Evaluation of the Links Worker Programme in ‘Deep End' general practices in Glasgow.

Descriptions

The Links Worker Programme is a Scottish Government funded programme which aims to explore how the primary care team in areas of multiple deprivation can support patients to live well in their community. It is being developed as a partnership between the Alliance for Health and Social Care (The Alliance) and General Practitioners at the Deep End, and will be managed by The Alliance. Other partners include the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). The Links Programme Manager took up post with The Alliance in September 2013. The programme is expected to recruit seven general practices working in areas of high socio-economic deprivation in Glasgow to participate in the programme and a team of link workers by the end of January 2014. Cluster control practices will also be recruited for the purposes of the evaluation. Programme delivery within general practices will begin in April 2014 and run until August 2015. The evaluation of the programme is being led and managed by NHS Health Scotland. A multi-disciplinary Evaluation Working Group has also been established to oversee the evaluation.