Social Prescribing is a key component of Universal Personalised Care.
What is Social Prescribing?
Social prescribing, also sometimes known as community referral, is a means of enabling health professionals to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services. The referrals generally, but not exclusively, come from professionals working in primary care settings, for example, GPs or practice nurses.
Recognising that people’s health and wellbeing are determined mostly 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.
Schemes delivering social prescribing can involve a range of activities that are typically provided by voluntary and community sector organisations. Examples include volunteering, arts activities, group learning, gardening, befriending, cookery, healthy eating advice and a range of sports.
Reference – https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/social-prescribing
Social Prescriber Link Worker
Social Prescriber Link Workers (SPLW) are part of the Personalised Care agenda. SPLW’s are employed either directly by the GP practice/PCN or here in Cornwall can be employed by Volunteer Cornwall via other agencies e.g. Age UK etc.
- SPLW’s should have a Level 3 qualification in a relevant subject and ideally experience in a health/social care/community or equivalent role. A national core job description is available.
- Salary is usually equivalent of AfC Band 3 rising to Band 4 with experience and training.
- Supervision is required and is usually facilitated by a G.P. or another experienced professional.
- Support is available from national and regional forums; and local Communities of Practice (CoP) exist to provide support and information.
Core Training
Core Training is via E-learning for Health and comprises a core 6 sessions which take approximately 3 hours.
New additional modules for 2021
In development – Supporting Children & Young People through Social Prescribing
Other Useful Training
Health Coaching Conversations training – details of local training is available here
Personalised Care Institute – users need to register for an account to access resources and training, including:
- Shared Decision Making
- Personalised Care and Support Planning
- Social Prescriber Plus for Social Prescribing Link Workers, Health Coaches and Care Coordinators
- 3 half day workshops – Active Listening, Motivational Interviewing and Health Coaching Skills
Healthy Cornwall – local courses available to those who live and work in Cornwall. Find out more about the training courses or to book a place please use the links below.
- Closed and bespoke training
- Connect 5 – mental health
- Making Every Contact Count (MECC)
- Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
- Psychological First Aid: COVID-19
- Ready Steady Eat; baby weaning
- Resources and videos
- Suicide first aid (including ASIST)
- Mental Health Awareness Workshop
- Trio of Mental Health Workshops – Understanding Stress, Developing Resilience and Mindfulness, Meditation & Sleep Hygiene
- Menopause Awareness Workshop
Cornwall Social Prescribing Network – www.socialprescribingcornwall.org.uk
Useful Resources
- Handbook for Social Prescribing Link Workers Starters
- Social Prescribing Summary guide
- Social Prescribing Link Worker Support Matrix
Below is a summary of other useful sources of information:
- What is social prescribing – The Kings Fund, February 2017
- Social prescribing animation – Healthy London Partnership
- Making Sense of Social Prescribing – University of Westminster
- Social prescribing: a pathway to work? – The Work Foundation, Lancaster University, February 2017
- Spotlight on the Ten High Impact Actions – Royal College of GPs
- Social prescribing – a guide for local authorities
- A review of the evidence assessing impact of social prescribing on healthcare demand and cost implications – University of Westminster
- Creative Health – All Party Parliamentary Group report
- What is the evidence on the role of the arts in improving health and wellbeing? A scoping review Nov 2019 – World Health Organisation, November 2019
- What are the health benefits of physical activity? -Public Health England, 2019
- Review of evidence on the outcomes of sports and physical activity – Sport England, 2017