About this role
Job summary
Jurassic Coast Primary Care Network is looking for a compassionate and proactive Social Prescribing Link Worker to join our team on a permanent basis, working 22.5 hours per week.
You will help people improve their health and wellbeing by giving them time to talk about what matters to them and connecting them with practical, emotional and social support. This could include helping someone experiencing loneliness find a community group, supporting a carer to access local services, or connecting a person with housing or financial advice.
Working across our member practices and local communities in West Dorset, you will manage your own caseload, build trusting relationships and develop personalised support plans. Around 30% of your time will focus on community groups and social prescribing projects, giving you the opportunity to help strengthen local support and respond to unmet needs.
You will work alongside our Senior Social Prescribing Link Workers, wider PCN team, practice colleagues and community partners, with supervision and opportunities for ongoing development.
If you enjoy listening to people, building connections and helping individuals take positive steps towards better wellbeing, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
Your work will combine one-to-one patient support with community activities and projects. You will spend time listening to people, understanding the wider issues affecting their wellbeing and agreeing practical steps towards their goals.
You will manage your own caseload, meeting people in practice settings, community venues and their homes. Support may involve helping someone build confidence, reduce isolation or access advice about housing, money, employment or caring responsibilities. You will follow up to see how things are progressing and adapt support as their needs change.
Alongside this, you will help develop and run community groups with our Senior Link Workers, build relationships with local organisations and identify where additional support is needed.
You will work closely with practice colleagues and the wider PCN team, keep clear records and capture feedback and outcomes to show the difference the service makes. Recognising safeguarding concerns and knowing when someone needs clinical or specialist support will be an important part of your work.
About us
Jurassic Coast Primary Care Network (PCN) is a group of GP practices based in rural West Dorset, working together to provide high-quality, personalised healthcare to the local community. The PCN includes a mix of healthcare professionals like social prescribers, clinical pharmacists, digital care coordinators, and admin staff. These teams work across several hubs in the area to make sure everyone can access the care they need.
The PCN prides itself on being supportive and inclusive, with a real focus on staff well-being as a key part of delivering great patient care. Its built on values like respect, attention to detail, active listening, openness, empowering patients, and always learning and improving.
People who work there often describe it as fast-paced, lively, and caring. Theres a real sense of teamwork and making a difference to the lives of local patients, with the beautiful surroundings of the Jurassic Coast providing an added bonus.
Job description Job responsibilities
The Social Prescribing Link Worker will provide personalised, non-clinical support to help people address the wider social, emotional and practical issues affecting their health and wellbeing. Working within Jurassic Coast PCN, the postholder will focus on what matters to each person, helping them identify their goals and access appropriate community and statutory support.
The role is approximately 70% individual caseload work and 30% community groups and social prescribing projects, flexing according to service need.
Key responsibilities
Manage and prioritise a caseload of referrals allocated by the Senior Social Prescribing Link Workers, covering referral triage during their absence when required.Build trusting, non-judgemental relationships with individuals, families and carers, and develop personalised care and support plans together.Connect people with appropriate support for issues such as loneliness, housing, employment, financial difficulties and caring responsibilities, following up and reviewing progress.Support proactive outreach to people who may benefit from social prescribing, helping to address health inequalities.Help the Senior Link Workers establish and run community groups, supporting these to become self-sufficient and transfer to volunteers or community partners.Build relationships with voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, identify gaps in local provision and share these with the Senior Link Workers.Work collaboratively with GP practices, the wider PCN team and partner agencies, promoting awareness of social prescribing and local resources.Recognise safeguarding concerns, respond in line with organisational procedures and refer to qualified clinical or specialist services when needs fall outside the scope of the role.Maintain accurate and timely records in SystmOne, record activity and outcomes, and contribute to service evaluation.Participate in supervision, relevant training and peer support, and follow PCN and practice policies on confidentiality, information governance, equality, health and safety and lone working.
The role involves regular travel between PCN practices, community venues and peoples homes across Bridport, Beaminster, Maiden Newton, Charmouth and Lyme Regis.
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of the role and applicant requirements.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
NVQ Level 3 or equivalent qualification. Training in motivational coaching or interviewing, or equivalent experience. Commitment to ongoing professional and personal development.
Desirable
Enrolled in, undertaking or already qualified through training or an apprenticeship leading to a Level 3 occupational standard relevant to the Social Prescribing Link Worker Workforce Development Framework.
Knowledge, Skills and Personal Qualities Essential
Knowledge of personalised care and the wider social factors affecting health and wellbeing. Proficiency in IT systems and administrative processes. Understanding of safeguarding and confidentiality. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. An empathetic, non-judgemental and person-centred approach. Ability to recognise and manage risk, and refer to qualified professionals when necessary. Flexibility, enthusiasm and a commitment to reducing health inequalities.
Desirable
Understanding of NHS policies. Understanding of NHS clinical systems and SNOMED codes.
Experience Essential
Experience in community development, public health, adult health or social care, gained through personal or professional experience. Experience supporting people with physical, emotional and/or mental health needs. Experience working collaboratively with voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations and community groups.
Desirable
Experience supporting small, volunteer-led community groups. Previous experience working in the NHS. Knowledge of local voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) services and resources.
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 Jurassic Coast Primary Care Network
Address West Allington
Bridport
Dorset
DT6 5BN
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.jurassiccoastpcn.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)