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What is Social Prescribing?
Social prescribing is a way for local agencies to refer people to a link worker. Link workers give people time, focusing on ‘what matters to me’ and taking a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing. They connect people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.
Link workers also support existing community groups to be accessible and sustainable, and help people to start new groups, working collaboratively with all local partners.
Social prescribing works for a wide range of people, including people:
- with one or more long-term conditions
- who need support with their mental health
- who are lonely or isolated
- who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.
Social Prescribing can help by sign-posting to activities or services that patients may not know about but could benefit from and informing them about what’s available.
The idea behind social prescribing is that it complements the care that people might be receiving from their GP practice. This approach gives patients of any age the space to talk about some of the non-medical underlying issues that affect their wellbeing and to take steps to tackle them.
On referral to the service, patients have an appointment with a social prescriber. Patients are helped to identify the improvements they want to make, including; feeling positive, lifestyle, looking after themselves, managing symptoms and work, volunteering and other activities
Putting it into practice
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), has produced two short films to highlight social prescribing in practice. The films feature Laura - a patient, her social prescribing link worker and her GP.
The video below, a patient's perspective: Laura received tailored support from a social prescribing professional as part of her treatment. Below she talks about how her social prescribing link worker, worked with her to develop an activity plan to help with her depression and anxiety.
The idea behind social prescribing is that it complements the care that people might be receiving from their GP practice. This approach gives patients of any age the space to talk about some of the non-medical underlying issues that affect their wellbeing and to take steps to tackle them.
On referral to the service, patients have an appointment with a social prescriber. Patients are helped to identify the improvements they want to make, including; feeling positive, lifestyle, looking after themselves, managing symptoms and work, volunteering and other activities
Putting it into practice
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), has produced two short films to highlight social prescribing in practice. The films feature Laura - a patient, her social prescribing link worker and her GP.
The video below, a patient's perspective: Laura received tailored support from a social prescribing professional as part of her treatment. Below she talks about how her social prescribing link worker, worked with her to develop an activity plan to help with her depression and anxiety.
In the second video below, her GP gives his perspective on how social prescribing supports personalised care, helping many more patients like Laura to improve their health and wellbeing.
There are a number of ways to get referred to the social prescribing service:
- requesting a referral from your GP
- contact your local link worker
- contact admin.healthyconnections@nhs.net