Social Prescribing Link Workers

Social Prescribing Link Workers

Paul

I am a Social Prescribing Link Worker and I joined Primary Care Wirral in April 2020. My previous role was as a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner for which I qualified in 2012. I never imagined that I would be going back to school (LJMU) at that time in life. I have worked in social care and mental health since 2004 including outdoor instructor/mentor, Support Worker in Primary Care and a 21 bedded supported accommodation for male ex – offenders. I also have experience working with people affected by drug/alcohol misuse and homelessness issues. I enjoy listening to people and helping them to explore their resources to enable them to help themselves.

Previously, I worked in numerous jobs including mechanic, painter and decorator, tractor driver, groundworker, labourer, fruit picker, washer upper, installation of ventilation and extraction systems, hod carrier, driver and more.

Outside of work I like to grow plants, shrubs and trees. I especially enjoy spending time with my eldest daughter Eleanor and she enjoys it when we fix the car together and I teach her what to do. She is very good at it, although I will soon be losing my apprentice as she’s off to university in Glasgow to study art.

Cheryl

Prior to my current role, I worked as a Complementary Therapist carrying out reflexology and acupuncture, massage, working in a physiotherapy clinic supporting clients with physical disabilities and mental health issues.  I have also worked in various advocacy supportive roles and as a therapy co-ordinator in a psychiatric hospital.  I have worked with individuals with issues such as; learning disabilities, mental health issues and homelessness.

I have been in post since April 2020 and I cover Hamilton Medical Centre, Whetstone Medical Centre and Devaney Medical Centre.

Outside of my NHS work, I work as a holistic health practitioner – weekends offering holistic treatments to clients, reflexology, acupuncture and nutritional advice.  I have recently added IEMT therapy (mental health support) and looking to study a mode of therapy shortly that examines pain with an NLP trainer.  I have a love for animals and I enjoy poetry for which I have recently participated in a radio show to air my work.  I am also passionate about physical and mental health.

In my role as a Wellbeing Practitioner.  I am passionate about applying a holistic approach looking at all aspects of a person’s life to facilitate patients in becoming more emotionally resilient and to think about various avenues of rehabilitation.  I enjoy encouraging others to realise their potential and facilitate autonomy in their own lives, especially working with patients that you see thrive over time.

I believe the social prescribing wellbeing practitioner role moving forward can develop into a role that can have a significant impact on a person’s life.   A facilitator/bridge to change and looking at different avenues that the person may have not thought of to encourage all aspects of wellbeing, social, and mind-body.  An integrated approach and collaboration of different modes of therapy and social support services, that caters to person-centred values and respects individuality, lowering the pressure on the GP service.

Vicky

My name is Vicky, and I am part of the wellbeing team for Brighter Birkenhead.

I am an integrative counsellor with a wealth of experience, offering advice, support and guidance to people and a passion for helping people to make positive changes in life and believing in themselves. I consider myself to be warm and approachable with a down to earth attitude. I have worked with people from all backgrounds empathically and with a goal of creating trust.

After qualifying as a counsellor, I found my interest was very much to be very much hands on with people, working alongside them and helping them to reach their goals and enabling them to see a better future.

Over the past 3 years, I have worked out and about in Wirral and amongst lots of different communities. I have found being on the ground embedded in these communities helped me to asset map what is out there for people to access.

One of the biggest barriers people with mental health issues face is the lack of knowledge, and by me having the time to source the right help could lead them on the path to a brighter future. After working with people in the community I realized the importance of this service being offered from GP surgeries and knew this was something I was excited to be involved with. With portfolio of community knowledge coupled with my counselling background I was able to join the team of wellbeing practitioners based in GP practices across the Wirral.