Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the working relationship will be between social prescribing link workers and (a) her Department's work coaches and (b) non-NHS public agencies.

NHS England and NHS Improvement are working with local areas to support implementation of the social prescribing link worker model, including how they work with emerging roles like work coaches. Social prescribing link workers will work with local partners (such as local public and Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise agencies) to develop substantial support offers which address people’s health and wellbeing needs, including access to employment support.

As local social prescribing schemes develop, we would expect to see link workers establishing important relationships with local health and care professionals and a wide range of community groups and services to maximise the impact of social prescribing. Further information is outlined in the summary best practice guided published by NHS England and NHS Improvement in January 2019 at the following link:

www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/social-prescribing-community-based-support-summary-guide.pdf