What does a community link worker do?
There are 74 community link workers across Glasgow. They are based in ‘Deep End’ GP practices in 80 of the city’s most vulnerable areas, based on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. CLWs aim to help people who may contact their GP with issues that are not medical, but are negatively affecting their lives.
How can they help you?
CLWs can help with a range of social issues including money and debt help, energy costs, housing, loneliness and isolation, and problems with mental health and wellbeing.
They can link people to groups and organisations, often within their own community, that provide support.
Link workers can support people with housing meetings and applications, and some run walking groups to help participants make new connections and improve their wellbeing. In Castlemilk, Sharon also helps run a bereavement group to provide additional support to those who need it.
How can you speak to a community link worker?
At GP practices that have an embedded CLW, any member of the multi-disciplinary primary care team can make a referral. People can also self-refer.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s services have evolved, and it’s crucial that you and your loved ones are well-informed and empowered to access the right professional at the right time. It’s also important to know when it’s appropriate to stay at home and care for yourself.
You have a range of support services available that complement and enhance GP care, including advanced nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physiotherapists, vaccination nurses, and community links workers who focus on social and wellbeing support. Additionally, you can access services like dentists and optometrists in your local area.
These professionals are part of your primary care team, serving as your front door to healthcare.
