Scope, boundaries and confidentiality

Scope, boundaries and confidentiality

The SPLWSPLW— 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'. role works because it sits in a particular space — between the clinical system and the community — and works to particular boundaries. Knowing your scope keeps you, and the people you support, safe.

Set expectations early

At the first contact, set clear expectations with the person about:

• what your expertise and knowledge cover (and where it stops)
• how many sessions you can offer and over what period
• when and how you might need to share information with their family doctor or other professionals
• how confidentiality and safeguarding work — including the limits to confidentiality.

Confidentiality and information sharing

Apply secure data handling. Use approved systems and secure email in your organisation. Do not store identifying information outside agreed systems. Apply:

• competence-based consent when working with minors (under-18s)
• your local jurisdiction's capacity-to-consent framework with adults.

If in doubt about consent, capacity, or whether to share information — ask your clinical supervisor or the named safeguarding lead.

Core values for SPLW practice

SPLWsSPLW— 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'. should believe in and act on a small set of values that underpin good personalised care anywhere in the world:

• Working together for the person — they lead, you support
• Respect and dignity
• Commitment to quality of care
• Compassion
• Improving lives
• Everyone counts

Your employer may also have their own set of values. They should communicate these clearly during recruitment, induction and supervision.

What people you support should be able to say

The WHISWHIS— 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. & GSPAGSPA— Global Social Prescribing AllianceInternational alliance of social prescribing practitioners, researchers and partner organisations working to grow the social prescribing workforce globally. Co-developer (with WHIS) of this programme. programme sets a high bar. People you work with should be able to say:

• "I am listened to and understood, and what matters to me is central to all our work together."
• "I am respected and treated with dignity as an individual."
• "My human rights are protected, and I do not experience discrimination."
• "I experience warm, compassionate, personalised care and support."
• "If I raise a concern or make a complaint, it is acted on quickly."

These are the standards the role is held to.

Scope, in one sentence

Hold the relationship; co-produce the plan; connect to the community; record what happened; escalate what's beyond you.