Social prescribing link worker
Social prescribing link workers spend time working with people to connect them with local community activities and services that can improve their health and wellbeing.
A vital part of your role will be to build relationships with the people you are helping by listening carefully to what matters to them and what motivates them.
Life as a social prescribing link worker
Every day you’ll identify what is affecting someone’s health and wellbeing. You’ll then work with them to find services and activities that offer practical, social and emotional support that’ll improve their health and wellbeing. You’ll provide support to tackle issues which can affect health, working as a team with other healthcare professionals who may provide more traditional medical interventions.
You’ll usually work with someone over several sessions, depending on their needs. They may have long-term conditions, mental health problems or feel lonely or isolated. Some people may refer themselves to you, but most will come from diverse groups such as GPs, local NHS trusts and the emergency services.
You’ll build relationships with the people you are helping by listening carefully to what’s important to them and what motivates them. You’ll work with them to create personalised support plans that gives them control over their health and wellbeing.
Your role will then be to connect them with local community and voluntary groups offering a range of activities and services. This could be art classes, gardening clubs or exercise groups. You may help them seek more practical advice, for example on debt or housing issues.
Some social prescribing link workers work with specific groups such as children and young people or refugees.
Grace Namwanje
Social Prescribing Link Worker
Seeing them feel empowered and more in control of their well-being is incredibly rewarding.
How much can I earn?
Your salary as a social prescribing link worker will usually be between £25K and £29K a year, depending on your experience and where you work. See some of the current vacancies below.
Must-have skills
You'll need:
- excellent listening and communication skills
- empathy
- emotional resilience
- to be non judgmental
- willingness to work as part of team
- good IT and record keeping skills
- willingness to undertake training and develop skills
Entry requirements
There are no set entry requirements for this role but meeting competencies and completing qualifications on the job will be expected. However, your life experience, personal qualities and values are important too
Some employers may ask for basic numeracy and literacy plus some IT skills and relevant work experience. Some may also require a qualification at level 3 or above.
Once in a role, you will receive training and development to support you which could be through an apprenticeship or other accredited programme, for example from the NHS, Personalised Care Institute or the National Association of Link Workers. If you have a degree there may be an option to do a postgraduate course.
How to become a social prescribing link worker
Job vacancies are advertised on the NHS Jobs website. You can also find some current vacancies below.