On Thursday 19^th May 2022, Central Liverpool Primary Care Network (CLPCN) won the NALW Award for ‘Social Prescribing Employer of the Year’ in London.

CLPCN has prioritised recruitment Social Prescribers, Health Coaches and Network Engagement Leads since 2019. We currently have 6 SPLW who are aligned to one or more of our 9 practices. CLPCN is the most ethnically diverse PCN in Liverpool and so developed a speciality SPLW role to meet the needs of our local communities. In 2021 we recruited 3 BAME SPLW who have engagement and universal social prescribing roles specifically to support our ethnic minority communities.

A main area of focus for CLPCN has been prioritising tackling racial inequality. Our SPLW have been vital participants in the Tackling Racial Inequality Working Group and the associated co-production work that was carried out in 2021. We recognise the importance of building and strengthening diversity within the leadership of CLPCN and supporting a positive staff experience and addressing racial discrimination and implicit bias.

Our collective SPLW teams are working hard to engage with patients and deliver a holistic, person centred approach to general practice. CLPCN are committed to flourishing this role and ensuring the PCN is a place all our members of staff thrive in professionally.

At the awards show the NALW Panel said “Central Liverpool Primary Care Network is a proactive and innovative employer that has demonstrated its commitment to developing a diverse team of Social Prescribing Link Workers embedded in their organisation, invested in, valued, able to flourish and work creatively to deliver positive outcomes for people and communities. An inspiration for employers of Social Prescribing Link Workers.”