Social Prescribing Link Worker

Salary: £27,321.00 per annum

Hours: Full time 36.5 hours per week, including Saturday

Location: Solihull Health Partnership

Contract type: Fixed term until November 2025

The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) is a cooperative dedicated to fostering healthier, happier communities by addressing the social determinants of health and reducing health inequalities. Our mission is to empower individuals and communities as agents of social change, enabling them to overcome barriers to well-being. 

This role supports a groundbreaking initiative across Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and Community organisations. Through holistic care and community connections, this role contributes directly to narrowing health disparities and improving health outcomes in Solihull. 

About us

Solihull Health Partnership

Solihull Healthcare Partnership (SHP) is a partnership which provides NHS GP services to over 55,000 patients through one individual GP practice operating from seven surgeries across Solihull/Shirley. A partnership is made up of GP practices who come together to form one single partnership.

SHP’s vision is to provide local care to patients, forging a strong relationship between our multidisciplinary team within our healthcare centres and patients whilst at the same time being part of a larger organisation and benefitting from wider resources, of a larger organisation. We have a small centralised management team that support our GP practices and provide services such as HR, IT, finance, governance and communications. which means our GP practice teams can concentrate their energies on providing excellent care to our patients.

We are dedicated to improving healthcare provision and share a belief that General Practice is the foundation of NHS Services.

We aim to meet the growing needs and expectations of our patients without losing continuity of care, and we work together to find new innovative solutions that will provide high quality, excellent care for all.

Location

Based at Monkspath Surgery, there is a requirement to travel between sites depending on patient and business needs.

Blossomfield Surgery

Dickens Heath Medical Centre

Grove Surgery

Haslucks green Medical Centre

Monkspath Surgery

Shirley Medical Centre

The Jacey Practice

Role Summary 

As a Social Prescribing Link Worker, you will support individuals referred by healthcare professionals, co-designing personalised wellbeing plans that address both immediate health needs and the wider social determinants of health. By connecting patients to nature-based and community activities, you’ll play a vital role in reducing health inequalities and improving access to holistic care. 

Patient Support: 

Manage referrals, conduct holistic assessments, and co-develop personalised social prescriptions that address physical, mental, and social health. 

Support patients in overcoming barriers such as isolation, lack of access to resources, and chronic health conditions. 

Empower individuals to make sustainable changes that improve their overall well-being, reducing reliance on medical interventions. 

Collaboration & Community Engagement: 

Work with PCNs and healthcare professionals to embed social prescribing as a vital service within primary care. 

Build and maintain partnerships with local organisations to connect patients to resources that address social determinants such as housing, employment, and food security. 

Promote inclusivity and ensure equitable access to support for Solihull’s diverse communities. 

Monitoring & Reporting: 

• Maintain accurate records of service delivery and outcomes, including the impact on reducing health disparities. 
• Provide regular reports to managers and PCNs, ensuring compliance with key performance indicators. 

Administrative Skills: 

• Proficiently use Microsoft Office packages 
• Confidently operate healthcare systems such as EMIS, SystmOne, and Docman to record and track patient information accurately and securely. 

Training & Development: 

• Participate in training on social prescribing, personalised care, and safeguarding, focusing on addressing health inequalities. 
• Share knowledge and approaches with colleagues to continually enhance service delivery and tackle systemic barriers to health. 

• Improved health and well-being for individuals, particularly those in underserved communities. 
• Reduced health inequalities by addressing social determinants such as isolation, financial hardship, and lack of access to resources. 
• Integrating social prescribing into primary care practices as a key strategy for promoting health equity. 
• Requirements 
• Experience or qualifications in community work, health, social care, or related fields. 
• Strong understanding of holistic support, behaviour change, and health inequalities. 
• Excellent communication, organisational, and data management skills. 
• Knowledge of safeguarding practices and equalities legislation. 
• Ability to work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends. 
• Familiarity with Solihull’s diverse communities and services is an advantage. 

We offer our team members a comprehensive staff benefits offering to include:

• Annual Leave – 38 days! 25 days AL (increasing to 29 days with service) plus 5 wellbeing days and 8 bank holidays.
• Nest Pension – 8% employer contribution - 3% employee contribution.
• Heath Cash Plan – giving you discounts on everyday healthcare such as dental, optical, physio, prescriptions & more.
• Employee Assistance Programme (counselling and DRs on call 24hrs a day).
• Fantastic volunteering opportunities within The Active Wellbeing Society every month.

Please submit a cover letter demonstrating how you meet the competencies required for the Social Prescribing Link Worker role. Ensure your application includes detailed responses to each of the questions outlined below 

• Building Strong Relationships with Individuals 

A cornerstone of successful social prescribing is the relationship between Social Prescribing Link Workers (SPLWs) and the individuals they support. Share an example of how you have successfully engaged and connected with individuals, demonstrating your ability to build trust and provide meaningful support. 

• Holistic Support and Goal Setting 

SPLWs use information gathered through their relationships to create tailored plans that support individuals connecting with their community for improved health and well-being. Describe how you plan holistic support, collaborate to establish goals, and achieve positive outcomes with the individuals you work with. 

• Leveraging Community Networks and Services 

Effective social prescribing depends on accessing various community activities and support services. Please explain how you use your skills to connect individuals with community networks, activities, and statutory or voluntary services, ensuring their needs are met comprehensively. 

• Safe Practice and Professional Frameworks 

SPLWs often work with individuals who have complex health or care needs. Highlight how you have followed approved models and frameworks to maintain safety, deliver evidence-based interventions, and record outcomes effectively. Provide an example that illustrates how you maintain professional relationships and ensure both you and the individual feel supported throughout the process.

Closing date: Sunday 5th January 2025 at midnight

Due to the high number of applications we received for our job vacancies, we may close application windows early, so we would encourage you to submit your application ASAP 

We will provide all applicants with an outcome on your application, usually within one week of the application window closing. 

Successful applicants will be required to be DBS checked before starting. 

Our customers come from all walks of life, and so do we; in recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring. The Active Wellbeing Society is committed to being an equal-opportunity employer. We recruit based on capability, and all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. At The Active Wellbeing Society, we are searching for people who share the passion for what we do with different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences, collectively making a difference. 

 If there is anything we can do to assist you in your application or preparations to be interviewed for one of our job vacancies, please let us know. We can ensure you have a positive and comfortable experience. 

I appreciate your interest in working for The Active Wellbeing Society; we look forward to receiving your application. 

If you have any questions after reading the Job Description or would like to discuss us and the role informally, please contact [email protected], and we will be happy to help.