What is Social Prescribing?
Social prescribing is a service that GP Practice staff can refer you to, to access a range of local, non-clinical services.
Recognising that people’s health is determined primarily 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.
Social prescribing schemes can put you in touch with a variety of services and activities which are typically provided by voluntary and community sector organisations. Examples include volunteering, arts activities, group learning, gardening, befriending, support, cookery, healthy eating advice and exercise.
Social Prescribers start by finding out about the person they are supporting. They ask questions about how people feel and what they would like support with, to help the person understand what might help them be healthy and happy. The aim is to empower individuals to access services and support they may not have known was available or felt confident enough to engage with alone. Once aims are met you will be discharged from the social prescribing service but are always able to request a referral back to the service if more support is needed.
People can choose what they need support with to stay healthy, feel well and keep safe and social prescribers can direct them to services that can help with this, for example, they may decide to sign up to an exercise class to lose weight, join a gardening club to make new friends, or call a debt advice charity to get help managing their finances.
For any further information or support please speak to a member of Village Surgery staff who will ask the Social Prescriber to contact you.
This service is completely patient centred so if you enquire about the service but decide that you don’t wish for further support, that is completely up to you.
Who is Social Prescribing for?
ANYONE, 18 OR OVER, WHO IS LOOKING FOR SUPPORT IN TAKING CONTROL OF THEIR HEALTH AND WELL BEING.
What types of services and support can a Social Prescriber put me in contact with?
- Health, lifestyle and active living
- Arts, crafts and creativity
- Befriending, counselling, support groups and specialist services
- Housing, benefits and financial support and advice
- Employment support and volunteering
- Training and learning
- Local groups and activities
- Stopping smoking and weight management
- Refugee and asylum seekers support
What do Social Prescriber ‘Prescribe’?
Social Prescribers ‘prescribe’ services and activities that may be able to help and support you. Social Prescribers are sometimes called Link Workers as they help to ‘link’ you to appropriate community services.
