Social Prescribing Link Worker

Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to non-medical link workers, who give time, focus on what matters to me. They take a holistic approach, connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support. Link workers support existing groups to be accessible and sustainable and work collaboratively with all local partners. Social prescribing can help to strengthen community resilience and personal resilience and reduces health inequalities. These roles help address the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity. Increasing peoples active involvement, supporting people with long-term conditions (including support for mental health), and those who are lonely or isolated can have a positive effect on wellbeing.,

• Take referrals from and make referrals to a wide range of agencies within primary care networks,
• Developing trusting relationships by giving people time and focus on what matters to me.
• Take a holistic approach, based on the persons priorities and the wider determinants of health.
• 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/agencies, 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.
  
  PML is a successful not-for-profit, GP-led organisation providing various NHS community and primary care clinical services to patients across Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire. We have evolved as a NHS healthcare provider since 2004 and in the last few years have grown significantly, now employing around 300 staff with a turnover of circa £16m. PML holds GMS contracts, as well as being a GP Federation representing circa 50 GP practices covering approximately 650,000 patients.