Our Role in Research
Social Prescribing Link Workers are introducing change to highly institutionalised environments; proper research has a huge role in investigating the change and implications to inform practice and policy.​
The link worker model is part of the solution to healthcare delivery shortcomings that have led to some of its challenges. As a new and growing profession, there are significant research gaps and opportunities (primary and community-based, and social and wider determinants of health research are now in focus after years of underfunding).
Our role
- Giving legitimacy to the work of social prescribing link workers, standardisation of the role, contextualising issues and solutions, endorsing and shaping the link worker model​
- Recognising, enabling and promoting a research culture and engagement amongst Social Prescribing Link Workers​
- Improving access to research information​
- Bridging research and practice by working with researchers and institutions​
- Carrying out research to investigate issues concerning our members and the profession.​
- Ensuring high quality workforce and evidence informed practice.​
- Developing and promoting social prescribing link workers peer researchers.
Supporting member's research
- Skills training​
- Grant and funding​
- Awards​
- Showcase​
- Supporting development as a peer researcher
Working with partners
Working with institutions and organisations whose research focus aligns with our research priorities or in recruiting or developing social prescribing link worker peer researchers.