What is a Social Prescription Link Worker?
A Social Prescription Link Worker provides non-medical support to help patients connect with community services, activities, and social groups that can improve their emotional, physical, and overall well-being.
In many cases, a GP may recognize that a patient’s needs cannot always be met with medication alone. If a patient is experiencing stress, loneliness, or social isolation, social prescribing offers a holistic, personalized care approach that considers both health and social needs.
How Social Prescribing Works
Social prescribing is part of NHS England’s Personalised Care Programme (Learn More). Instead of asking, “What’s the matter with you?”, social prescribing focuses on the question, “What matters to you?” to explore a patient’s interests and available community resources.
What Can Social Prescribing Help With?
A referral to social prescribing may include support for:
✔ Physical & emotional well-being
✔ Learning new skills, education, or creative workshops
✔ Support for returning to work or volunteering opportunities
✔ Support groups for long-term conditions, disabilities, and carers
✔ Guidance on benefit entitlements, housing, and debt advice
✔ Reducing loneliness and social isolation with befriending services & social activities
How Does It Work?
1️⃣ Consent & Initial Consultation: The patient consents to social prescribing, and a one-on-one session is scheduled.
2️⃣ Exploring Options: The Link Worker discusses available community resources based on the patient’s needs and interests.
3️⃣ Creating a Personalised Plan: A customized action plan is developed, outlining the next steps.
4️⃣ Ongoing Support & Review: Support can last from one week to six months, depending on the complexity of the situation. The plan is periodically reviewed and adjusted as needed.
5️⃣ Onward Referrals: Patients may be referred to community organizations offering physical and emotional support to enhance their well-being.
How Social Prescription Links with Other Services
Social prescribing works closely with Health & Wellbeing Coaching and can also be accessed through co-produced webinars and group sessions. These may cover topics such as:
📌 Women’s Health Program (menopause, health screenings, anxiety, mindfulness)
📌 Healthy Eating & Exercise
📌 Mental Well-being Resources (including the ShinyMind App)
At Oasis PCN, our Health and Wellbeing Team collaborates to provide optimal care, empowering patients to set and achieve realistic goals. More vulnerable patients are discussed in Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meetings, ensuring that clinical health checks and medication reviews are included in their personalized care plans.
If you think Social Prescribing could benefit you, contact your GP reception team today!