SOCIAL PRESCRIBING LINK WORKER

How does it work?

A member of the GP practice or health and social care team may suggest a referral to the Social Prescribing service.

Kate, our Social Prescribing Link Worker, will then contact you to find out what you are interested in, tell you about what activities and services are available locally and help you to access them.

The Social Prescribing LInk Worker (Kate) is someone:

· To talk to confidentially

· Who is practical, helpful and who will not judge you

· Who can help you decide what you’d like to do to improve your quality of life

· Concerned with your health, wellbeing and independence

· Who can find you activities that will suit you

· Who can give you support along the way

To find out more click on the link below to read the leaflet describing the service 

What is Social Prescribing:

Social Prescribing Link Workers work within the Social Model of Health. They are aware of local groups and national organisations working in their areas that support with social issues such as social isolation and economic problems. They work to support an individual towards positive change within their social situation; thereby improving their health and wellbeing.

Social Prescribing offers individuals over the age of 18 an initial one-hour appointment to find out what matters to them.  They can then offer up to 5 follow up sessions (up to an hour if needed), by phone or face to face. They offer advice and guidance, signpost and/or refer to the local and national organisations identified, and if needed discuss ways to overcome barriers to engaging with the support discussed. Their work supports people towards self-care and self-development and works particularly well as a preventative approach to health.

In terms of Mental Health, the support offered is primarily around the ‘5 Steps to Wellbeing’ *, although we can signpost and refer to organisations such as Talkworks, peer support groups and several counselling services.

Examples:

Patient A is lonely, and they are struggling with bereavement. We would explore their situation and actively listen to them.  We would provide them with information about local groups and organisations to suit them; possibly arranging support for them to attend initially. We would also link them with counselling for bereavement and/or with bereavement groups.

Patient B has diabetes and high blood pressure.  We would explore their situation and actively listen to them. We would make them aware of both local and national organisations that could offer them advice and support around their diagnoses, weight, diet and exercise, as highlighted in the appointment.

Patient C is low in mood and struggling with their disability and finances. We would explore their situation and actively listen to them.  We would signpost and advise the individual of organisations that could support their diagnoses specifically and/or organisations that support long term conditions, we may advise them about CBT and/or counselling and refer them if needed, we may discuss support around disability aids, we would signpost or refer to organisations that support with benefits and any debts.

What Social Prescribing is not:

Social Prescribing Link Workers are not part of a regulated profession.

Social Prescribing Link Workers roles are not the same as social workers, counsellors or mental health professionals, although they do offer active listening in their sessions.

Social Prescribing Link Workers do not offer an assertive outreach approach and are unable to contact people over a long period of time to try to engage them with support. They are not ‘support workers’ as such, but they can at times support someone to an activity once or twice, to help them past any initial anxiety.

To find out more click on the link below to read the leaflet describing the service.