Project title
Description of initiative
Social prescribing - where a person is referred to a link worker who then works with them to identify and link them to activities to improve health and wellbeing - can connect communities and healthcare. It is a way to support people’s wellbeing and quality of life while reducing pressure on the NHS. It links patients to community based activities, rather than simply prescribing them medicine. The paper, 'Connecting communities and healthcare-making social prescribing work for everyone', describes what was learned from the grant holders who are piloting or scaling social prescribing, or who provide services as part of existing schemes. The National Lottery Community Found share experiences and offer inspiration for anyone thinking of designing, improving or expanding social prescribing schemes.
Further information on the initiative
Themes: Culture and...
Keywords
Target group
Cultural field
Timeframe
Results, benefits, impact and lessons learnt
Social Prescribing has the potential to benefit individuals, the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and the health system by making better use of resources and giving people greater control of their own well-being. It is much more than signposting. It works with the patient as an individual, supporting and enabling them to overcome barriers to health and well-being.
Charities and community organisations play a vital role in social prescribing. Voluntary and Community Sector groups run many of the prescribed activities and often provide the link worker or “prescriber” function. Social prescribing offers opportunities for the Voluntary and Community Sector to reach new people and promote a holistic way of working. But it also presents a challenge for funding and resourcing by creating increased demand for services.
The link worker role is an essential part of social prescribing and it requires a range of skills, experience and local knowledge. Good link worker practice tailors support to the needs of the individual by finding what best motivates and empowers them.
For social prescribing to flourish there the funders must support both the link worker role and the delivery of end services. Link workers need activities to prescribe to, referrers and individuals need to be confident that quality activities are available, and VCS organisations must be able to meet demand.
There is a lack confidence in social prescribing as a viable treatment option. There is a need for better evidence to show the strength and impact of the approach. Funders can support social prescribing to realise its potential and have a lasting impact by making social interventions more visible, finding ways to show their impact and assuring the quality of the end service.