Social prescribing guide launched as COVID-19 pandemic drives need for a different kind of support
Community First Yorkshire‘s new Social Prescribing and Community-based Support Guide and toolkit provides an overview and checklist for organisations to make sure they have everything in place to provide this support to people.
The guide can be used as a working self-assessment document to identify any gaps and links to resources that can be freely accessed, and signposts to resources to help organisations in their work with people of all ages in their communities.
Community First Yorkshire said: “Social prescribing is not new; for many years voluntary and community groups, and social enterprises (VCSEs), have been providing activities and services which improve people’s overall health and wellbeing and connect them to their local communities.
“This work has been increasingly recognised, in particular during this period of changes to lives as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Meanwhile, three GP practices have utilised social prescribing during the coronavirus pandemic to offer more than 60 patients aged between 23 and 104 essential wellbeing support as a direct result of COVID-19.
A social prescription offers support that will help people access activities to improve health and enjoyment in life, such as art classes, walking football, gardening, debt counselling, housing and other practical support agencies.
Though many of these social activities have been put on hold in recent months, social prescribing has made a huge contribution to keeping patents safe and well, especially considering social isolation, financial worries and mental health.
'Impact of lockdown'
Employing one Social Prescribing Link Worker to deliver these services across the three GP practices in Tadcaster and Rural Primary Care Network (PCN) has enabled a new cohort of patients to be identified and supported in ways more suited to their needs.
Karen Griffiths, the social prescribing link worker across all three GP practices, had been in post for just six months before the country went into lockdown. She said: “I had begun supporting patients with one-to-one and group sessions for a number of different social issues, working with local partners such as North Yorkshire County Council, Selby District Council, charities and community groups.
However, during the coronavirus pandemic referrals came in for various issues related to what individuals needed in this time of crisis – which focused more on the impact lockdown restrictions were having in their day-to-day lives.
Some of the key activities Karen has taken on as part of her role have included delivery of medication to those on the shielding list, support with shopping essentials via local groups, carer support, helping individual patients with Wi-Fi installation and video calls through a charity donation, and in one instance a mobile phone for someone who was socially isolated. Karen also provided much-needed mental health support, advice and appropriate signposting during the lockdown period, as many people experienced heightened anxiety.
South Milford Surgery, Tadcaster Medical Centre and Sherburn Group Practice collectively make up the PCN, a network designed to improve the health outcomes of more than 28,000 patients.
For more information visit www.valeofyorkccg.nhs.uk/socialprescribing
