Social prescribing is a way for local agencies to refer people to a link worker. Link workers give people time, focusing on ‘what matters to me’ and taking a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing. They connect people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.

Gateway Family Services, a local Community Interest Company, is working with a number of Primary Care Networks (PCNs)  in Birmingham and North Solihull to recruit Social Prescribing Link Workers. Employed by Gateway Family Services, each Link Worker will be integrated into the wider multi-disciplinary team of a PCN. This is part of NHS England’s Long Term Plan, which commits to building the infrastructure for Social Prescribing in primary care.

Position Title: Social Prescribing Link Worker

Salary: £20,750 - £21,500 pa (Pro rata) 

Hours per week: We currently have full and part time vacancies in Birmingham and a full time post in Solihull

Duration: Fixed term to end of March 2022 with potential extension beyond this point 

Location: Based in each PCN's GP surgeries, Link Workers will cover the North Solihull area, whilst the other will cover parts of Central and South Birmingham

The Link Worker will provide one-to-one support to people who are referred to them by GPs and the wider PCN team, helping them to increase their active involvement with their local communities. They may have issues such as debt, poor housing and physical inactivity, as well as loneliness, isolation and low level mental health concerns which affect their health and wellbeing.

The role will build trusting relationships with people, create a shared personalised care and support plan and connect them to community groups, VCSE organisations and other services. This approach particularly helps people with long term conditions (including poor mental health), people who are lonely or isolated, or who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.

You must be a good listener, have time for people and be committed to supporting local communities to care for each other. You should have experience of working positively with people facing complex social and emotional challenges.  You must also have a good knowledge of the area in which you’ll be based and what groups, activities and services are available there. For the Birmingham post an ability to speak another community language, or languages, would be highly desirable. 

Some evening and weekend working may be required.

An interview is guaranteed to suitably qualified and experienced people with disabilities.

All successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.

For more information and a job pack, please visit our website www.gatewayfs.org or click on the link 

Deadline for applications will be Sunday 25th July at midnight.