key worker
Also found in: Dictionary, Wikipedia.
key worker
Medspeak-UK(1) A person in the UK who works in certain public sector jobs—e.g., NHS clinical staff—who is eligible for government assistance in buying a home.
(2) A person, usually a social worker or a nurse who is assigned to a person with mental health problems, who acts at the person’s point of contact with a community mental health team.
Key workers, UK
• Clinical NHS staff (not including doctors and dentists).
• Social workers, nursery nurses, educational psychologists and therapists (e.g., occupational therapists) employed by local authorities, the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service or the NHS.
• Qualified environmental health officers/practitioners who work in a local authority, government agency, the NHS or other public sector agencies.
• Teachers and nursery nurses in schools and further education or sixth form colleges.
• Police officers, community support officers and some civilian staff.
• Firefighters and some other uniformed staff in Fire and Rescue Services.
• Connexions personal advisors employed by a local authority or a Connexions partnership.
• Highways Agency staff in certain safety roles in the traffic officer service
modified from Directgov.
Medspeak-US
A health or other professional who is responsible for coordinating the treatment and care of those who are ill.