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 expects 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'. to have access to:
other healthcare professionals in the practice and team
electronic 'live' and paper-based record systems of their primary workplace(s)
administrative / office support and training and development as appropriate.
This is not a "nice to have". It is an expectation of the role, and there are operational reasons it matters.
Why SPLWs need records access
To see referrals and the clinical context the referring clinician wanted them to act on.
To record their work in a place clinical colleagues can see — so the person's story doesn't get fragmented.
To flag concerns back to the clinical team safely (safeguarding, deterioration, missed appointments, new disclosures).
To avoid the person telling their story twice — a stated aim of 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.
The information governance to get right
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'. apply secure information handling:
Information governance training is mandatory
Use approved systems and secure email
Apply consent processes; flag where competence-based consent (for minors) or capacity-to-consent (for adults) come into play
Record sufficient information for continuity of care, no more.
Some organisations are nervous about giving non-clinicians records access. 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 is clear: 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'. are part of the team and need access. Pseudonymising or restricting them out of access creates more risk (fragmented care) than it solves.
Practical points
Smart card / ID / login sorted before week one.
Read/write access to the primary record system.
Templates for common 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'. interactions, agreed with the practice — this saves time and standardises what's recorded.
Audit trail preserved (records remain auditable).
Backup processes when systems are down.
Mobile/working out of the office — secure access when working from home or in community settings.
