Social Prescribing

As part of our team, we have a Social Prescriber / Link Worker.

Many things in life can affect your health and wellbeing. Many people visit our team feeling isolated, lonely or worried about work, housing, money, being a carer or other matters that affect us day to day.

These are things that cannot be fixed by doctors or medicine alone.

Social Prescribing offers the kind of help that doesn’t come in a tube or bottle. The support is there to  help connect you to local community services and support networks to help you have more control over your health and wellbeing.

It is focussed on what is important to YOU.

Taking the first step

Social Prescribing can help in many ways, and it usually starts with a conversation. Your Doctor or Nurse may make an introduction for you, or you may contact our Social Prescriber direct.

Our Social Prescriber will then get in touch, and will listen to you, and understand what is important to you. They will work with you to help you:

• Develop goals to improve your health and wellbeing
• Find and use services and groups with the local community
• Connect with other support in your community or national organisations

There are many groups and activities that can help you achieve your goals and your health and wellbeing.

Introductions

Our Social Prescriber can signpost you to support in the community, and nationally, in areas such as:

• Housing, benefits assistance and finance
• Art and creative activities
• Exercise – this comes in many types from dance, walking, running, gyms, chair based exercises and many more!
• Training, re-training, employment and volunteering
• Other activities – gardening, singing, social groups, health specific support groups, reading and many more!
• Counselling and therapy groups

The support offered is tailored depending on your goals. You may only need to speak with our Social Prescriber once to help you achieve your goals. In other circumstances, you may need more support. Usually, this will be around 6 or 7 contacts.

Appointments with our Social Prescriber vary in time from 15 mins to 1.5 hours, depending on the support you need.

For more information about Social Prescribing, please click HERE.

To get in touch with our Social Prescriber, call the Practice at 01223 364116.