Social prescribing, sometimes referred to as community referral, is a means of enabling GPs, nurses, and other primary care professionals to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services.
Recognising that people’s health is determined primarily by a range of social, economic, and environmental factors, social prescribing seeks to address people’s needs in a holistic way. It also aims to support individuals to take greater control of their own health.
Social prescribing schemes can involve a variety of activities which are typically provided by voluntary and community sector organisations. Examples include volunteering, arts activities, group learning, gardening, befriending, cookery, healthy living advice and a range of sports and more recently accessing activities and resources based online.
The Social Prescribing Link Worker has a wide knowledge of community resources so can work with the patient to understand what is important to them and link them in with the most appropriate support. The Social Prescribing Link Worker will be linking into experts who can give advice and support around healthy eating, wellbeing, benefits advice etc. They will not be giving the advice, so it is important that the patient is open to linking into community support and looking to make a change.
The Social Prescriber will work with the patient for between 4-6 sessions to identify what is important to them, and to create and work together on an action plan to help that person move forward with their goals.
Examples of support the Social Prescriber can link in to:
• Non-clinical mental health support (mild or moderate mental health problems)
• Benefits, Housing and Debt
• Social Isolation and Loneliness
• Carers support
• Employment and volunteering
• General Health and Fitness
• Long term health conditions
Who can I refer to Social Prescribing?
Is patient ready/willing to make a change and is patient open to engaging in community activities?
If YES, then just send a task to your social prescribing link worker through Emis, explaining reason for referral and that the patient meets the following criteria:
Eligibility Criteria:
• 16+ with patient’s consent for a referral to a Social Prescribing Link Worker.
• Requires non-clinical self-care support in the community to improve physical and/or mental health.
• Mild or moderate mental health problems e.g. low-level anxiety, stress, and low mood.
• Low risk – no current suicidal ideation or self-harm. If recent suicidal ideation/self-harm they need to have sought support and be stable and able to follow their risk management/safety plan.
• People who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing. (Ref: NHS England, social prescribing, and community-based support: Summary guide)
• Long-term health conditions.
• Isolated or lonely.
Exclusion criteria:
• People who are awaiting a mental health assessment or currently under the care of CMHT, with a severe mental health diagnosis e.g. bi-polar, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, or experiencing psychosis symptoms.
• People who are in crisis with their Mental Health and require emergency support.
• People with any uncontrolled mental health issues or addictions.
• People who are being supported by health and social care services, unless it is part of a package of support or Step-Down plan and have been agreed with patient, social worker and SPLW.
• People who are a threat to themselves or others.
• People who are not willing to engage in community activities or one to one support services.
• People who are not ready/willing to make a change.