Social Prescribing Link Worker for SEND Families

North West Leicestershire GP Federation; Coalville; On-site; GBP 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A primary care federation in Coalville is seeking a Social Prescribing Link Worker to support families with Learning Disabilities and Special Educational Needs. The role focuses on collaborative care within educational settings and community services, helping to improve health and wellbeing. Candidates must have strong communication and empathy skills, as well as a valid UK driving license. This position offers a salary of approximately £30,000 annually, commensurate with experience.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of the needs of vulnerable adults and children, safeguarding laws.
• Familiarity with local health and social care services.
• Understanding of SEND families and available support.

Responsibilities

• Receive and act on referrals from various agencies.
• Support families to navigate local health and education services.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate support.

Skills

Empathy

Communication skills

Ability to manage caseload

Team collaboration

Flexibility

Strength-based approach

Education

GCSE Grade C or above in Maths and English

Qualification in health or social care

Safeguarding training

Tools

SystmOne

EMIS Web

Job description

This role will support families with Learning Disabilities(LD) and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and work closelywith schools (including SENCOs), family hubs, and childrens services to ensureinclusive, coordinated support. Social Prescribing Link Workers (SPLWs) providea vital non-clinical option for health and care professionals to supportpatients whose needs cannot be met through traditional medical interventionsalone. Our SPLWs empower individuals and families to take control of theirhealth and wellbeing by focusing on 'what matters to me' and connecting them tocommunity-based resources. By building trusted relationships and facilitatingaccess to local services, SPLWs help create sustainable change and reducehealth inequalities.

Please be aware that our organisation does not hold a visa sponsor licence, so we are unable to accept applications from those requiring visa sponsorship to work in the UK.

It is essential to hold a driving license and possess a car to be able to fulfil the role.

Interviews for this role will be held on 12th February 2026.

Main duties of the job

The SPLW for SEND Families will receive and action referralsfrom GPs, SENCOs, schools, family hubs, childrens services, and wider adultsocial prescribing teams. We are seeking a caring, empathetic, and proactiveindividual to support people of all ages, particularly SEND families ineducational settings, to improve their health and wellbeing. You will workcollaboratively with GP practices, schools, family hubs, and voluntary sectororganisations to co-produce personalised support plans and connect individuals to community resources. This includes building strong networks with educationand family support services, facilitating group sessions, and ensuring familiesfeel supported throughout their journey. You will manage a varied caseload,work autonomously, and seek advice when needed, while promoting inclusion andsafeguarding at all times.

About us

The North West Leicestershire GP Federation consists of 12GP practices serving approximately 116,000 patients and operates the North WestLeicestershire Primary Care Network (PCN). Our Social Prescribing team worksacross three neighbourhoods to provide holistic, community-based support thatcomplements clinical care. As part of our commitment to reducing healthinequalities, we are expanding our service to focus on SEND families andschool-based collaboration, ensuring families receive timely, integrated support.If you are passionate about making a difference and working in partnership witheducation, health, and community services, we invite you to join our friendlyand innovative team.

Job responsibilities

A core focus of this post is supporting families ofchildren/young people with Learning Disabilities (LD) and/or SpecialEducational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). TheSPLW will support families to navigate services, access inclusive communitysupport, and build confidence and resilience. They will work closely with schools, family hubs, andchildren's services to ensure families can access timely, coordinated, andinclusive support. The SPLW will offer support in GP practices, communityvenues, and through facilitated group sessions, while managing and prioritisinga dynamic caseload in line with need and risk.

Key responsibilities:

• Receiveand action referrals from a wide range of agencies, including GP practices,schools (including SENCOs), Family Hubs, children's services, pharmacies,hospital discharge teams, allied health professionals, social care, housingassociations, job centres, fire service, police, and VCSE organisations.
• Encourageself-referrals and enable access for communities that statutory services mayfind hard to reach, particularly SEND families
• Providetailored support to individuals, families, and carers using a strength-basedand what matters to me approach.
• Support families to understand and navigatelocal health, education, SEND and community services.
• Offerpractical and emotional support to help families build confidence, resilienceand independence.
• Useinclusive communication (e.g.,easy-read, interpreters, visual aids) and make reasonable adjustments whererequired for LD/SEND needs.
• Collaboratewith schools (including SENCOs), family hubs, childrens services, and earlyhelp to coordinate support and reduce duplication. This role does not replacestatutory casework or SEND keyworker functions
• Strengthenlocal communities by enabling VCSE organisations and community groups toreceive social prescribing referrals. Ensure they have safeguarding processesand can provide opportunities for social connection, skill-building, andconfidence appropriate to the needs of people being referred
• Shareknowledge with partners about gaps in provision where this supports serviceplanning and delivery.
• Maintain strong awareness of adults and children's safeguarding and know when to referindividuals back to health professionals or other agencies for additionalsupport.

Please see the Job Description and Person Specification document for further responsibilities for this role.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the needs of vulnerable adults and children, safeguarding and the associated legal framework.
• Knowledge of local health, SEND and social care provision.
• Awareness of how services and support are funded across health, education and social care.
• Understanding of the needs of SEND families and support available through schools, SENCOs, family hubs and children's services.
• Knowledge of public health issues
• Familiarity with information systems used in clinical practice.
• Understanding of health and social care terminology.
• Understanding of the role and function of GP Federations and Primary Care Networks.
• Knowledge and understanding of GP Practices.

Qualifications

• GCSE Grade C or above in Maths and English, or equivalent qualification.
• Qualification in a health or social care.
• Safeguarding training relevant to working with children and vulnerable adults.

Experience

• Experience of working in a similar role.
• Experience of working with vulnerable people.
• Experience of working with children, young people and/or families.
• Experience of working in a health, social care or education environment.
• Experience of coordinating services from diverse providers.
• Experience of working in liaison capacity with social care or children's services.
• Experience of providing support in community or practice-based settings.
• Experience of working with schools or family support services.
• Experience of working within a mental health, Learning Disability or Special Educational Needs setting.

Other

• Full UK driving licence.
• Meet DBS reference standards.
• Highly motivated with a commitment to supporting SEND families.
• Willingness to work flexible hours when required to meet work demands.
• Able to demonstrate good time management skills.
• Undertake additional training relevant to the role.
• Be flexible to adjust to an evolving job description/ job role and be an integral part of that process.

Skills

• Ability to work collaboratively with schools, family hubs, and childrens services to support SEND families.
• Ability to manage and prioritise a caseload, responding to need and risk.
• Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or
• on own initiative.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to build relationships with patients, families and carers.
• Ability to adapt communication styles and methods to meet different needs, including SEND-related communication needs.
• Ability to provide personalised, strength based, support to individuals, their families and carers.
• Ability to listen and empathise with people in a non-judgmental way.
• Able to provide leadership and complete tasks in a timely manner.
• Able to maintain effective working relationships and promote collaborative working.
• Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team with a range of clinical and non-clinical professionals.
• Ability to communicate difficult messages to patients and families.
• Experience of using clinical systems such as SystmOne / EMIS Web.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£30,000 a yearFTE. Circa, depending on experience.