Training Standards
Training for personalised care roles in primary care
People working in personalised care roles in primary care networks (PCNs) should ideally attend accredited training to ensure they have the knowledge, skills and expertise to carry out their role safely and effectively as outlined in the Personalised Care Core Curriculum. These training requirements, and the need for PCNs to support them, are set out in the Network Contract Direct Enhanced Service.
There is a range of learning that social prescribing link workers, health and wellbeing coaches and care co-ordinators can access through the Personalised Care Institute. This includes online and offline training, some of which is free of charge. Evidence-based personalised care training ensures that the quality of service is consistent and that people in these roles are supported with their
ongoing professional development.

Minimum training standards | ||
Social prescribing link workers | Health and wellbeing coaches | Care co-ordinators |
Social Prescribing – Learning for Link Workers This course is made up of the following 11 modules: | Four-day health coaching training if you have no previous coaching experience. Or Two-day health coaching training if you have coaching experience outside of the NHS. | Two-day coaching or motivational interviewing course and the elearning below. Or |
Introduction to the social prescribing link worker role | Personalised care and support planning | |
Developing personalised care and support plans with people | Shared decision making | |
Developing partnerships | ||
Introducing people to community groups and VCSE organisations | ||
Safeguarding vulnerable people | ||
Keeping records and measuring impact | ||
Supporting people with their mental health through social prescribing | ||
Social welfare, legal support and money guidance | ||
Supervision |
Recommended additional training | ||
Social prescribing link workers | Health and wellbeing coaches | Care co-ordinators |
Healthy weight coach training | Personalised care and support planning | Healthy weight coach training |
Two-day health coaching training | Shared decision making | Person centred approaches |
Personalised Care Core Skills | Healthy weight coach training |
You can explore the PCI core skills series here https://learn.personalisedcareinstitute.org.uk/course/view.php?id=3
To find out about the current training and support offer in your region, email england.socialprescribing@nhs.net and request to be added to the Regional Social Prescribing Network and Collaboration Platform
For more information about these roles please visit the NHS England and NHS Improvement website.