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The Role of the Social Prescribing Link Worker
At THC Primary Care, we provide resources to support primary care network leaders.
Recently we hosted a webinar covering the role of the social prescriber featuring Co-Chair of the National Social Prescribing Network Sian Brand and Dr Marie Anne Essam where we covered social prescribing and personalised care in detail.
Even though the role is pretty established, we repeatedly receive lots of questions about the role from people who are struggling, so, in this blog, we wanted to share some of the key takeaways and provide a summary of what the role entails and the value the Social Prescribing Link Worker can add.
In this blog, we walk through:
➡ Defining Social Prescribing and the Link Worker role
➡ Why the service is required
➡ Skills and objectives of the role
➡ How to embed the service within the practice and network framework
➡ Measuring success
➡ Centrally available resources and guidance
There is a lot to take in and consider, so you may need to come back to the blog and work out what resonates, what could you consider and what you may need to park for now, but before we jump in, this blog is timely with the recently published Delivery Plan for Recovering Access to Primary Care.
This document talks about the increasing need for faster navigation, assessment and response and how the social prescribing workforce enhances access and the patient journey as they understand the services available in our local communities.
The recovery plan also acknowledges that social prescribing link workers do improve patient outcomes and reduce pressure on primary care.
Let’s jump in!
What is a Social Prescribing Link Worker?
Social prescribing, by definition, is a means of connecting people to community activities, groups, and services which offer practical social and emotional support to optimise the health and wellbeing of a patient and their families.
Working alongside GPs and other clinical leads, the link workers work hard to understand what does and doesn’t matter to the patient.
They are quite literally a link point between the patient, their practice, and those within the patient’s community (eg. housing, social care, employer, mental health services.).
They are committed to joining everyone up and in embedding a fully integrated approach to care, in order to achieve transformative change.
Why do we need this service?
It is estimated that between 25%-40% of medical appointments are linked to social reasons and not medical.
Social prescribing has been successful so far because patients are supported, via a system of signposting, to access a suite of services which can better meet their needs.
This means there is less pressure on primary care more widely as clinical appointments are freed up.
Skills and Objectives
The ability to create trusting relationships and enable transformative conversations is the absolute bedrock of this role. Alongside developing a detailed knowledge (and contacts list) of community and voluntary-based support services, link workers are trained in the following:
✅ Motivational interview
✅ Active listening
✅ Basic coaching skills
There is also a need to persuade and support the PCN to understand the differences between a more traditional pathogenic pathway (which tends to be medically inclined) and the newer social model, which is based on upskilling and educating people about how to look after themselves, where to access support outside of healthcare and reduce dependency on medical interventions.
How does the service align with the practice and the wider network?
Referrals In
Some GP practices still believe that the referral should be made internally; however, one of the aims of social prescribing is to reduce pressure on GP consultation times.
Instead, referrals could be made via self-referral, through the ambulance, voluntary sector, DWP, or library, and not restricted to healthcare providers.
The establishment of a range of referral points should ensure early intervention to either prevent further progression to, or the requirement for, medical assistance, and / or compliment any ongoing medical treatments.
The Consultation
The value of social prescribing is that a personalised care approach is offered.
The amount of time or appointment a link worker spends offers every individual varies on the level of need to achieve the valued change.
Development of a standardised practice or network model requires dedication and input from multiple parties within the practice or network.
Also consider inclusion of the link worker within any MDT meetings, particularly where more complex patients are concerned.
Joining up with community and voluntary sector services
One of the main components of the role is maintaining and updating a core list of contacts for predominantly charitable organisations and local voluntary groups but also establishing relationships with commissioned services such as drug and alcohol services, mental health support providers and wider health and social care teams.
Day-to-day support for the Link Worker
✅ Ensure there is a system of supervision for the link worker, including dedicated time with an allocated clinical lead to discuss any concerns, gaps in services and / or complex cases.
✅ Encourage sharing of best practice amongst peers.
✅ Provision of regular and up to date training is a must; particularly within all the usual key areas such as safeguarding, to allow for timely review where improvement may be required.
✅ Support link workers to develop stakeholder relationships (where required) to help them navigate the network and neighbourhood teams, and so that they can enhance their scope of practice.
Measuring Success
There are a number of ways a practice or network can measure the success of the service and here are a few we’d recommend:
🎯 The PCN and ICB should choose a particular outcome measure which they can consistently and regularly be able to evidence.
For example, the number of medical appointments freed up can be measured by doing a basic internal audit of link worker activity versus number of clinical appointments.
If there is an elevated number of social prescribing appointments and a reduced number of clinical appointments, this clearly demonstrates a positive impact.
🎯 In relation to the above, good data is always crucial in measuring performance however within this context, this would directly fulfil the NHS England requirement to benchmark workforce investment by 2024.
🎯 It’s an oldie but a goodie but implementation of a patient satisfaction survey is always a solid way of measuring how well a service is performing.
🎯 Produce and publish a case study! There is nothing more inspirational (or convincing) than a well-documented personal journey of success.
Available tools and resources
Information and guidance on all aspects of the Social Prescribing Link Worker role, from job description templates to guidance on basic training requirements, how to operate, career development (and more) can be found within these incredibly useful links:
We hope this helps.
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About the author
I'm Tara; I am the founder of THC Primary Care; an award-winning healthcare consultancy specialising in Primary Care Network Management and the host of the Business of Healthcare Podcast, where we have now published over 200 episodes.
I have over 20 years of project management and business development experience across the private and public sectors, and I have supported over 50 PCNs by providing interim management, training, and consultancy.
I have managed teams across multiple sites and countries; I have an MBA in Leadership and Management in Healthcare, I'm published in the London Journal of Primary Care, and I am the author of over 250 blogs.
I have three children. My eldest has Asthma, my middle child has a kidney condition called Nephrotic Syndrome, and my youngest daughter has Type 1 Diabetes, so outside of work, healthcare plays a huge role in my life.
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