Social Prescriber

Kathryn Sasaru

Kathryn completed her Level 3 Health and Social Care Diploma in 2015, and Social Prescribing training through the National Association of Link Workers in 2021. She has since continued her professional training and now has an extensive CPD accredited portfolio ranging from Motivational interviewing and Health Coaching to Dementia. She also has extensive training in Suicide Intervention and Prevention, Mental Capacity, and is a Suicide First Aider.

Kathryn started her journey into Social Prescribing in 2021 at the Walsall East PCN. In Walsall the service was relatively new, and the benefits of engaging with her support were not known to clinicians or their patients. Here she had the opportunity to develop the service from the bottom and showcase the positive impact the role can have on those with non-medical support needs. She would work with patients on a one-to-one basis over a number of weeks, taking the time to listen to what is important to them, what their strengths are, what intervention is needed and the barriers to this. She would then collaboratively complete a goal orientated, person-centred, and holistic care and support plan, while carrying out regular reviews so the patients felt involved and supported throughout the process. 

Prior to this Kathryn began her career in healthcare at the age of 17 as a Support Worker at the Manor Hospital in 2016 where she was able to develop her clinic skills and knowledge and complete her Care Certificate and Diploma in Clinical Healthcare.

In 2018 she progressed into the role of Senior Mental Health Support Worker at an acute inpatient Psychiatric Unit. In her previous role she would work with patients who were in extreme physiological and emotional distress to complete a therapeutic care plan to aid their recovery. This included interventions around relaxation and grounding techniques, and well-being support sessions that supported individuals to manage and express difficult or overwhelming thoughts, emotions, or behaviours.

Kathryn has continued with her passion for Mental Health, she is able to support individuals with low level mental health problems to understand and overcome stigmas and barriers related to accessing support. The skills that she has gained from her work in Mental Health are a great advantage to her current job as a Social Prescriber.

Social Prescribing looks at wider determinants of care and empowers individuals to access community support to improve their overall health, wellbeing, and independence. Reasons for referrals include; Housing or Financial concerns, Carers support, Bereavement, Loneliness and Isolation, Independent Living, complex Care or Social needs, Long Term Health conditions, Domestic Abuse, Immigration, Food Vouchers, Cancer Support, Accessing local community, Addiction, Employment, Family support.

Kathryn hopes to be able to continue making a positive difference in the lives of the patients she supports, while also continuing to develop her personal and professional skill set. Eventually, Kathryn hopes to progress into management so that she can continue supporting others to develop and deliver an effective Social Prescribing service. 

Judy Shaw

Judy joined our PCN on the 10^th of March 2025 as our new Social Prescribing Link Worker.

When Judy was around 15 years old, she volunteered at the local hospital, making tea for the wards, and spending her summer holidays volunteering at a Prince’s Trust respite holiday camp, caring for people with learning disabilities. She very much enjoyed this work and sought a profession where she would be able to help others.

This led to her first job which was in a care home, where she learned the importance of kindness, empathy, and compassion. She soon progressed, becoming a senior carer, taking on responsibilities that included organising staff rotas, administering medication, cooking, cleaning, and providing personal care. She also learned how to deal with conflict and managed every aspect of running a care home.

From there Judy moved into secondary care, working on an orthopaedic trauma ward, as well as in intensive care and accident and emergency for over 10 years. This experience provided her with a solid foundation in clinical practice, which she later applied in primary care.

Throughout her career, she has gained a wide range of skills and qualifications, including health and social care diplomas and a foundation degree from Coventry University. Judy was part of the pilot team and was the first cohort to qualify for the Nursing Associate programme in general practice. This was a more clinical role, rather than one focused on supporting patients with social needs. She played a key role in supporting new nursing associates and the training programme, setting a benchmark for what can be achieved in general practice without compromising on quality or crossing the boundaries set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) guidelines.

Judy has been on numerous courses, covering topics such as contraception, menopause management, learning disability care, smoking cessation and she is also a qualified mental health first aider. Judy is also proud to be part of the nursing team that received the Pride of Coventry award for their outstanding service.

 As Judy embarks on her journey in social prescribing, she is eager to familiarise herself with this new role. She hopes to gain a comprehensive understanding of the responsibilities and intricacies involved and, in time, aspires to become a team leader. She is committed to supporting her colleagues and contributing positively to our team dynamics as we work together to enhance the well-being of those around us.