Social Prescribing is a means of enabling GPs and other frontline healthcare professionals to refer patients to a social prescriber. This provides them with a face-to-face conversation during which they can learn about opportunities to improve their health and wellbeing. The social prescriber can motivate and support individuals to achieve the change(s) that they want to achieve.
The programme jointly funded by Worcestershire County Council Public Health and Worcestershire CCGs has six pilot sites which are:
- Pilot 1 – Redditch 9 GP practices in partnership with Worcestershire Association of Carers
- Pilot 2 – Redditch 2 GP practices using their own employed Social Prescriber
- Pilot 3- Worcester City – all Worcester City GP practices in partnership with Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire
- Pilot 4 – Wyre Forest- all Wyre Forest GP practices in partnership with Worcestershire Association of Carers
- Pilot 5- Malvern Town and Rural areas- all Malvern Town and Rural GP practices in partnership with Worcestershire Citizens Advice Bureau
- Pilot 6- Droitwich and Ombersley – all Droitwich and Ombersley GP practices in partnership with Onside Advocacy
How Does It Work?
A member of one of the 44 GP practices involved may suggest a referral to the Social Prescribing service. One of the Social Prescribers in the local area will contact the service user and work with them to explore and co-produce local opportunities or information available to support the individual to improve their health and well-being.
The social prescriber is:
- Somone to talk to confidentially
- Someone to is practical, helpful and who will not judge
- Someone who can help an individual decide what they would like to do to improve their own health, wellbeing and independence
- Someone who can find you activities that will suit an individual's needs
- Someone who can give support
Social prescribing can link you with many services in your community to help. These may include:
- Healthy lifestyles and active lives
- Arts, music, outdoors and creativity
- Befriending, counselling and other support groups
- Housing benefits and financial support and advice
- Employment, training and volunteering
- Education and learning
- Getting involved in local groups and activities
- Accessing specialist services and support
An individual wishing to access social prescribing can enquire via their GP practice, any organisations or groups wanting to share details of their local offers should contact their local provider or send a 1 side of A4 summary of their service and contact details to hwbadmin@worcestershire.gov.uk for dissemination to the social prescribers.
To download the Patient Leaflet – Social Prescribing click here.
