Job Description

Job Title: Community Link Worker – Social Prescribing
Location: Derby (Derby City South Primary Care Network)
Salary: £25,750 per annum
Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent (subject to continuation of funding)
Hours: 37 hours per week
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday, with occasional evening and weekend working (time off in lieu provided)
Start Date: ASAP
Driving Requirement: Full UK Driving Licence & Access to Own Vehicle (Essential)

About the Role

This is a rewarding and impactful opportunity to join an established service as a Community Link Worker – Social Prescribing, supporting individuals to take control of their health and wellbeing through a holistic, non-medical and person-centred approach.

Working in partnership with Derby City South Primary Care Network (PCN), you will support patients referred by GP practices who may be experiencing complex social, emotional, or practical challenges that are impacting their wellbeing. These may include loneliness, mental health challenges, financial hardship, housing issues, unemployment, or long-term health conditions.

As a Community Link Worker, you will take time to understand “what matters to the person” and work alongside them to co-produce personalised wellbeing action plans that build on their strengths, interests, and existing community assets. You will connect individuals to local voluntary, community, and statutory services, empowering them to improve their independence, resilience, and quality of life.

This role plays a key part in addressing health inequalities and reducing pressure on statutory health services by supporting people to access the right help, at the right time, in their local communities.

What’s in It for You

• £25,750 annual salary
• Full-time, permanent role (subject to funding continuation)
• Meaningful, people-centred work that makes a real difference to lives
• Opportunity to work closely with GP practices, NHS partners and the Voluntary & Community Sector
• Supportive, values-led working environment
• Full induction, training and ongoing professional development
• Opportunity to shape and develop social prescribing provision locally
• Time off in lieu for evening or weekend working
• Be part of a growing, innovative approach to community-based health and wellbeing support

Working Hours & Flexibility (Important)

• 37 hours per week
• Primarily Monday to Friday
• Occasional evening and weekend work to meet service demand
• Time off in lieu is provided for out-of-hours work
• Flexibility is essential to meet the needs of individuals and partner services

Key Responsibilities – Social Prescribing Support

• Receive referrals from GP practices within Derby City South PCN
• Build trusting, supportive relationships with individuals by giving time, listening actively, and focusing on “what matters to me”
• Take a holistic, person-centred approach to understanding individual needs, strengths and priorities
• Co-produce personalised wellbeing action plans that support improved health and wellbeing outcomes
• Support individuals to access appropriate community groups, voluntary organisations, and statutory services
• Provide practical and emotional support to help individuals overcome barriers such as loneliness, debt, housing issues, unemployment, or poor mental health
• Encourage self-management, prevention, and independence through strengths-based and asset-led approaches
• Support individuals to increase social connectedness, confidence, and resilience
• Use motivational interviewing, coaching and behaviour-change techniques to support positive outcomes
• Identify and assess risks, taking appropriate action and referring back to health professionals or services where needs fall outside the scope of the role

Partnership & Community Engagement

• Build strong working relationships with GP practices, PCN staff, NHS colleagues and wider partners
• Promote social prescribing and raise awareness of its benefits across health and community settings
• Work collaboratively with voluntary and community organisations to ensure they are supported to receive referrals
• Contribute to mapping and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of community assets and services in Derby
• Support the development of community capacity and sustainability by encouraging volunteering and peer support
• Liaise with the services Development Workers to ensure community groups have appropriate safeguarding and operational processes in place

Data, Monitoring & Reporting

• Accurately record engagement, action plans and outcomes using GP clinical systems and the services databases
• Collect data and monitoring information to assess the impact of social prescribing on individuals and services
• Provide feedback to referral agencies and contribute to service evaluation
• Encourage individuals to share feedback and lived experiences to support service improvement

Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain high standards of confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working and information governance
• Work in line with services policies and procedures
• Participate in supervision, team meetings and reflective practice
• Undertake ongoing training and professional development
• Contribute to service development, learning and continuous improvement
• Act at all times in a way that promotes equality, diversity and inclusion

Successful Applicant Profile

Essential Experience & Skills

• Experience supporting individuals in a related role (paid or unpaid)
• Experience in case management or coordinating support
• Strong person-centred, holistic approach to working with people
• Ability to build rapport and work in a non-judgmental, empathetic way
• Experience working with people facing social, emotional or practical challenges
• Understanding of the wider determinants of health and health inequalities
• Confident working with risk and knowing when to refer on appropriately
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to work independently, prioritise workload and manage a caseload
• Confident using IT systems, emails and digital record-keeping
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle
• Enhanced DBS (or willingness to obtain)

Desirable

• Experience working within the Voluntary and Community Sector
• Knowledge of local community services in Derby
• Training or experience in motivational interviewing or coaching
• Ability to speak one or more community languages

Values You Bring

• Innovative – open to new ideas and ways of working
• Dynamic – adaptable and proactive
• Dependable – reliable, accountable and professional
• Respectful – inclusive, compassionate and non-judgemental
• Kind – genuinely caring and people-focused

These values reflect the ethos of the service and the approach required to achieve the best outcomes for individuals and communities.

Apply Now

If you are passionate about empowering individuals, reducing health inequalities, and making a meaningful difference through community-based support, we would love to hear from you.

*This role requires a full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Some roles may require flexibility in working hours. All appointments are subject to satisfactory DBS and reference checks.*