Social Prescriber in Coventry

Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through referral to link workers who focus on what matters to the person and adopt a holistic approach. These link workers support existing community groups, help people start new ones and collaborate with local partners as part of the primary care network (PCN) multi‑disciplinary team.

Coventry Navigation 1 PCN consists of 11 GP practices covering approximately 90,000 patients, operating within the city of Coventry.

Responsibilities

• Promote social prescribing, its role in self‑management and the wider determinants of health.
• Build relationships with GP practice staff within the PCN, attend relevant meetings and provide monitoring and evaluation reports.
• Develop strong links with local agencies to encourage referrals and build confidence in the service.
• Raise awareness of social prescribing with agencies to reduce pressure on statutory services and improve health outcomes.
• Seek regular feedback about service quality and impact on referral agencies.
• Encourage self‑referrals and connect with hard‑to‑reach communities.
• Provide empathetic, non‑judgemental support, focusing on the person’s assets and priorities.
• Help people identify wider issues affecting health (e.g., debt, housing, unemployment, loneliness, caring responsibilities).
• Collaboratively produce personalised support plans for individuals.
• Facilitate introductions to community groups and statutory services and follow up to ensure engagement.
• Support people to explore personal health budgets and develop skills for meaningful employment where suitable.
• Support community groups and voluntary organisations to receive referrals, building a catalogue of community assets.
• Ensure referred groups have safeguarding procedures, information governance and GDPR compliance.
• Develop volunteer teams, encourage peer support, volunteering and new community group formation.
• Collect data on impact, capture key information for monitoring and report outcomes.
• Coordinate with GP practices on referral codes, EMIS system entries and data protection legislation.
• Complete required online training and review and develop role responsibilities.
• Adhere to organisational policies (confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, GDPR, health and safety).
• Access clinical supervision to manage challenging situations.
• Undertake any tasks consistent with the scope of the post.

Person Specification – Experience

• Experience of working directly in a community development context, Adult Health and Social Care, Learning Support or Public Health/Health Improvement (paid or voluntary).
• Experience of supporting people, their families and carers in a related role (paid or voluntary).
• Experience of working with the voluntary sector including volunteers and small community groups.
• Experience of partnership/collaborative working across a variety of organisations.
• Experience of working in Primary Care/GP practice.
• Experience of data collection and providing reports for monitoring and evaluating impact of services.
• Experience of supporting people with mental health needs (paid or voluntary).

Person Specification – Qualifications and Skills

• Ability to listen, empathise with people and provide person‑centred support in a non‑judgemental way.
• Ability to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity.
• Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively reaching all communities.
• Ability to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential.
• Strong communication skills (verbal and written) with people, families, carers, community groups, partner agencies.
• Ability to identify risk and manage risk when working with individuals.
• Awareness of appropriate referral pathways when a need exceeds the Social Prescriber remit.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships and promote collaborative practice.
• Commitment to collaborative working with local agencies and multidisciplinary services.
• Demonstrates personal accountability, emotional resilience, and works well under pressure.
• Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative, including meeting deadlines.
• High level of written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or independently.
• Knowledge of policies and procedures (confidentiality, GDPR, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, health and safety).
• Commitment to professional and personal development.
• Knowledge of IT systems and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, email).
• Knowledge of personalised care approach.
• Supports and respects data protection legislation (Data Protection, Data Sharing Agreements with CCG).
• Willingness to work flexible hours when required.
• NVQ Level 3, Advanced level or equivalent qualifications, or working towards.
• Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience.
• Meets DBS reference standards and has a clear criminal record (spent convictions).

Person Specification – Personal Qualities

• Strong integrity and loyalty.
• Polite and confident demeanour.
• Initiative, discretion and sensitivity.
• Effective communication of complex and sensitive information across all levels.
• Risk identification and management.
• High levels of integrity, loyalty and personal accountability.
• Organising, planning and prioritising under pressure and tight deadlines.
• Emotional resilience and works well under pressure.
• High level of written and oral communication skills.
• Knowledge of and ability to work to policies and procedures (confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, health and safety).

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.