Overview
Working as a Social Prescribing Link Worker offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on people’s lives by addressing health and wellbeing holistically. You’ll empower individuals to take control of their health, focus on "what matters to me", and connect them to community groups and services that provide practical and emotional support.
You’ll 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, improving their quality of life.
This role is about fostering stronger, more sustainable communities. You’ll collaborate with local partners to ensure community resources are accessible and thriving, and you may help 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.
Responsibilities
* 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 health outcomes.
* Building Trusting Relationships: Understand each person’s needs, focusing on what matters to me and taking a holistic approach to health and priorities.
* Co-Producing Support Plans: Collaborate with individuals to develop personalised plans that address 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 such as debt, poor housing, unemployment, loneliness, or caregiving responsibilities that impact 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 needs are met and they feel included.
About Abbey Health Primary Care Network
Abbey Health Primary Care Network believes in excellent care at the heart of the community. It comprises two 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 health and wellbeing.
The Maltings Surgery and Summerfield Health Centre
The Maltings Surgery is located in the centre of St Albans with a growing population of approximately 19,000 patients. It is a progressive practice whose ethos focuses on staff and patient wellbeing, safe workload management, and sustainability. We encourage personal development with mentoring and supervision. Our values are embedded in everything we do for staff and patients. Four pillars underpin our values: teamwork, respect, quality, and community.
Summerfield Health Centre is located in London Colney, a large village with around 10,000 residents. It has a lively, cosmopolitan community and recently moved into a new, fit-for-purpose health centre that acts as a hub for community services. The surgery pledges to listen, respond, and treat patients equally and with respect by providing accessible, professional service.
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