Social Prescribing Link Worker

Working as a Social Prescribing Link Worker offers the unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on people's lives by addressing their health and wellbeing holistically. In this role, you'll empower individuals to take control of their health, focusing on "what matters to me" and connecting them to community groups and services that provide practical and emotional support.

Youll play a pivotal role in building personal and community resilience, helping to reduce health inequalities by tackling wider determinants of health such as debt, housing issues, and social isolation. Your work will support those with long-term conditions, mental health challenges, and complex social needs, making a real difference in improving their quality of life.

This role is not just about helping individualsits about fostering stronger, more sustainable communities. You'll collaborate with local partners to ensure community resources are accessible and thriving, even helping to inspire and establish new initiatives.

By joining us, you become part of a forward-thinking, compassionate team dedicated to transforming lives and strengthening the bonds that connect people to their communities. If you're passionate about empowering others and creating lasting change, this is the role for you., As a Social Prescribing Link Worker, your main role will be:

Receiving and Managing Referrals: Take referrals from GP practices within the PCN and support patients using social prescribing methods.

Providing Individualised Support: Work closely with individuals, their families, and carers to help them take control of their health and wellbeing, live independently, and improve their health outcomes.

Building Trusting Relationships: Spend time understanding each persons needs, focusing on what matters to me and taking a holistic approach to their health and priorities.

Co-Producing Support Plans: Collaborate with individuals to develop personalised plans that address their goals and connect them to community groups, activities, or statutory services.

Strengthening Community Networks: Support and enhance the capacity of local voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations to accept social prescribing referrals.

Promoting Wellbeing Awareness: Provide information and guidance about wellbeing and preventative approaches to improve overall health.

Addressing Wider Determinants of Health: Help individuals identify and address challenges like debt, poor housing, unemployment, loneliness, or caregiving responsibilities that impact their wellbeing.

Facilitating Community Engagement: When appropriate, accompany individuals to community groups, activities, or services to ensure they feel comfortable and supported. Follow up to ensure their needs are met and they feel included.

Abbey Health Primary Care Network believes in excellent care at the heart of the community. It comprises of 2 practices, The Maltings Surgery in St Albans, and Summerfield Health Centre in London Colney. Our vision is to forge a strong relationship between our multidisciplinary teams and the wider community to optimise the health and well-being of the population.

The Maltings Surgery is located in the centre of the city of St Albans with a growing population of approximately 19,000 patients. It is a progressive practice whose ethos focuses around three aims: staff and patient wellbeing, managing our workload safely and practice sustainability. We encourage personal development and a culture of support including mentoring and supervision. Our values are important to us and are embedded in everything we do for both our staff and our patients. Four pillars underpin our values: teamwork, respect, quality and community.

Summerfield Health Centre is located in London Colney, one of the biggest villages in Britain with a population of nearly 10,000 residents. London Colney has a lively and cosmopolitan community. Summerfield Health Centre has recently moved into a new, fit for purpose, health centre that creates a hub of community services. The surgery pledge that we promise to listen, to respond and treat our patients equally and with respect by providing an accessible professional service.