Social Prescribing Link Worker for SEND Families

Job description

Job responsibilities

A core focus of this post is supporting families of children/young people with Learning Disabilities (LD) and/or Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The SPLW will support families to navigate services, access inclusive community support, and build confidence and resilience. They will work closely with schools, family hubs, and children's services to ensure families can access timely, coordinated, and inclusive support. The SPLW will offer support in GP practices, community venues, and through facilitated group sessions, while managing and prioritising a dynamic caseload in line with need and risk.

Key responsibilities:

Receive and action referrals from a wide range of agencies, including GP practices, schools (including SENCOs), Family Hubs, children's services, pharmacies, hospital discharge teams, allied health professionals, social care, housing associations, job centres, fire service, police, and VCSE organisations.

Encourage self-referrals and enable access for communities that statutory services may find hard to reach, particularly SEND families

Provide tailored support to individuals, families, and carers using a strength-based and what matters to me approach.

Support families to understand and navigate local health, education, SEND and community services.

Offer practical and emotional support to help families build confidence, resilience and independence.

Use inclusive communication (e.g., easy-read, interpreters, visual aids) and make reasonable adjustments where required for LD/SEND needs.

Collaborate with schools (including SENCOs), family hubs, childrens services, and early help to coordinate support and reduce duplication. This role does not replace statutory casework or SEND keyworker functions

Strengthen local communities by enabling VCSE organisations and community groups to receive social prescribing referrals. Ensure they have safeguarding processes and can provide opportunities for social connection, skill-building, and confidence appropriate to the needs of people being referred

Share knowledge with partners about gaps in provision where this supports service planning and delivery.

Maintain strong awareness of adults and children's safeguarding and know when to refer individuals back to health professionals or other agencies for additional support.

Please see the Job Description and Person Specification document for further responsibilities for this role.

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of the needs of vulnerable adults and children, safeguarding and the associated legal framework.
• Knowledge of local health, SEND and social care provision.
• Awareness of how services and support are funded across health, education and social care.
• Understanding of the needs of SEND families and support available through schools, SENCOs, family hubs and children's services.

Desirable

• Knowledge of public health issues
• Familiarity with information systems used in clinical practice.
• Understanding of health and social care terminology.
• Understanding of the role and function of GP Federations and Primary Care Networks.
• Knowledge and understanding of GP Practices.

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE Grade C or above in Maths and English, or equivalent qualification.

Desirable

• Qualification in a health or social care.
• Safeguarding training relevant to working with children and vulnerable adults.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a similar role.
• Experience of working with vulnerable people.
• Experience of working with children, young people and/or families.
• Experience of working in a health, social care or education environment.
• Experience of coordinating services from diverse providers.

Desirable

• Experience of working in liaison capacity with social care or children's services.
• Experience of providing support in community or practice-based settings.
• Experience of working with schools or family support services.
• Experience of working within a mental health, Learning Disability or Special Educational Needs setting.

Other

Essential

• Full UK driving licence.
• Meet DBS reference standards.
• Highly motivated with a commitment to supporting SEND families.
• Willingness to work flexible hours when required to meet work demands.
• Able to demonstrate good time management skills.
• Undertake additional training relevant to the role.
• Be flexible to adjust to an evolving job description/ job role and be an integral part of that process.

Skills

Essential

• Ability to work collaboratively with schools, family hubs, and childrens services to support SEND families.
• Ability to manage and prioritise a caseload, responding to need and risk.
• Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or
• on own initiative.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to build relationships with patients, families and carers.
• Ability to adapt communication styles and methods to meet different needs, including SEND-related communication needs.
• Ability to provide personalised, strength based, support to individuals, their families and carers.
• Ability to listen and empathise with people in a non-judgmental way.
• Able to provide leadership and complete tasks in a timely manner.
• Able to maintain effective working relationships and promote collaborative working.
• Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team with a range of clinical and non-clinical professionals.

Desirable

• Ability to communicate difficult messages to patients and families.
• Experience of using clinical systems such as SystmOne / EMIS Web.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

North West Leicestershire GP Federation

Address

67 North Street

Whitwick

Coalville

Leicestershire

LE67 5HX

Employer's website

http://www.nwleicestershiregpfed.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)