Community Health and Wellbeing Workers: A Blueprint for Preventive Care
Community Health and Wellbeing Workers: A Blueprint for Preventive Care
Embedded Files
From walking local streets to listening without judgment, Community Health and Wellbeing Workers (CHWWs) are reaching hundreds of residents who might otherwise slip through the cracks. This pioneering approach, co-developed by NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Northwest London (NIHR ARC NWL) and the National Association of Primary Care (NAPC), has been officially recognised in the NHS’s new 10-Year Health Plan as a blueprint for prevention and integrated community care.
From walking local streets to listening without judgment, Community Health and Wellbeing Workers (CHWWs) are reaching hundreds of residents who might otherwise slip through the cracks. This pioneering approach, co-developed by NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Northwest London (NIHR ARC NWL) and the National Association of Primary Care (NAPC), has been officially recognised in the NHS’s new 10-Year Health Plan as a blueprint for prevention and integrated community care.
CHWWs bring care to people by meeting residents where they are, visiting around 100 homes each and connecting with more than 500 residents in their local communities. They provide tailored support, helping people navigate healthcare services, access screenings and immunisations, and connect with social support networks. Their role is designed to tackle health inequalities and ensure that no one is left behind.
CHEWIES WITH SUBS.mp4Watch the video to see how Community Health and Wellbeing Workers are transforming care in your local neighbourhoods
As a 10-Year Plan Partners Council member, NAPC was represented by Clinical Chair Dr Caroline Taylor during roundtable discussions. NIHR ARC NWL and the NAPC welcome the inclusion of the CHWW programme as a key element in the long-overdue move toward a Neighbourhood Health Service.
Since its early implementation, the initiative has expanded across multiple localities, with 100 CHWWs now active, supporting over 20,000 residents in 25 areas, including Westminster and Cornwall. Through regular quarterly learning workshops organised with NAPC, these workers form a national community of practice, sharing insights and developing best practice approaches that strengthen local health systems.
Professor Azeem Majeed, NIHR ARC NWL Director, said: “The Community Health and Wellbeing Worker programme is a powerful example of how we can work with local communities to improve health, reduce inequalities, and support people to live well at home. Its inclusion in the 10 Year Health Plan and its adaptation to support long-term conditions such as dementia and diabetes show the value of this approach in shifting care from hospital to the community. As Director of NIHR ARC NW London, I am proud that we supported this innovative model, which is making a real difference to people’s lives.”
Evidence of the initiative’s impact is clear: communities supported by CHWWs have seen substantial increases in immunisation, screening, and NHS Health Check uptake, alongside reductions in hospital admissions and emergency visits. The programme champions inclusion, recruiting workers from diverse local backgrounds to reflect the communities they serve.
As the CHWW model continues to evolve, it exemplifies NIHR ARC NWL’s commitment to innovation in health research and its translation into real-world impact. By combining rigorous evidence with community insight and national collaboration, the initiative provides a scalable, sustainable approach to integrated care that other regions can adopt. Its emphasis on Integrated Neighbourhood Working, designed to meet the health and care needs of defined populations while dismantling organisational silos, closely aligns with models NAPC has implemented nationwide and reflects approaches NIHR ARC NWL have evaluated and supported across London, representing meaningful progress toward realising the three shifts and improving population health outcomes. The plan’s focus on a modern, digital-first NHS, aligning the healthcare experience of citizens and staff with everyday digital standards while embracing emerging technologies, is both timely and essential.
Matthew Walker, Joint CEO, NAPC, said:
"We are pleased that this plan is about making a shift that makes sense for communities, staff and citizens, mobilising the collective assets of the system around the patient. NAPC is already working across the NHS to help deliver these changes and will continue to do so with energy and enthusiasm."
Page updated
Report abuse