NHS Social Prescribing Link Workers

What to expect 

Health and wellbeing can be affected by many factors – housing, finances, relationships, unemployment, loneliness – that can’t be fixed with medicine or a medical intervention. Social Prescribing Link Workers are part of the Personalised Care Team at your GP surgery and will work with you to overcome whatever health challenges are important to you.

Social prescribing works particularly well for people who:

• have one or more long term conditions;
• who need support with low level mental health issues;
• who are lonely or isolated;
• who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.

You will chat with a Social Prescribing Link Worker who will get to know you, either in person, online or over the telephone. They may be able to help you with practical concerns – for example, putting you in touch with agencies that can help you with debt or housing. Or, if you are feeling socially isolated, they will help you find out about local groups and activities that match your interests and support you to attend them. The focus is on your individual needs and concerns – you won’t be pressurised to do anything you don’t want to do, but you will be encouraged and empowered.

More information

This service is for anyone over the age of 18.

You can make an appointment with a Social Prescribing Link Worker (sometimes called a Social Navigator) via your GP surgery – you don’t need a GP referral. Sometimes a GP will suggest that you meet with a Social Prescribing Link Worker if they think it would be helpful to you.

Social Prescribing Link Workers often work across several GP surgeries.

If you aren’t sure how to contact your local GP, you can find your local surgery here.

If you would like to register with a GP, you can find out more about how to do that here.

This service is free.