More about the additional roles to support Primary Care
Personalised Care Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS)
People are increasingly affected by living with complex, long term health conditions, growing unmet health needs and the effects of other social determinants of health. The NHS is expanding the Primary Care workforce to help tackle these issues, with the aim to reduce the health inequalities people experience.
Primary Care Networks are supported by the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) which has been established to help fund new roles. We focus on the Personalised Care roles which include Social Prescribing Link Workers, Health and Wellbeing Coaches and Care Coordinators.
These roles are integral to delivering the NHS Long Term plan ambition for personalised care to reach 2.5 million people by 2023/24, as well as shift care to a more holistic biopsychosocial model.
To find out more about each of the personalised care ARRS roles, click on the pictures below:
@SP_LDN
The three personalised care ARRS roles working together
The way the three roles can work together depends on the local working arrangements, priorities and population needs. However, they each offer a unique contribution to the patients they work with, as outlined below:
| Social Prescribing Link Worker | Care Coordinator | Health and Wellbeing Coaches | |
| Role summary | Social prescribing link workers support people to unpick complex issues affecting their wellbeing, enabling people to have more control over their lives, develop skills and give their time to others, through involvement in community groups.
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Care coordinators identify and work with people, including the frail/elderly and those with long-term conditions, to provide coordination and navigation of care and support across health and care services.
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Health and Wellbeing Coaches use health coaching skills to support people to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become active participants in their care so that they can reach their own health and wellbeing goals. |
| Regular tasks | Personalised care support planning, motivational interviewing & health coaching approaches, over several sessions to identify what matters to the person and connect them with practical, social and emotional support within their community, as well as activities that promote wellbeing e.g. arts, sports, natural environment.
Act as a bridge between primary care and the community – Identify and nurture community assets by working with partners such as the voluntary and community sector, Local Authorities and the NHS. |
Navigation – Support in navigating the health system and connecting with the right people.
Continuity of care – a point of contact alongside busy clinicians. Allyship and advocacy – post appointment follow-up conversations, support in understanding health conditions, creating space to reflect on choices right for individual ensuring changing needs are addressed. Coordination – Provide coordination and access to other appropriate services and support. Point of contact – Can be main point of contact for care homes. |
Goal setting - Guide and support people with Long Term Conditions (LTCs) to set self-identified health and wellbeing goals.
Behaviour change – Use specialist behaviour change techniques, usually over several sessions to help people develop new behaviours and reduce others. Coaching conversations – Have conversations to motivate and help patients find the confidence to take charge of their goals and wellbeing. |
| Who they help | Tend to support people experiencing loneliness, complex social needs, mental health needs or multiple Long Term Conditions (LTCs). | Tend to support those with multiple appointments, chronic conditions, frail/elderly, and particularly vulnerable people often with LTCs. | Tend to support with physical and mental health conditions, and with one or more LTCs such as type 2 diabetes, COPD, or those at risk of developing a LTC. |