Senior Social Prescribing Link Worker (SPLW) in Glastonbury

The Senior SPLW will provide day-to-day leadership for the PCNs Social Prescribing team, supporting and developing colleagues to deliver an efficient, person-centred service. Working closely with the PCN Manager, the post holder will help ensure the service runs smoothly, aligns with local priorities, and supports people's wellbeing.

This role is included within the extended hours provision and will involve working an evening and/or Saturday on a rota basis.

Main duties of the job include:

• Team leadership, complex case work and service development.
• Supporting safe and consistent ways of working, contributing to quality improvement, and acting as a senior point of contact for safeguarding or complex situations.
• Building strong partnerships across primary care, local statutory services, community organisations and the VCSE sector to improve people's access to the support they need.

Job responsibilities include:

• Provide day-to-day leadership, line management and supervision to SPLWs and Health Connectors across West Mendip PCN.
• Help support a psychologically safe, supportive and inclusive working environment that promotes wellbeing, professional development and reflective practice.
• Support recruitment, induction, training and retention of Social Prescribing staff.
• Develop clear role expectations, caseload management frameworks and consistent ways of working across the team.
• Act as a senior point of contact for complex case discussions, safeguarding concerns and escalation.

• Work in conjunction with the PCN Manager to lead the ongoing development of the Social Prescribing service in line with PCN priorities, the NHS Long Term Plan and local population health needs.
• Collaborate with the PCN Manager to plan, implement and monitor quality improvement initiatives, ensuring robust governance and reporting arrangements.
• Ensure services are equitable, accessible and responsive to people experiencing health inequalities.
• Co-develop and implement standard operating procedures, pathways and outcome measures with the PCN Manager and relevant stakeholders.
• Contribute to audits, service evaluations and performance reporting, supporting the PCN Manager to demonstrate impact and value.
• Use insight, feedback and data to inform continuous improvement and service redesign.

• Hold a reduced caseload of complex individuals requiring advanced intervention, co-ordination or multi-agency input.
• Undertake holistic, person-centred assessments using a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach.
• Support individuals to identify goals, improve wellbeing and access appropriate community, statutory and VCSE support.
• Model best practice and mentor staff in advanced engagement and behaviour change approaches.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with GP practices, VCSE organisations, local authorities and other partners.
• Represent West Mendip PCN Social Prescribing at internal and external meetings, forums and networks.
• Support the development of sustainable community assets and referral pathways.
• Work collaboratively with PCN colleagues from other teams and within practices to support integrated care.

• Act as a safeguarding link between the PCN Social Prescribing team and GP practices, ensuring compliance with local and national safeguarding policies.
• Ensure accurate, timely and confidential record keeping in line with information governance requirements.
• Promote duty of candour, professional boundaries and ethical practice.
• Identify risks within the service, escalating appropriately.

• Provide regular supervision, appraisal and development planning for SPLWs and Health Connectors.
• Identify training needs and support continuous professional development.
• Facilitate peer learning, reflective practice sessions and team meetings.
• Support students, trainees or volunteers where applicable.

All post holders are required to adhere to West Mendip PCN policies and procedures, maintain personal and professional development, participate in appropriate training activities, and respect confidentiality.

Person Specification includes:

• Level 3 qualification in Social Prescribing or equivalent.
• Training in safeguarding adults and children.

• Able to support a positive, inclusive and reflective team culture.
• Committed to learning, improvement and high standards of ethical practice.
• Able to manage the emotional aspects of the role and support others with sensitivity in complex or challenging situations.
• Professional, reliable and able to maintain confidentiality.
• Able to maintain appropriate boundaries and work with sensitivity in challenging situations.
• Adaptable and open to new ways of working.
• Committed to ongoing learning, development and reflective practice.
• Positive, proactive attitude and a willingness to contribute ideas for improvement.
• Compassionate, respectful and committed to person-centred practice.
• Contributes to a supportive, inclusive and collaborative team environment.

• Significant experience working as a Social Prescribing Link Worker or in a comparable community-facing, person-centred role.
• Experience supervising, mentoring or leading staff or volunteers.
• Experience supporting people with complex needs, including long-term conditions or social disadvantage.
• Able to work independently as well as contributing effectively to team working.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and balance a varied workload.
• Confidence working with a wide range of people, organisations and services.
• Skilled in providing person-centred support in customer-facing or community-focused settings.
• Experience supporting or guiding colleagues (formal or informal).
• Experience working within a PCN, primary care or NHS setting.
• Experience in service development, quality improvement or evaluation.

• Strong understanding of social prescribing, personalised care and population health approaches.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, information governance and confidentiality.
• Ability to work autonomously, prioritise workload and manage complexity.
• Understanding of health inequalities and inclusive practice.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with a range of people and organisations.
• Able to communicate sensitive or complex information in a clear and supportive way.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise workload effectively.
• Able to manage competing demands and maintain attention to detail.
• Able to use initiative to solve problems and make sound, informed decisions.
• Confident using IT systems, including online platforms, digital record-keeping tools and Microsoft Office applications.
• Able to work collaboratively with colleagues from different teams and organisations to support joined-up working.
• Knowledge of the local VCSE landscape.
• Training in coaching, motivational interviewing or trauma-informed practice.

• Hold a current UK driving licence and have access to a vehicle for work purposes.
• Able to work across multiple sites as required.
• Willingness to work flexibly to support occasional events or activities outside normal working hours.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.