There is no single route into being an SPLW— Social Prescribing Link WorkerA role that supports people to access community-based services, groups and activities to meet practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Used internationally; equivalents in some countries include 'link worker', 'community connector' or 'health navigator'.. The WHIS— World Health Innovation SummitEstablished in 2015 to improve health and wellbeing outcomes through innovation, education and partnerships. Co-developer (with GSPA) of the WHIS Social Prescribing Link Worker programme. programme celebrates that. A wide range of backgrounds is a strength, given the breadth of issues SPLW— Social Prescribing Link WorkerA role that supports people to access community-based services, groups and activities to meet practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Used internationally; equivalents in some countries include 'link worker', 'community connector' or 'health navigator'. support people with.
What backgrounds people come from
Research and practice across countries shows SPLW— Social Prescribing Link WorkerA role that supports people to access community-based services, groups and activities to meet practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Used internationally; equivalents in some countries include 'link worker', 'community connector' or 'health navigator'. coming from:
Social services
Housing, mental health and homelessness support
Care coordinator or other team-based roles
Nutrition, health and fitness roles
Community development and partnerships
Social welfare and advice work
Domiciliary care.
…and many more. SPLW— Social Prescribing Link WorkerA role that supports people to access community-based services, groups and activities to meet practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Used internationally; equivalents in some countries include 'link worker', 'community connector' or 'health navigator'. also come from non-frontline backgrounds — teaching, retail, business — bringing different perspectives.
What people bring (that matters)
Frontline client-facing experience — being comfortable with hard conversations and emotional weight.
Local knowledge — knowing the community, sometimes from being part of it.
Lived experience — personal experience of mental health, long-term conditions, homelessness, immigration. The WHIS— World Health Innovation SummitEstablished in 2015 to improve health and wellbeing outcomes through innovation, education and partnerships. Co-developer (with GSPA) of the WHIS Social Prescribing Link Worker programme. programme names this as a strength.
Adaptability — the role is broad. Specialist depth in one area is useful; rigid expertise can get in the way.
What's harder when you come laterally
Healthcare etiquette and structures. Where to escalate, how to write a record, what an MDT— Multidisciplinary teamA team of professionals from different disciplines working together with the person at the centre. actually is. The induction has to be deliberate about this.
Information governance. People from outside the health system often need to relearn how personal health information is handled.
Pace. Many sectors move faster than health and care pathways.
What employers should do
Don't write JDs that screen out lateral candidates by demanding health-system-specific qualifications.
Build inductions that take healthcare context seriously, not as an afterthought.
Pair lateral candidates with experienced SPLW— Social Prescribing Link WorkerA role that supports people to access community-based services, groups and activities to meet practical, social and emotional needs that affect their health and wellbeing. Used internationally; equivalents in some countries include 'link worker', 'community connector' or 'health navigator'. peers.
What lateral entrants should do
Lean on your existing strengths — they got you here.
Use clinical supervision especially in the first six months.
