Training for social prescribing link workers: A scoping review

BACKGROUND: Social prescribing involves connecting people to community-based resources to address non-medical determinants of health. Central to its delivery are link workers; their effectiveness depends, in part, on the availability and quality of training. Despite rapid expansion of the link worker role on an international scale, training provision for this workforce remains fragmented and poorly mapped. 

AIM: To identify and describe training programmes for link workers reported in the published and grey literature. 

METHODS: We followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology on scoping reviews. Six electronic databases were searched alongside targeted grey literature searching. Sources were included if they described or evaluated training specifically for link workers (or equivalent roles). Data were extracted on training characteristics, content, delivery, duration, assessment methods and costs and synthesised narratively. 

RESULTS: Sixty-four sources describing 39 training programmes were included. Most were delivered in the United Kingdom, with others identified in Canada, the United States of America, Singapore, Portugal, Ireland and Australia. Training varied widely in duration (2.5- 329 hours), delivery mode (predominantly online or blended), cost and stated objectives. Common content areas included communication skills, personalised care, understanding social prescribing systems, working with community resources/groups/organisations and managing personal boundaries and resilience. 

CONCLUSIONS: Training for link workers is inconsistently described, reflecting variation in role expectations and workforce backgrounds. While many core competencies were addressed across reviewed programmes, comprehensive and inclusive training offers remain limited. Future research should examine training effectiveness, learner experiences and the development of targeted content for marginalised populations.