About this role
Job summary
We have an opportunity available for someone to join our growing and innovative Primary Care Network and to play a vital role in helping people improve their health and wellbeing beyond traditional medical care. Working closely with GP practices and community partners, you will empower individuals to identify what matters most to them and connect them with the right local services, support groups, and resources.
This is a rewarding opportunity for someone who is passionate about making a real difference, building strong community connections, and helping people take positive steps towards better wellbeing. You'll be part of an integrated, supportive team delivering a high-quality social prescribing service, providing short-term, person-centred support that enables individuals to access the help they need quickly and confidently. If you enjoy working collaboratively, creating meaningful outcomes, and helping people live healthier, more connected lives, we'd love to hear from you.
The role is 16-20 hours per week across three days (work pattern to be discussed at interview. Although you will be working across all three practices within the network, you will be predominantly based at Caen Medical Centre, Braunton.
Main duties of the job
Manage a caseload of clients from initial contact through to timely onward referral or signposting, ensuring support remains time-limited and outcome-focused.
Triage referrals coming in to the team and direct to the most appropriate team.
Provide brief interventions (up to approx. 6 sessions) to encourage engagement with identified services and promote independence.
Maintain a strong awareness of local community provision and statutory services to enable effective and appropriate signposting.
Work collaboratively within the PCN and with local partners to ensure individuals are directed to the most appropriate support at the earliest opportunity.
Recognise when needs are beyond the scope of the role and escalate or refer to clinical or specialist professionals promptly.
Contribute to the ongoing development of the service, including maintaining up-to-date knowledge of community resources and social prescribing best practice.
About us
North Devon Coastal PCN are dedicated to delivering high-quality, patient-centred healthcare across our beautiful coastal region. Our network covers around 47000 patients from three GP practices - Caen Medical Centre, Combe Coastal Practice (including Woolacombe and Combe Martin) and South Molton Medical Centre. Our aim is to work collaboratively to bring together healthcare professionals, and support teams, to improve the health and wellbeing of our local community.
Nestled in one of the UKs most picturesque areas, our PCN not only provides essential health services but also thrives on collaboration, innovation, and a deep commitment to improving care for everyone. We believe in making healthcare accessible, personalised, and responsive, ensuring that every patient feels valued and supported.
As part of a dynamic and forward-thinking team, we are committed to bringing quality, inclusivity and innovation into healthcare, enhancing communication, and streamlining services to meet the needs of our patients more effectively. From supporting local vaccination programmes to implementing health initiatives, our teams work tirelessly to ensure that our community receives the best possible care.
Job description Job responsibilities
Role Purpose
Work as part of an Integrated team within a Primary Care Network (PCN) to deliver a coordinated and high-quality Social Prescribing Link Worker service, with a clear focus on signposting individuals to appropriate community, voluntary, and statutory services.
Provide light-touch, short-term support (approx. 6 sessions) to enable individuals to access relevant services, rather than offering long-term case management.
Empower people to take control of their health and wellbeing by focusing on what matters to me and supporting them to connect with appropriate resources.
Ensure individuals are supported to transition quickly to appropriate healthcare professionals or community services where ongoing or specialist support is required.
Core Responsibilities
Manage a caseload of clients from initial contact through to timely onward referral or signposting, ensuring support remains time-limited and outcome-focused.
Triage referrals coming in to the team and direct to the most appropriate team.
Provide brief interventions (up to approx. 6 sessions) to encourage engagement with identified services and promote independence.
Maintain a strong awareness of local community provision and statutory services to enable effective and appropriate signposting.
Work collaboratively within the PCN and with local partners to ensure individuals are directed to the most appropriate support at the earliest opportunity.
Recognise when needs are beyond the scope of the role and escalate or refer to clinical or specialist professionals promptly.
Contribute to the ongoing development of the service, including maintaining up-to-date knowledge of community resources and social prescribing best practice.
Key Tasks
Develop supportive, time-limited relationships with residents, focusing on their strengths and what matters to them, and enabling them to access appropriate services independently.
Triage referrals coming through to the practice and signpost to the appropriate service or book into the practice wellbeing team for further input.
Undertake client needs assessments (in practice and community settings) to identify appropriate signposting and referral pathways, using wellbeing measures where appropriate.
Manage a short-term caseload, ensuring regular review and timely progression to onward referral or discharge.
Provide light-touch support to help individuals engage with community groups, voluntary organisations, and statutory services, avoiding long-term dependency on the role.
Signpost or refer clients to appropriate services as early as possible, ensuring they are connected to sustainable sources of support.
Identify when a persons needs exceed the scope of the role and escalate to GPs, mental health professionals, or other relevant practitioners without delay.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of local services and identify any pressures or gaps in provision, sharing intelligence with the wider PCN team.
Engage in relevant training, supervision, and learning opportunities to maintain effective practice.
Contribute to monitoring and reporting requirements, including demonstrating the impact of short-term social prescribing interventions.
Participate in local networks to maintain awareness of community resources and referral pathways.
Key Principles of the Role
Short-term intervention (up to approx. 6 sessions), not long-term casework
Triage, Signposting and navigation, not service delivery
Light-touch support to enable independence
Timely escalation to clinical or specialist services when needed
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Experience of working directly in a community development context, adult health and social care, learning support or public health/health improvement (including unpaid work) Experience of supporting people, their families and carers in a related role (including unpaid work)
Desirable
Experience of supporting people with their mental health, either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacity
Skills Essential
Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities
Desirable
Knowledge of VCSE and community services in the locality
Qualifications Essential
GCSE Level qualifications or above Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal development
Desirable
Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience
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 Devon Coastal Primary Care Network
Address Caen Medical Centre
Caen Street
Braunton
Devon
EX33 1LR
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.northerndevoncoastal.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)