Social Prescribing in Action: Insights from Link Workers

Pseudonym - Josie 
Job title - Community Connector 
Demographic - adults over 18 (not specialised) 
Work setting - voluntary organisation 
Years as a link worker - over 4 years

Pseudonym - Kate 
Job title - Social Prescriber 
Demographic - Dementia patients 
Work setting - Primary Care Network (PCN) 
Years as a link worker - 1-2 years 

Kelly, London-based
Job title - Head of Social Prescribing 
Demographic – adult social prescribing within primary care 
Work setting - VCSFE, based within GP practices 
Years as a link worker - Over 4 years

Pseudonym - Jasmine 
Job title - Social Prescribing Link Worker 
Demographic - 18+ 
Work setting - GP Surgery 
Years as a link worker - Over 4 years 

Cheryl, London-based 
Job title - Social Prescribing Link Worker 
Demographic - Adults 18+ with pilot projects supporting Children & Young People (CYP) as well Asylum Seeker population. 
Work setting - PCN (13 GP Surgeries) 
Years as a link worker - 5 years 

Mary - Hope. The hope to support as much people as possible. 

Josie - I wanted to make a difference to people’s lives and help them to enjoy social activities as a way of improving their health and wellbeing. 

Kelly - I have seen firsthand both in a professional capacity and in my personal life how social factors impact our health and wellbeing, and I wanted to play a part in addressing these needs and helping to improve people's overall quality of life. Especially as this role links health and community services together, which I believe always felt detached from one another.  

Cheryl - A culmination of health and social care skills led to me seeking employment in social prescribing on return to work after having a family. I initially studied as a paediatric nurse before finishing with a BSc in health development and believe the non-medical and community support is as vital as medical support, if not more vital, for improved population health outcomes. 

Eve - I worked in my previous role in mental health for over 20 years, but I was becoming removed from working with the client base, I was managing staff and paperwork. I missed being client-focused, so I made the decision to move. 

Josie - I worked for a leisure trust managing community centres, staff and hiring out community spaces to local organisations. 

Kate - I worked in Finance. 

Kelly - My previous role was a young carers support worker. I have also worked supporting adults with drug and alcohol needs, families in need of emotional and practical support, children and adults with learning disabilities and more. 

Jasmine - I moved from being an Operational Manager (mental health & substance misuse). I had previous roles in community care, acute psychiatry, Drug Advice & Information, Care Officer. 

Cheryl - I had many different roles from Nursing to overseas charity sector work and in school support of children & families before being a stay-at-home mum for 7 years. 

Eve - I was a resource manager of a mental health assessment and rehab unit, and worked for just over 20 years in mental health assessment and rehab units for a neighbouring council. 

Briony - I was a social worker and had worked in a number of roles, including my most senior role as a Service Manager at a local authority. 

Tracey - I had been working for Princess Royal Trust for Carers. Previous to that my background was working for the County Council for 19 years across learning disability and physical disability day centres. I also have been a youth club leader for Mencap and won two awards. I have also done care agency work. 

Mary - Private care agency 

Lesley - I was a Team Secretary for mental health community team 

Beverly - Healthcare assistant 

Eleanor - Advanced practitioner role in urgent care 

Josie - A typical day will consist of around five client appointments. Most are on the telephone, but some will be face to face at my community base. I support and encourage people to take control of their own health and wellbeing by connecting them into their local communities. I have an in-depth understanding and knowledge of the neighbourhood in relation to services, groups and activities that help support people to improve wellbeing and can provide space for an individual to discuss what matters to them, help them to feel more connected to their community, help to increase confidence and feel less socially isolated by linking them into local groups and services. 

Kelly – In my current role as head of service, I spend the majority of my time liaising with other organisations and professionals within the borough, compiling reports, as well as providing support to my team and overseeing the daily delivery of our service. Previously, when working as a social prescriber, I would spend roughly five hours per day talking to patients. I would use the remaining working hours communicating with local organisations. 

Cheryl - I spend the majority of my time on cross-sector working to best support those referred by their GPs. The area has high levels of deprivation, but many grassroots organisations are working together to provide support. At times, things are still siloed but I believe social prescribing is working locally to bring down barriers and work in ways that meet the need of each patient. 

Eve - The majority of my day is spent working with patients, either in the GP surgery, a community setting or their own home, dependent on their preferences and needs. I work in isolation from other team members, but we are a close team, so there is always someone to chat to if required, and my manager is very supportive. I also work closely with a variety of local groups/organisations health and wellbeing coach, a care co-ordinator and non-specialist link worker  

Briony - I spend about half of my day talking to patients to understand any problems, set goals and outcomes and learn what is important to them. I then work to research solutions, connect with agencies or make suggestions of what may help. I attend meetings with the GP practice and have supervisions and one-to-ones with people I manage. I also work on the safeguarding caseload because I am a registered Social Worker, although my job title is Social Prescribing Link Worker. 

Jasmine - I enjoy the variety of the work, the collaborative approach, being able to make a difference to patients’ lives, and seeing people progress and improve. 

Cheryl - Patient support - whether one-to-one or proactively reaching those most marginalised. The feedback that people feel heard and well supported to meet the needs they care most about is a huge reward. 

Eve - Being patient focused, and working in such a person-centred way. 

Briony - Making relationships with people and listening. This is with patients, family, other professionals and staff. I love seeing people make positives changes to their life, but I also love working with people who don't manage to achieve this - so it is the connection that is more important than the change. 

Tracey - Making a difference to patients' lives. I have been doing the role for six years and its always an enjoyable challenge. 

Josie - Inappropriate referrals and speaking to clients where English isn't their first language as it can limit options available to them. 

Kate - Feeling isolated and with a lack of support. Dealing more with very complex mental health patients. But the hardest of all is the ambivalence of some of our surgery staff, who do not understand our value. 

Cheryl - The role doesn’t fit into a standard NHS appointment time, and with social prescribing is it important to assess qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Social prescribing needs flexibility. Even with money tight, it’s important to do what’s right not simply what ticks target boxes. This means difficult conversations and having a supportive clinical team makes all the difference to our profession being heard. 

Kate - Get proper supervision, understand the dynamics of what is happening in the NHS and continually train and learn what is in your area. Manage your own practice and try to demonstrate the advantages as much as you can to NHS colleagues. 

Kelly - Dedicate time to building strong working relationships with local organisations. Without their service, we would have nowhere to link our patients for support. 

Jasmine - I would advise link workers to have a proper induction into the role - see NASP’s Link Worker Induction Guide! Use induction time to familiarise yourself with the local area and get out and meet people and organisations. Spend time learning what the other roles in the practice do and build relationships with the reception team. Depending on previous roles and experience, access training in motivational interviewing or coaching, professional boundaries and building personal resilience. 

Briony - I would say that it is a lovely job. Focus on making relationships with people and don't measure success by outcomes. Outcomes are important but so is the ability to listen and be alongside people. 

Cheryl - It’s a marathon, not a sprint. We are a new service, so hold your values close and work for the interest of your clients while accepting where we are. Focus on the unbelievable wins and take every opportunity to talk about the social prescribing work and the difference it is clearly making. Be tenacious, as there’s often more support out there when you get to know your neighbourhood than is listed on any webpage. Most of all enjoy it! When you value what you offer those around you will too. 

Eve - Use your colleagues. They are a wealth of knowledge and great support - and don't be afraid to say what your limitations are. People I support sometimes have unrealistic expectations, so be clear and concise from the start about what your role is. We are not GPs, we cannot magic NHS dentists up from thin air or magic up social housing overnight! 

Kate - I have attended any free courses I could find. The MIND Essex mental health tool kit is exceptional - including courses on setting boundaries and being a wounded healer sleep courses, mindfulness and healthy eating.  

Kelly - I constantly emphasise the importance to my team of taking a lunch break, away from the screen. Regular screen breaks and breathing spaces between patient appointments are also useful. Meeting team members for a lunchtime coffee or going for a walk after work can also help. 

Jasmine - I have used the counselling support a couple of times offered through my employer. I have a supportive and kind manager in the practice which makes a huge difference to my wellbeing. I try to always go out for a walk at lunchtime. I have a reflexology appointment every six weeks. 

Cheryl - Find your champions and pull them in. Regular meetings or peer support and supervision with likeminded people makes all the difference. Make lists and finish work when it finishes so you can enjoy your life outside work too! 

Eve - Regular one-to-ones with my manager, who is very supportive. As a team, we check in with each other, and have regular team meetings and peer support sessions. We have access to council employee health care if required. 

Briony - My team and colleagues are important. I work hard to make positive contacts and relationships with partners. I don't take it personally or become disappointed when I don't hear back from colleagues. I realise social prescribing is new and being non-clinical is not always at the forefront of everyone's minds. I use CBT to jump on and squash negative thoughts. I make sure that the other Social Prescribers and I have a positive culture and can-do attitude. 

Josie - Appropriate referrals and those willing to engage. Good communication from partners and feedback regarding referrals. 

Kelly - More time to work in collaboration with local services to promote services and more opportunities to build gaps within provision highlighted by the team. 

Lesley - Improving awareness of our service, general public are still not quite sure of our roles in the community and in practices 

Beverly - Having access to better transport facilities i.e. voluntary drivers.