Social prescribing link worker jobs

About the role

The Community Link Worker will play a key role in supporting individuals who are economically inactive due to musculoskeletal issues and/or mental health needs, and with a desire to return to or get into work. The postholder will build strong relationships with local services, employment teams, health professionals and community organisations to enable clients to reintegrate into the workforce and improve their overall wellbeing.

This role requires flexibility to work across multiple community settings, including GP practices and outreach locations as part of a multidisciplinary team. As well as having a base at the Merton Connected office in Vestry Hall and potential opportunity to work from home.

This project will be delivered by Merton Connected in collaboration with South London Partnership

 What We Offer

• The opportunity to be part of an innovative, growing service that will be celebrating its 10th year of transforming lives in the Merton area.
• The chance to work with an inspiring, supportive team and a variety of partners across statutory, voluntary, and community sectors.
• Ongoing professional development and training
• A collaborative, multi-disciplinary environment, where your contributions will directly influence the health and well-being of the local community.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

 Client Support & Case Management

• Engage with individuals who are unemployed and living with musculoskeletal and/or mental health conditions, working within the community to connect them with services that support their holistic needs.
• Provide one-to-one guidance and motivational support to build confidence and readiness for training, volunteering or work.
• Support clients to identify personal goals and ability to manage their health and wellbeing.
• Support clients in accessing opportunities including volunteering, work experience, skills training and ultimately sustainable employment.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of patient interactions and service activity, contributing to ongoing monitoring, evaluation and reporting, in line with data protection and safeguarding guidelines.

 Community & Partnership Engagement

• Promote awareness among health professionals of employment as a health outcome and encourage employment-related conversations as part of routine patient care.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, community groups and local partner organisations to develop strong referral pathways and a co-ordinated and seamless patient journey
• Promote the value of social prescribing to both clinical staff and patients, engaging within the community to encourage a personalised and preventative approach to care.
• Raise awareness of the wider determinants of health, including housing, employment, and social isolation, and support individuals to address these challenges.

Awareness & Advocacy

• Raise awareness of the health and wellbeing impacts of unemployment within local communities and primary care networks.
• Advocate for individuals facing complex barriers to employment, supporting their voice and choice in navigating systems and opportunities.

 PERSON SPECIFICATION

 Essential

• Experience in health and social care settings, with an understanding of musculoskeletal (MSK) and mental health conditions and their impact on daily life.
• Knowledge of the wider determinants of health and how they influence individual wellbeing.
• Experience working within community-based settings and services.
• A solid understanding of personalised care and person-centred approaches, with the ability to support individuals in self-managing their health.
• Experience of working within multidisciplinary teams across health, social care, and community environments.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust and engage effectively with a diverse range of people.
• A proactive, self-motivated approach, with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of the local employment support landscape, including training providers and voluntary sector services.
• Ability to engage hard-to-reach populations with empathy, cultural sensitivity, and professionalism.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to liaise effectively across different sectors.
• Organisational and record-keeping skills
• Familiarity with MS Office applications including Word, Excel, Teams and Sharepoint
• Commitment to confidentiality, safeguarding, equality and diversity.

Desirable

• Understanding of the social prescribing model.
• Knowledge of relevant welfare benefits related to sickness and unemployment.
• Experience of working with people who are unemployed or with complex health needs or disabilities.
• Experience of case management systems and monitoring outcomes.

Who we are

Off The Record Bath & North East Somerset (OTR) is a mental health and wellbeing charity that gives local children and young people (CYP) a safe space to be heard and be themselves.  We provide a range of services for CYP, including counselling, listening support, youth participation, advocacy, support for care leavers and a LGBTQ+ focused youth group.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the heart of what we value as an organisation. OTR is committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of race, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability or any other status protected by law.

Purpose of the role

Our CAMHS and Hospital Youth Work Lead is an exciting new role, leading two highly impactful OTR services: the RUH Hospital Youth Workers and the BANES Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Social Prescribing Link Workers. You will lead the delivery and development of both services, including working closely with our partners at the RUH, in CAMHS and in the wider BANES community.

You will also:

· Manage referrals coming in to both the Hospital Youth Workers service and the CAMHS Link Workers service.

· Lead on monitoring the impact of both services and report regularly on this to our funders/partners.

· Engage in direct 1:1 casework

· Ensure strong safeguarding practice across the two teams.

The role combines team leadership, safeguarding oversight, partnership working and frontline youth work. You will help strengthen collaboration between hospital and CAMHS teams, community organisations and local services to ensure CYP are able access appropriate non-clinical support.

At the RUH you will oversee the service’s work with CYP aged 11–25 who present at the Emergency Department with low to moderate mental health needs, or who are admitted to hospital wards with long-term health conditions. This includes managing a limited 1:1 caseload alongside your project management duties. Utilising a person-centred and trauma-informed approach, you will build trusting relationships and support CYP to identify and access the support they need. Support may take place face to face or virtually and will focus on improving access to community-based support networks, with a view to improving wellbeing, increasing resilience and reducing repeat hospital attendance.

At CAMHS you will oversee the service’s work with CYP aged 10-17 who have been accepted into CAMHS with moderate mental health and wellbeing challenges. The Link Workers work with CYP at the start of their CAMHS support, alongside other CAMHS interventions, and those who are nearly ready to be discharged from CAMHS. Within this role, you will hold a small caseload of CYP, working with them for an average of 10-12 weeks. You will deliver social prescribing as the main intervention.

If you would like an informal conversation about the role before applying, please email Off The Record- BANES to arrange a time for a brief phone call.

Key Attributes

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience managing teams and project within similar settings (i.e. Hospital/Youth/Mental Health & Wellbeing services).

• Has the ability to build strong partnerships with other professionals, services and organisations.

• Is comfortable working in a busy, multi-agency environment with competing demands.

• Has experience of supporting CYP 1:1 with complex needs.

• Has sound judgement when responding to safeguarding concerns and assessing risk.

Your skills, enthusiasm and personal approach are as important to us as your experience. If you do not meet every point in the job description but believe you have the transferable skills to succeed in the role, we would still welcome your application.

Working pattern and location

This role is primarily based at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, with some travel around B&NES to support the CYP on your CAMHS caseload. You would also spend some time each week at the CAMHS office in Keynsham. As an OTR employee, you would also have access to our office and meeting rooms in central Bath.

Occasional out of hours working may be required, for example to settle a young person into an early evening youth group or as a part of our safeguarding on-call rota.

Applicants must have the ability to travel within and outside the local authority, including to areas where there is no public transport.

How to apply 
 

If you’re ready to proceed, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our website to apply.  

The closing date for applications is 12 midday on Wednesday 24th June 2026.  Interviews are due to take place in the week commencing 29th June 2026.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference by supporting residents with social, practical and wellbeing needs at the point they need it most.

This role involves shift work, including weekends, so we’re looking for someone flexible, proactive, compassionate and confident working in a busy setting.

Bexley Voluntary Service Council (BVSC) has been supporting the local Voluntary and  Community Sector (VCS) in Bexley for over 60 years. Throughout this time, BVSC has continually evolved in response to local need, sector challenges and wider changes in public policy. Today, BVSC plays a central role in strengthening the local voluntary sector, connecting organisations, amplifying community voice and enabling organisations across Bexley to be resilient, connected, and able to provide high-quality, impactful services to residents.

 

Why Work for Us

• Additional Birthday Day off

• Flexitime and TOIL

• Pension employer contribution 6%

• Two volunteering days (pro rata)

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata)

• Access to the Blue Light Card

• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities

• A positive, inclusive team culture where your ideas are valued

• Enhanced maternity/paternity pay

• Employee Assistance Programme