take a holistic approach, based on the person's priorities and the wider determinants of health.
  • Co-produce a personalised support plan to improve health and well-being, introducing or reconnecting people to community groups and statutory services.
  • Liaise and communicate with patients, carers, advocates, health and social care professionals, voluntary sectors and stakeholders involved in the well-being of your caseload and communities.
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 when what the person needs is beyond the scope of the link worker role e.g. when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner.This Job Description describes the main purpose and key responsibilities and accountabilities of the post. The post holder may be required to undertake any additional duties or responsibilities as may reasonably be required.To reflect changing needs and priorities, some elements of this post may be subject to change and where required, any appropriate communication or consultation with the post holder will be undertaken prior to making any changes. Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesSocial prescribing can help to strengthen community resilience and personal resilience and reduces health 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 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 well-being.As a Social Prescriber Link Worker, you will empower people to take control of their health and well-being through identifying the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, being unemployed, loneliness and caring responsibilities. You will process referrals to other non-medical link workers and connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.Principal Accountabilities
  • Take referrals from GP practices within our PCN, providing digital or practice-based consultations with patients (and possibly carers etc) and occasional community-based appointments. i.e. home visits, and community service events.
  • Provide personalised support to individuals, their families and carers to take control of their well-being, live independently and improve their health outcomes.
  • Develop relationships by giving people time to focus on what matters to them. Take a holistic approach, based on the person's priorities and the wider determinants of health.
  • Co-produce a personalised support plan to improve health and well-being, introducing or reconnecting people to community groups and statutory services.
  • Liaise and communicate with patients, carers, advocates, health and social care professionals, voluntary sectors and stakeholders involved in the well-being of your caseload and communities.
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 when what the person needs is beyond the scope of the link worker role e.g. when there is a mental health need requiring a qualified practitioner.This Job Description describes the main purpose and key responsibilities and accountabilities of the post. The post holder may be required to undertake any additional duties or responsibilities as may reasonably be required.To reflect changing needs and priorities, some elements of this post may be subject to change and where required, any appropriate communication or consultation with the post holder will be undertaken prior to making any changes.Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
  • A good standard of general education, including English and Maths to GCSE level A* to C
  • Computer literate with basic competence with MS Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, MS Teams etc)
Desirable
  • Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience
  • NVQ Level 3, Advanced level or equivalent qualifications or working towards
ExperienceEssential
  • Experience working directly in a community development context, adult health and social care, learning support or public health/health improvement (including unpaid work)
  • Experience in supporting people, their families and carers in a related role (including unpaid work)
  • Experience in supporting people with their mental health, either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacity
Desirable
  • Experience with social prescribing models.
  • Knowledge of GP clinical IT systems (Systm1)
  • Experience in data collection and using tools to measure the impact - of services
  • Experience in partnership/collaborative working and building relationships across a variety of organisations
  • Experience working in a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Experience working with voluntary organisations including volunteers.
  • Experience in producing individual care plans.
  • Experience in managing a caseload.
  • Experience in supporting people in a paid or unpaid capacity.
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential
  • A good standard of general education, including English and Maths to GCSE level A* to C
  • Computer literate with basic competence with MS Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, MS Teams etc)
Desirable
  • Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience
  • NVQ Level 3, Advanced level or equivalent qualifications or working towards
ExperienceEssential
  • Experience working directly in a community development context, adult health and social care, learning support or public health/health improvement (including unpaid work)
  • Experience in supporting people, their families and carers in a related role (including unpaid work)
  • Experience in supporting people with their mental health, either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacity
Desirable
  • Experience with social prescribing models.
  • Knowledge of GP clinical IT systems (Systm1)
  • Experience in data collection and using tools to measure the impact - of services
  • Experience in partnership/collaborative working and building relationships across a variety of organisations
  • Experience working in a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Experience working with voluntary organisations including volunteers.
  • Experience in producing individual care plans.
  • Experience in managing a caseload.
  • Experience in supporting people in a paid or unpaid capacity.

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