Community Link Worker

Age UK Oxfordshire; Slough; Hybrid; GBP 16,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Age UK Oxfordshire is seeking a Community Link Worker to support adults in Oxfordshire, primarily over 55, focusing on independence and wellbeing. You will work mainly from home in a locality team and also spend at least one day weekly in a hospital setting, handling referrals and developing tailored support plans.

You will collaborate with health and social care professionals, build local networks and help clients access community activities and non-clinical support to maintain meaningful lives.

Responsibilities

• Manage your own caseload, contacting and supporting clients through face-to-face meetings, telephone, video calls and attending client group meetings, helping them develop a support plan to achieve their goals.
• Be part of the hospital team, working in a hospital setting at least one day a week supporting people to prepare for their discharge.
• Utilising a strengths-based conversation approach to help clients identify the most appropriate source of information and support and enable them to engage with activities, groups and other community programmes.
• Provide information and support that helps people stay connected in their communities and continue to lead meaningful lives, whilst living at home safely and securely.
• Maintain accurate records for the cases, groups and events that you support, and support initiatives to collect feedback from clients.
• Be an active member of the wider Community Team, providing peer support, sharing good practice and new approaches, and assisting in identifying gaps in the service and taking steps to address them.
• Build networks in an area, attending events and meetings and developing relationships with the organisations delivering relevant services in their area.
• Maintain and grow your knowledge of local services and Age UK information and signposting best practice
• Work collaboratively with Age UK Oxfordshire staff, health and social care professionals, and other organisations as is appropriate.

Job description

The Community team are one of several Age UK Oxfordshire teams who work with adults, primarily older people over 55, across Oxfordshire to lead meaningful lives and alleviate loneliness and isolation.

The team focuses on supporting people at transition points in their lives where they might be vulnerable such as a hospital stay, bereavement or the onset of frailty. We also support activities that help people stay connected to the things that are important to them and the communities they live in.

The team are active in the community supporting groups and events that help people stay connected. We have a presence in hospitals, supporting people as they prepare to be discharged. We also deliver social prescribing services to GP practices providing non-clinical support to patients.

Location; West Oxfordshire

Working hours; 21 - 35 hours a week

Hourly rate; £14.16

Closing date; 21st October 2026

Interviews; 3rd November or 6th November 2026

Job purpose:

To listen to, support and empower people to maintain and retain their independence, health and wellbeing, enabling them to 'live life to the full'.

As part of our Community Team, you will work in local communities supporting individuals, families and groups, listening to them to find out what matters to them.

Your role is to provide people with the information they need to be connected in their communities and to access the support they need to manage their health and care needs. We work closely with local health and social care partners, and you will work to develop these relationships with front line health and care professionals.

You will be primarily home based, working in a locality team and taking referrals for clients in a geographical area. You will also be expected to work a minimum of one day a week in a hospital setting. You will need to be comfortable visiting people in their own homes. Additionally, you will work alongside the wider team to support community groups and events.

Main duties:

• Manage your own caseload, contacting and supporting clients through face-to-face meetings, telephone, video calls and attending client group meetings, helping them develop a support plan to achieve their goals.
• Be part of the hospital team, working in a hospital setting at least one day a week supporting people to prepare for their discharge
• Utilising a strengths-based conversation approach to help clients identify the most appropriate source of information and support and enable them to engage with activities, groups and other community programmes.
• Provide information and support that helps people stay connected in their communities and continue to lead meaningful lives, whilst living at home safely and securely.
• Maintain accurate records for the cases, groups and events that you support, and support initiatives to collect feedback from clients.
• Responsible for recording and monitoring all work in a timely and accurate manner, ensuring client confidentiality and supporting the production of progress reports and evaluation of the service.
• Be an active member of the wider Community Team, providing peer support, sharing good practice and new approaches, and assisting in identifying gaps in the service and taking steps to address them.
• Build networks in an area, attending events and meetings and developing relationships with the organisations delivering relevant services in their area.
• Maintain and grow your knowledge of local services and Age UK information and signposting best practice
• Work collaboratively with Age UK Oxfordshire staff, health and social care professionals, and other organisations as is appropriate.

Work in accordance with Age UK Oxfordshire policies and procedures.

• Community Link Workers may also be asked to conduct other duties relevant to the role or in support of Age UK Oxfordshire including supporting volunteers and fund-raising activities.

Take a pro-active approach to personal learning and development.

Attend team meetings, Age UK Oxfordshire staff meetings and other line management and training activities as appropriate.

This job description is not restrictive or definitive and should be regarded as a guideline to the duties required. It may be amended in the light of changing circumstances following consultation with the post holder. The job description does not form part of the Contract of Employment.