Social Prescribing Link Worker ARC Primary Care Network

Job summary

ARC Bucks Primary Care Network

Social Prescribing Link Worker

Salary: From £28,000 dependent upon experience

Base: Penn Surgery / Beaconsfield Medical Centre (with expectation will travel to all member practices and home visits)

NHS Pension

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays pro rata

Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 confidential support

The Opportunity

This isn't simply about referring people to community services.

It's about helping people regain confidence, improve their wellbeing and take control of their health.

We're looking for a compassionate, motivated Social Prescribing Link Worker to join our multidisciplinary team at Arc Bucks Primary Care Network (PCN).

Main duties of the job

You'll work with people whose health is affected by issues such as loneliness, poor mental wellbeing, financial pressures, housing, caring responsibilities or social isolation, helping them access the support they need to live healthier, happier lives.

Every day is different. One day you might be supporting someone who has recently become isolated following bereavement. The next you could be helping a patient manage long-term anxiety by connecting them with local community groups, physical activity programmes or practical advice services.

You'll work alongside GPs, nurses, pharmacists, care coordinators, health and wellbeing coaches and voluntary sector partners to provide genuinely personalised care that focuses on what matters most to everyone.

You'll have the freedom to build meaningful relationships.

You'll be encouraged to develop new ideas.

Most importantly, you'll have the opportunity to make a lasting difference to people's lives.

Purpose of the Role

To empower people to improve their health and wellbeing by connecting them with community support, building confidence and resilience, and helping them achieve the goals that matter most to them.

Working as part of the multidisciplinary team, you'll support patients whose health and wellbeing are affected by wider social, emotional or practical factors, reducing health inequalities and enabling people to live well within their communities.

About us

About FedBucks

FedBucks is a not-for-profit GP federation of 45 GP practices covering a population of over 550,000 patients across Buckinghamshire. We began in 2016 and now employ around 300 members of staff at our head office site, and across our planned and unplanned care services.

As a GP Federation and Social Enterprise, we are proud to represent our member practices and to champion primary care by working with local general practice and system partners in the provision of community-based healthcare services. We are dedicated to providing safe and compassionate care to our patients across our range of planned and unplanned healthcare services in Buckinghamshire and believe in continuous commitment to quality service delivery and positive patient outcomes.

Patients are at the heart of everything we do, and we pride ourselves in our purpose when enabling excellent patient care and supporting general practice.

The successful applicant will be required to undergo an enhanced background check (e.g., DBS) prior to appointment, and regular safeguarding training will be provided and required.

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Patient Support

• Provide personalised one-to-one support through social prescribing conversations.
• Develop personalised care and support plans based on individual goals.
• Build trusting relationships with patients through coaching and motivational interviewing techniques.
• Support patients to improve confidence, independence and self-management.

Community Connections

• Connect people with voluntary, community and statutory services.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with local organisations and community groups.
• Promote local wellbeing activities and support networks.
• Identify gaps in community provision and help develop new opportunities where appropriate.

Partnership Working

• Work as an integral member of the PCN INT multidisciplinary team.
• Collaborate with GPs, nurses, pharmacists, care coordinators, health and wellbeing coaches and wider professionals.
• Attend multidisciplinary team meetings where appropriate.
• Support personalised care across the PCN.

Reducing Health Inequalities

• Support people experiencing social isolation, loneliness and wider determinants of health.
• Help improve access to community support for vulnerable groups.
• Promote prevention, wellbeing and self-care.
• Contribute to improving outcomes for patients experiencing health inequalities.

Quality and Development

• Maintain accurate clinical records using GP systems.
• Monitor outcomes and demonstrate the impact of social prescribing.
• Contribute to service development and continuous improvement.
• Participate in supervision, training and ongoing professional development.

What Were Looking For

Essential

Experience supporting people within health, social care, community or voluntary sector settings.

Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

A compassionate, person centred approach.

Ability to motivate and empower people to achieve their goals.

Strong organisational and time management skills.

Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Good IT skills.

Experience of social prescribing.

Desirable

Knowledge of local voluntary and community services.

Experience using EMIS GP clinical system.

Understanding of personalised care and health inequalities.

Experience of motivational interviewing, health coaching or behaviour change techniques

What We Offer

A rewarding role where you'll make a genuine difference every day.

A supportive multidisciplinary team that values collaboration.

Opportunities for learning, development and career progression.

Regular supervision and peer support.

The opportunity to help shape and develop social prescribing across the PCN.

A flexible, innovative working environment focused on improving patient outcomes

About Arc Bucks PCN

Arc Bucks Primary Care Network serves around 50,000 patients across four GP practices in South Buckinghamshire. We bring together a wide range of professionals to provide joined-up, personalised care that improves health, reduces inequalities and supports people to live independently within their communities.

We believe that health is about far more than medicine alone. By investing in social prescribing and personalised care, we're helping people access the support, confidence and connections they need to live healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Person specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience supporting people within health, social care, community or voluntary sector settings.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• A compassionate, person centred approach.
• Ability to motivate and empower people to achieve their goals.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Good IT skills.

Desirable

• Knowledge of local voluntary and community services.
• Experience using EMIS GP clinical system.
• Understanding of personalised care and health inequalities.
• Experience of motivational interviewing, health coaching or behaviour change techniques

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to GCSE Standard