Job summary
The post-holder is a Social Prescribing Link Worker employed under the Network DES ARRS scheme.
You will work as part of the multidisciplinary primary care team to support patients with non-medical issues that affect their health and wellbeing, such as social, emotional, and practical needs. This includes providing one-to-one support, helping patients identify what matters to them, and working with them to develop personalised plans to improve their health and wellbeing.
You will receive referrals from GPs and other healthcare professionals and support patients through structured conversations, helping them access appropriate community, voluntary, and statutory services. This may include housing support, debt advice, employment services, lifestyle support, and community activities.
A key part of the role is building and maintaining strong links between the practice and local community organisations. You will keep up to date with available services and help ensure patients are connected to the right support.
You will also be responsible for accurate recording of patient interactions on clinical systems, supporting reporting requirements, and ensuring all work is delivered in line with safeguarding, governance, and practice policies.
Working closely with the wider clinical team, you will help to address the wider determinants of health and reduce health inequalities by supporting a holistic approach to patient care.
You will be an integral part of the general practice team.
Main duties of the job
The Social Prescribing Link Worker supports patients whose health and wellbeing are affected by non-medical issues such as social, emotional, and practical needs. The role involves working with a caseload of patients referred by the clinical team and providing structured, person-centred support.
You will spend time with patients to understand their circumstances, what matters to them, and what support they may need. This includes helping them to access community services, voluntary organisations, and other local support networks that can improve their health and wellbeing.
A key part of the role is building trusting relationships with patients and supporting them to take positive steps towards improving their situation. This may involve regular follow-up, helping to set goals, and encouraging engagement with appropriate services.
You will work closely with colleagues within the practice as well as external organisations to ensure patients receive joined-up and appropriate support. This includes sharing relevant information, attending meetings where appropriate, and helping to coordinate care.
The role also involves keeping accurate and timely records of patient interactions, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of local services, and contributing to the smooth running of the service.
This is a varied role that requires good communication skills, empathy, organisation, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a busy primary care environment.
About us
The Arch Medical Practice is a GP training practice based in Hulme, close to Manchester city centre. We provide primary care services to a diverse and growing patient population and are committed to delivering safe, high-quality, and accessible care.
We are a large multidisciplinary team made up of GPs, nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, healthcare assistants, and administrative and reception staff. We work closely together in a supportive and collaborative way, with regular meetings to support communication, continuity, and shared decision-making.
As a training practice, we support GP trainees and other learners, and learning and development is part of everyday working life. We also work closely with our Primary Care Network and wider health and social care services to support joined-up patient care.
We aim to maintain a friendly and supportive working environment where staff feel valued and listened to. We recognise the pressures of primary care and focus on safe, sustainable working practices alongside good teamwork and open communication.
Staff wellbeing is important to us and we offer a range of benefits including free on-site parking, staff yoga sessions, walking group, free fruit and breakfast items, Cycle to Work scheme, standing desks, practice fleeces, and an Employee of the Month scheme.
We encourage staff development and provide opportunities for learning, supervision, and progression within a supportive environment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The following
are the core responsibilities of a Social Prescribing Link Worker in delivering
health services. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other
tasks. This will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing
levels:
a. Manage a
caseload of patients referred by GPs and the wider multidisciplinary team,
including individuals with complex social, emotional, and practical needs
impacting health and wellbeing
b. Undertake
holistic assessments of patients and families in complex or vulnerable
situations, identifying wider determinants of health and co-producing
personalised care and support plans
c. Act as an
advocate for patients, supporting them to access appropriate community,
voluntary, and statutory services
d. Provide
structured, person-centred support through one-to-one interventions, including
goal setting, motivational support, and regular follow-up
e. Maintain
accurate, timely, and detailed clinical records using the EMIS clinical system,
ensuring all patient contacts, plans, and outcomes are clearly documented in
line with practice policy and professional standards
f. Support
the development of new ways of working within the practice to deliver
whole-person, holistic care for patients and communities
g. Build and
maintain strong working relationships with local community groups, voluntary
sector organisations, and statutory services to support patient pathways and
reduce health inequalities
h. Act as a
key link between the practice and external agencies, attending
multi-disciplinary and multi-agency meetings where appropriate
i. Produce
clear and accurate reports, summaries, and case notes based on assessments,
outcomes, and patient progress
j. Support
safeguarding processes by identifying concerns, maintaining accurate
safeguarding records, and escalating appropriately in line with practice
safeguarding policies
k. Work in a
transparent and collaborative way to ensure continuity of care, enabling other
team members to take over cases where required
l. Encourage
awareness within the practice team of patients and households who may benefit
from social prescribing support or safeguarding intervention
m. Support
adults and families with complex needs, using structured assessment tools where
appropriate to identify risk, vulnerability, and unmet need
n. Maintain
up-to-date knowledge of local services, community resources, and support
networks to ensure patients are signposted effectively
o. Attend
regular multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss complex cases, share
information appropriately, and contribute to joined-up care planning
p. Work in
line with all practice policies and procedures, including safeguarding adults
and children, information governance, and confidentiality requirements
q. Access
regular clinical supervision and reflective practice to support safe,
effective, and consistent delivery of care
Job description
Job responsibilities
The following
are the core responsibilities of a Social Prescribing Link Worker in delivering
health services. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other
tasks. This will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing
levels:
a. Manage a
caseload of patients referred by GPs and the wider multidisciplinary team,
including individuals with complex social, emotional, and practical needs
impacting health and wellbeing
b. Undertake
holistic assessments of patients and families in complex or vulnerable
situations, identifying wider determinants of health and co-producing
personalised care and support plans
c. Act as an
advocate for patients, supporting them to access appropriate community,
voluntary, and statutory services
d. Provide
structured, person-centred support through one-to-one interventions, including
goal setting, motivational support, and regular follow-up
e. Maintain
accurate, timely, and detailed clinical records using the EMIS clinical system,
ensuring all patient contacts, plans, and outcomes are clearly documented in
line with practice policy and professional standards
f. Support
the development of new ways of working within the practice to deliver
whole-person, holistic care for patients and communities
g. Build and
maintain strong working relationships with local community groups, voluntary
sector organisations, and statutory services to support patient pathways and
reduce health inequalities
h. Act as a
key link between the practice and external agencies, attending
multi-disciplinary and multi-agency meetings where appropriate
i. Produce
clear and accurate reports, summaries, and case notes based on assessments,
outcomes, and patient progress
j. Support
safeguarding processes by identifying concerns, maintaining accurate
safeguarding records, and escalating appropriately in line with practice
safeguarding policies
k. Work in a
transparent and collaborative way to ensure continuity of care, enabling other
team members to take over cases where required
l. Encourage
awareness within the practice team of patients and households who may benefit
from social prescribing support or safeguarding intervention
m. Support
adults and families with complex needs, using structured assessment tools where
appropriate to identify risk, vulnerability, and unmet need
n. Maintain
up-to-date knowledge of local services, community resources, and support
networks to ensure patients are signposted effectively
o. Attend
regular multidisciplinary team meetings to discuss complex cases, share
information appropriately, and contribute to joined-up care planning
p. Work in
line with all practice policies and procedures, including safeguarding adults
and children, information governance, and confidentiality requirements
q. Access
regular clinical supervision and reflective practice to support safe,
effective, and consistent delivery of care
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional qualification and/or extended experience in health or social field, being a nurse, health visitor, social worker, probation worker, youth worker background.
Desirable
- Evidence of ongoing professional development.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Professional qualification and/or extended experience in health or social field, being a nurse, health visitor, social worker, probation worker, youth worker background.
Desirable
- Evidence of ongoing professional development.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
