Community Link Worker

Our one-to-one support is confidential, regular and in a way which works best for you

Through social prescribing, we’re focusing to improve health outcomes for people experiencing stressors in their lives due to social problems, which could lead to poor mental health.

The Community Link Worker service collaborates with 62 selected GP surgeries across Highland – supporting adults over the age of 18 from Caithness to Lochaber and over to Nairn. We also work with surgeries in West Sutherland, Badenoch and Strathspey, Skye and Lochalsh, and the Small Isles.

Referrals are received from the GP to our Community Link Workers when there might be a concern caused by social factors, rather than a medical problem.

We’re entirely person-centred in our approach. Community Link Workers want to get to know you: we will get to know your interests, your likes and dislikes and build a relationship, social prescribing you to the service we think will best suit your needs. Our aim is to help people overcome barriers and we shape our support around you.

Once the referral has been made, our Community Link Workers will discuss your needs and work closely with you. You will be offered up to eight sessions with a member of our team, who will come up with a plan of action to help you feel a sense of achievement and make you feel more confidence to reach your goals.

We discuss progress after each meeting. Final sessions with people accessing the service focus on the review of goals, outcomes and priorities. We can socially prescribe to relevant services, such as walking groups and exercise classes or skills development.

We work with people who face multiple and complex challenges: mental health, social isolation, loneliness, poor housing conditions, unhealthy relationships, poor physical health, language barriers, discrimination, and more.

impact

From May 2022 to May 2024, there have been:

2663 referrals
9471 appointments
4929 social prescriptions.

A large percentage of referrals come from people experiencing mental health and wellbeing challenges, stress management, and loneliness and social isolation.

“I feel really encouraged and positive about steering my family in a better direction for the first time in a very long time! You really made me feel listened to and understood, and I don’t remember the last time I felt that. I went home buzzing with enthusiasm and good energy!”

Steve

our team

Leadership team

Rosita
Novak

Locality Manager

Mandy
Sutherland

Project Manager

Sharyn
Morgan

Project Manager

Beth
Mackintosh

Administrator
for Community Link Worker

Inverness