Social Prescribing is a service that works with GPs, nurses and other primary care professionals. The Social Prescribers accept referrals from the primary care providers to link patients to community and non-clinical services.
Primary Care providers understand the complexity of people’s health, how it is not just down to how they are feeling physically but how a range of social and economic factors can affect a person’s wellbeing. We are aware that taking care of our health involves more than just medicine. The Social Prescribers, use a patient centred approach to find out what matters to the patient, empowering them to take control of their own health and wellbeing in a proactive and holistic way.
There are a range of services available, these include, befriending, arts and crafts, poetry writing, employment related skills like CV workshops, healthy eating groups, group learning, sports and gym memberships as well as volunteering opportunities to name a few.
The Social Prescribers work within a time limited approach, providing initial 1 hour assessment followed by 30 minute appointments, should it be required.
Social prescribing is most beneficial to patients who are proactive and motivated to make changes for the benefit of their own physical well-being. We understand it can be overwhelming to begin with, to know which of the first steps to take but our team is on hand to provide guidance and advice in this area.
Benefits from Social Prescribing?
Our health and wellbeing advisors are equipped to help with a range of issues, including:
- Social Isolation
- Loneliness
- Emotional well-being
- Healthy Life style choices
- Getting out and about
- Life changing events, birth retirement or bereavement
- Long term Health conditions
- Loss of confidence/purpose
- Poor health inked to housing or housing issues
- Accessing work, training and volunteering
Social prescribing involves working with our social prescribers to think about what things are most important to you and helping you to connect to community organisations that align with what matters.
Usually, people have around 1-6 sessions where they would think about what they would like to become involved in and what steps they need to take to get there. You can self refer to this service or may be referred by one of the practice team.
This support might be useful for you if:
- You feel ready to get involved in new things but don’t know how/ lack confidence
- You are willing to try something new and are quite self-motivated
- You don’t want specific mental health input but feel being more active or connected to the community would help your wellbeing